What is the Turtle layout?

If Mahjong Solitaire has a signature look, it is the Turtle. This is the default board on Mahjong.now and the shape that made the game famous.

Quick answer: 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.

The shape

The Turtle, sometimes called the Dragon, piles all 144 tiles into a mound that is widest and tallest in the middle. The center rises five layers high, and the stack steps down toward the edges like a shell. A single tile sticks out on the left and one on the right, giving it that turtle head-and-tail look.

Why it is the classic

The Turtle is balanced. It is challenging without being cruel, and its symmetry means there are usually several ways to start peeling it apart. That mix of accessible and interesting is why nearly every mahjong game ships with it as the default, and why we put it right on the home page.

Where to go next

Once the Turtle feels comfortable, the fun is trying other shapes. The Pyramid and Fortress layouts change how the tiles stack and where they hide. Browse the whole set on the layouts page and pick a new challenge.

Play the Turtle now

Related questions

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.

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.

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.