Mahjong FAQ
The questions people ask most about Mahjong Solitaire - how it plays, what the tiles mean, the odds, the history, and how this site works. Here's the short answer to each; click through for the full explanation with examples. Looking for the rules of a specific layout? Head to the Rules hub.
Common Mahjong Solitaire questions
What is Mahjong Solitaire?
Mahjong Solitaire is a single-player matching game played with 144 mahjong tiles stacked into a 3D layout. You clear the board by removing matching pairs of free tiles until none are left. It borrows the tiles from the four-player game Mahjong, but the rules are completely different.
How do you play Mahjong Solitaire?
You play by removing matching pairs of free tiles from the layout. A tile is free when no tile sits on top of it and either its left or right side is open. Click one free tile, then click its match to remove both. Keep going until every tile is cleared.
What are the rules of Mahjong Solitaire?
The rules are short. Remove tiles two at a time by matching identical pairs. You may only remove a tile if it is free, meaning no tile covers it and its left or right long side is open. Clear all 144 tiles to win. Flowers match any Flower and Seasons match any Season.
How many tiles are in a mahjong set?
A standard mahjong set has 144 tiles, which is exactly 72 matching pairs in Mahjong Solitaire. That total breaks down into 108 suit tiles, 16 Wind tiles, 12 Dragon tiles, and 8 bonus tiles (4 Flowers and 4 Seasons).
What does it mean for a tile to be free?
A tile is free when two things are true: no tile is stacked on top of it, and at least one of its left or right long sides is open. Only free tiles can be selected, so understanding this rule is the key to the whole game.
How do matching tiles work?
Most tiles match only another tile that looks exactly the same, such as two Bamboo 3s or two West Winds. The special case is bonus tiles: any Flower matches any other Flower, and any Season matches any other Season, even if the pictures differ.
What are Flower and Season tiles?
Flowers and Seasons are the 8 bonus tiles in a mahjong set: 4 Flower tiles and 4 Season tiles. Unlike every other tile, they do not need an exact twin. Any Flower matches any other Flower, and any Season matches any other Season.
Is every Mahjong Solitaire game winnable?
A truly random pile of tiles is not always solvable, but on Mahjong.now every layout is. We build each board by placing tiles in a valid, solvable order, so a winning path always exists. It is up to you to find it, and Shuffle and Hint are there if you get stuck.
Why can't I select a tile?
A tile will not select because it is not free. Either another tile is sitting on top of it, or it is wedged in with tiles touching both its left and right sides. Free up the blockers first, then the tile becomes selectable.
What is the Turtle layout?
The Turtle is the classic Mahjong Solitaire layout, the one most people picture when they think of the game. Its 144 tiles are stacked into a shape like a turtle shell, five layers tall at the center and thinning out at the edges, with two extra tiles poking out like a head and tail.
Is Mahjong Solitaire the same as Mahjong?
No, they are different games that share the same tiles. Mahjong Solitaire is a single-player puzzle where you remove matching pairs from a stack. Traditional Mahjong is a four-player game, closer to the card game rummy, where players draw and discard tiles to build a winning hand.
Where did Mahjong come from?
The four-player game Mahjong began in 19th-century China during the Qing dynasty and spread worldwide in the early 1900s. Mahjong Solitaire is far younger, a computer game popularized in 1981 as Shanghai by Brodie Lockard, using the same traditional tiles.
Is Mahjong Solitaire good for your brain?
Mahjong Solitaire gives your brain a real, gentle workout. It trains planning ahead, visual pattern recognition, and short-term memory as you track which tiles are free and where matches hide. It is not a cure for anything, but it is engaging, focusing mental activity that many people find calming.
What is a good Mahjong Solitaire time?
For the standard Turtle layout, a relaxed player finishes in about 5 to 15 minutes. A confident player clears it in roughly 3 to 6 minutes, and speed experts race under 3 minutes. Times vary a lot by layout, so treat any target as a personal best to beat.
How do you win at Mahjong Solitaire?
You win by removing all 144 tiles, every last pair. The way to do it consistently is to open the tallest, most-covered stacks first, uncover buried tiles as early as you can, and think one or two pairs ahead so you never trap a tile you still need.
What happens when you run out of moves?
If no two free tiles match, you are stuck, and tiles are still on the board, which we call a dead board. Since every Mahjong.now layout is solvable, being stuck means an earlier choice went wrong. You can Undo to rewind, or Shuffle to rearrange the leftover tiles and reopen a path.
Can you shuffle tiles in Mahjong Solitaire?
Yes. Shuffle takes the tiles still left on the board and rearranges them into a new pattern, which is a lifesaver when you hit a gridlock. It reopens matches so a stuck board does not have to end your game. On Mahjong.now the reshuffled board stays solvable.
Is using Undo cheating?
No. Undo, along with hints and shuffle, is a built-in learning tool, not cheating. It lets you rewind a wrong move and explore a better path. If you want a pure test of skill you can play without it, but there is nothing wrong with using it to learn.
How is Mahjong Solitaire scored?
Most Mahjong Solitaire scoring is based on how fast you clear the board, so a quicker finish ranks higher. Some modes also count how many tiles you remove and subtract points for using hints, undos, or shuffles, which rewards clean, unassisted play.
