The short answer: Mahjong Solitaire is a one-player matching game. Match two identical tiles to remove them and clear the layout to win. A tile is free when nothing sits on top and at least one side is open. No matches? Hit the shuffle button.
Relax — this has almost nothing to do with the four-player game. No opponents, no discards, no card. It is a matching puzzle built from mahjong tiles.
When can you take a tile?
- Nothing is stacked on top of it
- At least one side — left or right — is open
How do you clear the board?
- Scan the layout for identical pairs
- Click two matching free tiles — they disappear
- Out of moves? Hit shuffle to rearrange
- Clear every tile to win
The classic layout is the turtle, and most games offer dozens more. Impossible-looking boards are exactly what the shuffle button is for.
Play it now in our free Mahjong Solitaire game — the classic turtle layout, dozens of boards, and a shuffle button for stuck moments. No sign-up.
Related Questions
How many layouts are there in Mahjong Solitaire?
Most games include 40 or more, from the turtle to pyramids, dragons, and bridges. The tiles stay the same — only the stacks change shape.
Can every board be solved?
Not always. Some layouts have no winning sequence, so shuffle or restart without guilt. It is the layout’s fault, not yours.
Is Mahjong Solitaire the same as regular Mahjong?
No. Regular mahjong is a four-player game of melds, discards, and scoring. Solitaire is a solo matching puzzle — same tiles, totally different game.