Question: I’ve been told not to do an Optional Across Pass with a Player who has stopped the Charleston. Can you tell me why?

Answer: If a players has stopped the passing after the first Charleston (passes 1, 2 & 3), it is not wise to pass them any tiles during the Optional Across Pass. Reason is, if someone stops the Charleston for the right reasons (they didn’t have 3 tiles to pass or they have one great hand and would have to pass a pair on the second left), then you would not want to take a chance and give them one more tile toward their hand.

I’ve often heard newer players say, “I think it is rude to say no to the Optional Across Pass” or “I am embarrassed to decline.” Refusing to do the Optional Across under the circumstances described above is good strategy and has nothing to do with being rude or embarrassed, so fret not about making a smart choice!

(Also see https://mahjcon.com/mahjpedia/id20)