Mahjong Solitaire
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Mahjong Solitaire Rules
Mahjong Solitaire (also called Shanghai) is played on a board of tiles stacked in layers. Only free tiles can be selected: a tile is free when nothing covers it and at least one of its left or right sides is open. Tap two matching free tiles to remove them, and clear all 68 tiles to win. If no removable pair remains, the board is deadlocked and it's time for a fresh deal. Every deal here is generated with a reverse-removal algorithm, so a solution always exists.
Tips to Clear the Board
- Work from the top down: removing upper layers unlocks the tiles underneath.
- Open the long rows: freeing tiles that squeeze long rows releases many more options.
- Don't rush easy pairs: if both copies are free, leave them — free the blocked copies first.
- Use hints when stuck: the 💡 Hint button flashes one removable pair.
The Solitaire Puzzle Born of a Classic
Mahjong Solitaire — the solo tile-removal puzzle — is a computer-era invention built from ancient pieces. Programmer Brodie Lockard created it in the early 1980s after an injury left him learning to use graphics terminals during recovery, drawing inspiration from a Chinese solitaire game; it reached millions as the hit PC title Shanghai in 1986. Its tiles come from the venerable four-player game of mahjong, but the comparison ends there: this is a patience puzzle of layers and matching, not a betting game of hands and winds.
The puzzle's whole personality is the "free tile" rule — a tile is available only when nothing rests on it and at least one long side is open. Great players therefore think in excavations: clear the pairs that unlock the widest new fronts, keep matching options alive, and resist the greedy pair that seals a whole layer shut.
FAQ
How do I play Mahjong Solitaire?
Tap two identical free tiles — uncovered with a free left or right side — to remove them. Clear the whole board to win.
Why won't a tile respond?
Tiles covered from above or squeezed on both sides are blocked and shown dimmed. Remove neighboring tiles to free them.
Is every deal winnable?
Yes — deals are generated by reverse removal so a solution always exists, though a careless order can still deadlock the board. Just redeal.
How is this different from Tile Connect?
Tile Connect pairs tiles with a line path on a flat board; Mahjong Solitaire uses stacked layers and the free-tile rule, making it a game of unlock-order strategy.
What exactly is a free tile in Mahjong Solitaire?
A tile with nothing on top of it and at least one of its long sides unblocked. Free tiles on both left and right edges give you the most options, which is why experienced players scan the outer edges of each layer first and treat fully exposed pairs as priorities rather than afterthoughts.
Any tips for keeping the board winnable in Mahjong Solitaire?
Balance your excavations: removing pairs from one spot alone builds a tower of blocked leftovers elsewhere. Prefer pairs that open up tiles beneath or beside them, and if identical tiles exist in several places, take the one whose removal frees the most new tiles rather than the easiest one to see.