Flower Strategy: 

During the Charleston: This rule is not found in Mah Jongg Made Easy. however, is it prudent to do so? Following are some pointers to help you avoid passing flowers during the Charleston:

• With only 8 flowers in an American Mah Jongg set, it is advisable if you can avoid passing them.
• If someone is building a hand around a pair of, or a grouping of flowers such as a kong, passing one during the Charleston is a gift.
• There are times you get stuck and have to pass a flower
  •  During the second left you received a flower from your opponent and now upon the second “must” across pass, you don’t have 3 tiles to pass. If this occurs well then so be it, you do what you have to do.
  • Keep in mind that you can utilize your blind passes (first left and last right) to avoid passing a Flower.

During the game: Here are two options to consider if you have flowers that you are not using:

• Discard Early: If you are not using Flowers in your hand, discard them early.
• Hold Through Middle Game: If you are not using Flowers, consider holding onto them until the middle game (the first 66 tiles). This allows the opportunity for another player to discard a Flower that another player can call and put up with a joker. This sets up a joker exchange on your next turn.