📖 About Mahjong

Category: puzzle

What is Mahjong Solitaire? 🀄
Mahjong Solitaire (also often called Shanghai Solitaire) is a single-player tile-matching puzzle built around mahjong tiles. Instead of dealing cards, you clear the board by pairing identical free (exposed) tiles until nothing is left.

A little history behind the “Mahjong” name

Even though the game is called “mahjong,” the actual puzzle play is not the same as the traditional four-player mahjong tile game. Mahjong Solitaire is a digital matching puzzle that simply uses mahjong-style tiles.

The computerized version is credited to American programmer Brodie Lockard, who wrote the first version on the PLATO system in 1981. It was later brought to a wider audience when Activision released the game as “Shanghai” in 1986 (which is why you may see the “Shanghai Solitaire” name today).

Because “Shanghai” was trademarked, many modern versions use different names such as Mahjongg, Taipei, Kyodai, or Mahjong Solitaire.

Objective

Remove every tile from the board by matching pairs. You win when the board is completely cleared and you lose when no exposed matching pairs remain.

How to play 🎮

Start - Choose a board layout. Levels often vary by difficulty (more overlap means fewer easy moves).
Find free tiles - A tile must be exposed: you should be able to select it (commonly meaning it’s not blocked by tiles on top and has at least one open side).
Match identical tiles - Select two exposed tiles with the same design to remove them from the board.
Reveal new options - Each successful pair can expose tiles underneath, opening new matching possibilities.
Use tools wisely - Features like Hint, Restart, or Shuffle are there to help you recover from tough layouts.

Mahjong strategy tips 🧠

Scan for safe matches - Before taking a pair, quickly check whether it will expose additional options—or trap you with only a few choices.
Prioritize what you uncover - Clearing tiles that sit above other tiles can create more exposed pair opportunities early.
Think about future availability - Some tiles appear only a limited number of times, so removing the “wrong” match can block later routes.
Balance speed with planning - It’s tempting to match immediately, but taking a moment to map the next 1–3 moves often helps.
Don’t over-rely on hints - Hints can save time, but practicing good move selection is what makes harder boards beatable.

Mahjong Solitaire is equal parts pattern recognition and decision-making. With each cleared pair you’re essentially “rewiring” the board—so the smartest moves are the ones that keep options growing.