How to play mahjong solitaire
- Choose a layout: Turtle and Pyramid have 144 tiles; Compact has 72 and is ideal for a phone or a short game.
- Tap a free tile: one with no tile on top and at least one side (left or right) with no tile touching it. Blocked tiles look darker.
- Tap another matching free tile to remove both. The four flowers match each other even if they look different, and so do the four seasons.
- Keep going until the board is clear. If you get stuck, use Hint, Undo or Shuffle. You win when no tiles are left.
Tips and strategy
Mahjong solitaire is not played with the rules of four-player mahjong: it is a matching solitaire. What matters is the order in which you remove tiles, because each pair frees up others. Since there are four copies of almost every tile, choosing the wrong one of the identical tiles to keep can leave you with no way out.
A good rule is to prioritize the tiles that cover others, especially those in the higher layers and in the long rows, and not rush to remove loose tiles from the sides that free nothing. Before tapping a pair, check whether there is a third or fourth identical tile: remove first the pairs whose twin tile sits under a stack, so they do not get trapped. Flowers and seasons are more flexible: they match any tile in their group, so you almost always have something to pair them with.
Each game's deal is built backwards, by removing free tiles two at a time, so there is always at least one way to win. Everything is calculated in your browser: nothing is sent to any server. Your chosen layout, your best time for each layout and the game in progress are saved on your device.
Things to keep in mind
- A deal having a solution does not mean any move leads to a win: if you remove the wrong pairs you can run out of moves. That is what Hint, Undo and Shuffle are for.
- Shuffle rearranges only the tiles that remain and always leaves a solvable deal. The timer keeps running, so it is best not to use it if you want to improve your time.
- Times and the game in progress are saved only in this browser: if you clear the site data, they are lost.
Frequently asked questions
Which tiles can I remove?
Only free tiles: those with no tile on top and with at least one side, left or right, with no other tile touching it. They must be two identical tiles, both free at the same time.
Do flowers and seasons match with any tile?
With any tile in the same group. A flower pairs with any other flower, and a season with any other season, even if the pictures are different. Flowers and seasons do not mix with each other.
Do all deals have a solution?
Yes. Each game is built by removing free tiles two at a time, from back to front, so there is always at least one path to the end. If you take a wrong turn, you can undo, ask for a hint or shuffle.
Which layout is best on a phone?
Compact, which has 72 tiles and fits large on a narrow screen. It is the one chosen automatically on small screens. Turtle and Pyramid have 144 tiles and are more enjoyable on a tablet or computer.
What do I do if there are no more moves?
A notice appears with the Shuffle button, which rearranges the remaining tiles leaving a solvable deal. You can also undo moves to try another path.
Are my game and best time saved?
Yes, in your browser: the game in progress and the best time for each layout. Nothing is sent to any server and no sign-up is needed. It is free and works with nothing to install.