With so many moving pieces in a game of Mahjong, it can get confusing which direction you should go when dealing, doing the Charleston, pushing out walls, and taking turns. Today, we're talking all things directions, and we don't mean where the wind blows!
What direction do you Deal in American Mah Jongg?
- The East seat (person who rolls the highest number when the whole table first rolls) is the first Dealer.
- After that game, Dealer moves around the table to the RIGHT (clockwise).
- Dealer deals to themselves first and then around the table to the right (clockwise)—remember Right-and-Tight.
How should you push out your walls? What is a curtsey in Mahjong?
- Walls get pushed out starting with the Dealer’s wall, then moves around the table to the LEFT (counter-clockwise).
- Pushing out the walls is also called the Curtsey.
How do you pass tiles in the Charleston?
- Remember R.O.L.L.O.R.:
- Right
- Over
- Left
- Left
- Over
- Right
- First three passes (Right, Over Left) are required. The second Charleston is not required—any single player can ask to stop after the first Charleston.
Which way does turn taking move in Mahjong?
- The Dealer takes the first turn, by discarding a tile. Then turn move around the table to the RIGHT (clockwise).