The rules
Tiles lie in a layout of several layers. Take two matching tiles and they leave the board. Clear every tile to win.
You can only take a free tile: one with nothing on top of it and an open side, left or right. A tile squeezed between two others in its row is blocked, even if nothing lies on it.
What matches
A full set holds four of each tile. Two tiles match when they are the same, with two exceptions:
- Any two flowers match each other (there is one of each of the four flowers).
- Any two seasons match each other.
Open the tall stacks first
Tiles under a tall stack stay blocked until the stack is gone. Take pairs from the top of the highest stacks and from the ends of the longest rows early: they free the most tiles.
A pair that frees nothing can wait. It will still be there later, and keeping it lets you use it when you need it.
Pick the right pair of four
Every tile comes in four. When all four are free, take both pairs at once: nothing can go wrong. When three are free, take the two that unblock more tiles, and leave the one that blocks nothing.
When two copies of a tile sit on top of each other, or one blocks the other in a row, the pair of the other two copies must come first. Spotting these traps early is what wins hard boards.
Habits that help
- Before you take a pair, look where the other two copies of that tile are.
- Work from the edges inwards and from the top down.
- Keep the board wide: a long row that only opens at one end is slow to clear.
- Stuck? Lotuswick deals every board from a real solution, so there is always a way; a hint shows a pair that keeps it.
Questions
- How many tiles does mahjong solitaire have?
- The classic set has 144: four of each of 34 tiles, plus four flowers and four seasons. Smaller layouts use fewer.
- Is every mahjong solitaire board winnable?
- Random deals are not always. Lotuswick lays every board out from a real solution, so each one can be cleared.
- Is it the same game as mahjong?
- No. Mahjong is a game for four players; mahjong solitaire only borrows its tiles.
