How do you play Mahjong Solitaire?

Mahjong Solitaire is easy to learn in a minute and hard to master. The whole game is one small decision, made over and over: which pair do I take out next?

Quick answer: 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.

Step by step

Here is the full loop of a game:

  1. Look across the board for tiles that are free, meaning nothing is stacked on them and one side edge is open.
  2. Find two free tiles that show the same picture.
  3. Click the first tile, then click its match. Both disappear.
  4. Removing a pair usually frees up new tiles underneath or beside them.
  5. Repeat until the whole stack is empty.

What counts as a match

Most tiles only match another tile that looks exactly the same, like two Bamboo 5 tiles or two Red Dragons. The one exception is the bonus tiles: any Flower matches any other Flower, and any Season matches any other Season. More on that in how matching tiles work.

Think a few moves ahead

The trick is not just to grab any match you see. Some tiles are needed to unlock others, so removing the wrong pair too early can leave you stuck. Good players scan the board, plan a path, and try to open the tallest stacks first. If you ever get stuck, a hint can point you to a legal pair.

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Related questions

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.

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 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.