The process of building the walls and dealing tiles is one of the most unique and ritualistic parts of the game.
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Here are the key steps that transform a pile of tiles into a game-ready battlefield:
The Shuffle and the Walls
First, all the tiles are placed face-down and "washed" (shuffled vigorously) by all four players, creating a satisfying clatter. Next, each player uses the tiles to construct a wall directly in front of their rack.
The Wall Structure: Each player's wall is exactly two tiles high and typically 19 tiles long. This creates a perfect square enclosure in the center of the table.
The Roll for East (The Dealer)
The next step is to determine who will be the "East" seat, also known as the dealer.
Roll the Dice: Each player rolls a pair of dice. The player with the highest roll becomes East. Alternatively, the hostess will begin as East.
Breaking the Wall
East is responsible for "breaking" the wall to begin the deal.
The Second Roll: East rolls the dice again. This number determines where the wall will be broken.
Counting Off: Starting from the right end of their own wall, East counts along the top of the wall the number of stacks indicated by the dice roll, then separates the wall at that point.
The Deal and The Jump
Tiles are distributed quickly from the break point, moving counter-clockwise around the table.
The Deal: Starting with East, each player takes four tiles (two complete stacks of two) at a time, repeating the process three times until everyone has 12 tiles.
The Jump: Finally, East takes two extra tiles (the first and third top tiles from the next available stacks), giving East 14 tiles. The remaining players each take one tile, giving them 13 tiles.
The game is now ready for the first discard, and most importantly, for the most challenging and strategic part of the setup: The Charleston. Once you've mastered these starting rituals, you're one step closer to playing.
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