how to play mahjong solitaire
Mahjong solitaire is a free tile-matching puzzle with our own tile set and layouts. Tiles are stacked in layers; take them off two at a time by matching free tiles with the same face until the stack is gone. Every deal is built so it can be cleared, and there's a hint, a shuffle and unlimited undo when you get stuck.
- Tap a free tile, then tap another free tile with the same face. The pair comes off.
- A tile is free when nothing sits on top of it and its left or right side is open. Stuck tiles look a little darker.
- Any flower matches any other flower, and any season matches any other season. They carry a small corner mark so you can spot them.
- Stuck? Hint shows a pair worth taking and adds 15 seconds. Shuffle deals the tiles that are left again and adds 30 seconds. Undo is free.
- Clear every tile to finish. Your time, plus any hint and shuffle seconds, is your score.
Keyboard: Tab moves between the free tiles, Enter or Space picks one, H shows a hint, S shuffles, U undoes, and Esc goes back to the menu.
tips
- Clear the tall stacks and the long rows first. They hide the most tiles.
- When three tiles of a kind are free, think before you pick a pair: the third one might be the only key to something underneath.
- If all four tiles of a kind are free, take them both pairs at once. There's no wrong order.
- Undo costs nothing. Try a pair, look at what it opens up, and take it back if it's a dead end.
faq
Can every board be cleared?
Yes. Each deal is built backwards from an empty table, so there is always at least one way to clear it. A shuffle is built the same way. You can still paint yourself into a corner, which is what undo is for.
What are easy, normal and hard?
The size of the stack: easy has 72 tiles, normal 108 and hard 144. The daily is always normal.
Are these the usual mahjong tiles?
No. The tiles are our own designs: dots, sticks and numerals from 1 to 9, four arrows, three charms (a speech bubble, a heart and a drop), four flowers and four seasons.
How is it scored?
By the time from your first tap to the last pair, plus 15 seconds for each hint and 30 for each shuffle. Undo is free.