Mahjong hand of the month: May Charleston strategy

Beginner or seasoned strategist, consider this your invitation to think like a pro.

The 2026 card is here — and with it comes new opportunities, new challenges and a few unexpected twists. Many players are finding it more complex than the 2025 card, which makes your early decisions even more important.

You’re looking at your first hand in the Charleston — and you need to pass three tiles.

Your move

Which three tiles would you pass — and why?

Before you scroll, take a moment to study the hand and make your decision.

👉 Look for:

• Tiles that don’t connect
• Suits with the most potential
• Honors and outliers that could slow you down

The Charleston sets the tone for your entire game — and this hand offers more direction than it might first appear.

Pro picks

Mahjong instructor Jennifer Kenwell of Pink Palmetto Mahjong suggests:

1 Crak, 3 Dot and the Soap (White Dragon)

Why this works

At the start of the Charleston, your goal is to simplify and strengthen your direction.

1 Crak
A single low tile without strong supporting numbers can limit your ability to build efficiently.

3 Dot
While part of a suit, this tile doesn’t align with the stronger grouping already forming in your hand.

Soap (White Dragon)
Unless you’re intentionally building around dragons, holding onto a lone Soap can reduce flexibility early on.

Watch the strategy in action

For a closer look at the thinking behind this pass, watch Mahjong instructor Jennifer Kenwell of Pink Palmetto Mahjong break it down.

What this hand suggests

This hand shows early strength in bamboo and mid-range numbers, which opens the door to several hands on the 2026 NMJL card.

By clearing out mismatched tiles and an honor, you:

• Increase your chances of building around a dominant suit
• Stay flexible as new tiles come in
• Avoid committing too early to a low-probability hand

The key here is recognizing where your hand already has momentum — and leaning into it.

Could you play it differently?

Of course.

Some players may choose to:

• Hold onto the Soap in hopes of a dragon-based hand
• Shift toward dots if more come in early
• Break up a stronger suit to stay more balanced

Mahjong rewards adaptability, and every Charleston decision comes with trade-offs.

Want to improve your Mahjong game?

This is just the beginning.

Each month, we’ll feature a new hand to challenge your strategy and help you think more confidently during the Charleston.