How do matching tiles work?
Matching is the heart of Mahjong Solitaire, and for almost every tile the rule is dead simple: find its identical twin. Only the bonus tiles bend that rule.
Identical matches
For the 136 regular tiles, a match means a perfect copy. A Circles 7 pairs only with another Circles 7. A Red Dragon pairs only with another Red Dragon. Because there are 4 copies of most tiles, you often have a choice of which two to remove, and picking the right pair can free up more of the board.
The Flower and Season exception
The 8 bonus tiles play by a looser rule. The four Flowers all match each other, and the four Seasons all match each other. So a Plum Flower can pair with a Chrysanthemum Flower, and Spring can pair with Winter. You never have to find an exact twin for these, which makes them a bit friendlier to clear.
Why the four copies help
Having four of each regular tile means you are matching two of a possible four, so there is often more than one legal pair on the board. That flexibility is a lifeline. When you are stuck, look for a tile that has two free copies you can remove together to unblock a tricky spot.
Related questions
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.
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 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 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.