What is the hardest Mahjong layout?
The hardest layouts are the tall, tightly packed ones like the Tower and the Cross. Height buries more tiles out of sight and leaves very few free tiles at any moment, so you have less information and fewer safe choices than on a flat, open board.
What is the best Mahjong layout for beginners?
The Turtle is the best starting layout. It is balanced and symmetrical, keeps plenty of tiles free at any moment, and gives you several ways to begin, so you can learn the free-tile rule without feeling boxed in. It is challenging enough to be fun but forgiving enough to finish.
How many mahjong tile types are there?
There are 42 different tile designs in a standard mahjong set. That is 27 suit designs (three suits numbered 1 to 9), four Winds, three Dragons, and eight unique bonus tiles (four Flowers and four Seasons). With four copies of most tiles, the designs add up to 144 tiles.
What are the three suits in mahjong?
The three suits are Circles (also called Dots), Bamboo, and Characters. Each suit runs from 1 to 9, with four copies of every number. That makes 36 tiles per suit and 108 suit tiles in total, the bulk of a 144-tile set.
What are Wind and Dragon tiles?
Winds and Dragons are the honor tiles in a mahjong set. There are four Winds (East, South, West, North) and three Dragons (Red, Green, White), with four copies of each. That is 16 Wind tiles and 12 Dragon tiles, 28 honor tiles in all.
Do I need an account to play?
No. Everything is playable as a guest, and your stats save in your browser automatically. A free account is optional: it syncs your records across devices and keeps a permanent name on the leaderboard, but you never need one to play a single tile.
Is Mahjong.now free?
Completely free. Every layout, the daily challenge, the leaderboard, and online multiplayer are free to play in your browser, with no download and no signup. An optional free account only adds cross-device stats and a saved name on the leaderboard.
Can I play Mahjong on mobile?
Yes. Every layout is built for touch, so you tap a free tile and then tap its match on phones and tablets. There is no app to download, it runs right in your mobile browser, and you can add it to your home screen to play like an app.
What is the daily Mahjong challenge?
The daily challenge is a single board that every player in the world gets on a given day, generated from the date. Clear it and your time is ranked against everyone else who solved the same board. Miss a day and that board is gone, which is what makes a streak worth protecting.
How does multiplayer Mahjong work?
Both players get the identical board at the same moment and race on their own screens. A live progress bar shows how far along each player is, and the first to clear all the tiles wins. Create a room, share the link, and play, no account needed.
Is Mahjong Solitaire luck or skill?
It is mostly skill, especially here where every board is solvable. The layout sets the challenge, but planning your move order, spotting patterns, and choosing which pair to remove decide whether you win. Luck matters more only when a game hands you an unsolvable board, which ours never do.
How long does a game of Mahjong Solitaire take?
A typical game on the Turtle layout takes about 5 to 15 minutes at a relaxed pace. Smaller or open layouts can be over in a couple of minutes, while tall, tightly packed ones take longer. You can pause or leave any time, since your progress saves automatically.
How do you get better at Mahjong Solitaire?
Improve by building three habits: scan the whole board before you click, open the tallest and most-covered stacks first, and avoid removing pairs you might still need. Watch out for two matching tiles stacked on top of each other, since clearing one can trap the other.
What is a hint in Mahjong Solitaire?
A hint highlights a pair of free tiles that you can legally match right now. It is a helper for when you are stuck or cannot spot a move, showing you one valid option without solving the whole board for you. Using hints is optional and does not end your game.
Can you play Mahjong Solitaire offline?
Yes, mostly. Because Mahjong.now is a progressive web app, single-player layouts keep working offline once the page has loaded, and your stats save on your device. Only features that need live data, like multiplayer racing and the shared leaderboard, require a connection.
How are my stats and progress saved?
As a guest, your stats and unfinished board save automatically in your browser on the device you are using, no signup needed. A free account adds cross-device syncing, so your win counts, best times, and records follow you between phone, tablet, and computer.
What is the Pyramid Mahjong layout?
The Pyramid stacks all 144 tiles into a stepped, four-sided pyramid that rises to a point. Only the tiles around the outer edges start free, so you work inward and downward, peeling the pyramid apart layer by layer until the base is clear.
What is the Fortress layout?
The Fortress arranges all 144 tiles into a walled, castle-like block, often with thick outer walls and a tall raised center like a keep. The dense packing hides a lot of tiles and keeps fewer of them free at once, which makes it a satisfying step up in difficulty.
How many pairs are in Mahjong Solitaire?
A full board has 72 pairs. Since a standard mahjong set is 144 tiles and you remove them two at a time, a completed game clears exactly 72 matching pairs. Smaller layouts use fewer tiles, but they always use an even number so every tile has a partner.
What is a dead board in Mahjong?
A dead board is a gridlock. Tiles are still on the board, but no two free tiles match, so there is no legal move left. It usually happens after removing pairs in a bad order. On Mahjong.now you can Shuffle the tiles or Undo to escape it, since every board is solvable.
Why is it called Mahjong?
The name comes from the Chinese word for the game, which is often linked to the sparrow. One popular story says the clatter of tiles being shuffled sounded like the chattering of sparrows, and some early sets even featured a sparrow on the leading tile.