Match pairs of free tiles to dismantle a tall stack of 144 mahjong pieces, choosing from six board shapes.
Mahjong Solitaire is a quiet one-player puzzle that uses every one of the 144 tiles in a mahjong set. They are stacked in layers, and you dismantle the pile two at a time by finding matching faces. It is less about speed and more about choosing which pair to take next.
Each deal is set up so the board can be cleared. Bad choices can still trap you, though, so the real puzzle is finding the right order.
Which tiles you can take
Only free tiles can be picked. To be free, a tile needs nothing stacked over it plus an open edge on the left or the right. Locked tiles appear dimmed, which makes the playable ones easy to spot.
Click or tap a free tile to select it, then choose another free one showing an identical face, and both disappear. Click the first tile again if you change your mind.
Most of the set is made up of numbered tiles in three suits: circles, bamboo and characters. On top of those come winds, dragons, and the special flower and season tiles. Flowers are the exception to the exact-match rule. Two flowers always match even when their pictures differ, and seasons follow that same rule. Look for an F or an S printed in the corner of those tiles.
Scoring and helpers
Every pair earns 100 points, and you get a little extra when you make it quickly after your last match. Help has a price. A hint costs 30, an undo 120 and a shuffle 150. Finishing quickly adds a time bonus at the end.
When you run out of moves, a panel lets you know no pairs remain. You can undo, start a new deal, or shuffle. The shuffle rearranges the remaining tiles into a layout that can still be finished.
Strategy notes
- Work long rows from both ends. The tiles in the middle stay stuck until a side opens up.
- Clear tiles from tall stacks early. They often sit on top of several others.
- Before you match, check whether other copies of that face are free. When you have a choice, take the pair that unlocks the most tiles.
- Watch the counter of open pairs. If only one or two are left, take your time and plan.
- Hold flowers and seasons back for later. Because any two match, they are handy escape moves.
Picking a layout
You can choose Turtle, Terraces, Butterfly, Fortress, Pyramid or Spider, and each one shows its difficulty. Terraces starts with the most open pairs, so it is the friendliest place to learn. The table comes in light and dark themes, and the sound effects can be switched off.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick up a tile, then take a matching pair | Tab into the board, arrows to move, Enter or Space to select | Click a free tile, then click its match | Tap a free tile, then tap its match |
| Put the selected tile back | Esc | Click the same tile again | — |
| Show a pair you can take | H | Click "Hint" | — |
| Undo the last pair | Z | Click "Undo" | — |
| Reshuffle the tiles still on the board | S | Click "Shuffle" | — |
| Start a new deal | N | Click "New game" | — |
Mahjong Solitaire FAQ
Does Mahjong Solitaire work on a phone or Chromebook?
It works on both, with one catch for phones. The board scales down to fit the screen, and on the wider layouts that makes each tile quite small. Holding the phone sideways or going full screen helps a lot. A Chromebook is comfortable with a touchpad, a mouse or the keyboard.
Does it save my best times?
Yes. Your fastest clear on each of the six layouts is saved. After you finish a board, you can replay that exact deal to try to beat your time, or move on to a new one.
Is it a one-player game?
Yes. It is solitaire, so you play alone against the layout. There is no opponent, and you can take as long as you like, although clearing the board quickly earns a time bonus on your score.
Can I play with just the keyboard?
Yes. Press Tab to reach the board, use the arrows to hop from tile to tile, and choose a tile with Enter or Space. Esc puts a tile back. H shows a hint, Z undoes, S shuffles and N starts a new deal.
