Mahjong

Remove all 144 tiles in 72 matching pairs. The table is clear only when no tiles remain, including the lower layers.

The game automatically arranges the tiles in a turtle shape with five levels, including a single tile on top and extensions on either side. Tiles sit face-up, but higher tiles hide parts of the layers beneath them. There is no draw pile or redeal cycle.

• Numbered tiles: circles, bamboo, and characters, each numbered 1 through 9. There are four copies of each tile.
• Honors: East, South, West, and North winds, plus red, green, and white dragons. There are four of each.
• Bonus tiles: four flowers and four seasons, each numbered 1 through 4. These form two special matching groups.

The toolbar shows remaining tiles and elapsed time. Above the table, the pair count shows the number of legal two-tile combinations available now; a tile may belong to more than one combination.

What makes a tile free?

A tile is free when no tile lies even partly above it and at least one of its left or right sides is clear. An open top or bottom edge does not count. Both tiles in a pair must be free before either is removed. Muted tiles are blocked; tapping one explains the restriction.

Matching ordinary tiles

Click or tap a free tile, then its free match. Numbered tiles must share both their number and suit: 4 circles matches another 4 circles, but not 4 bamboo. Winds match the same direction, and dragons match the same color.

Flowers and seasons

Any two flowers match, regardless of their numbers. Any two seasons also match. A flower cannot match a season. Look for the FLOWER and SEASON labels if the artwork is unfamiliar.

Tiles never slide into gaps or move between layers. Removing a pair leaves its spaces empty. If you select a different, nonmatching free tile, that tile becomes your new selection; tapping your selected tile again clears it.

You win when the last pair is removed. This version has no points score. It tracks time, cleared pairs, shuffles, and lifetime results. For statistics, each pair removal and each shuffle counts as one move; using a hint does not add a move.

When no free pairs remain, the game tells you. This does not automatically record a loss. Try Undo to revisit a choice, or Shuffle to rearrange the remaining faces. Successful shuffles preserve the empty spaces and tile set and produce an arrangement with a solution. If the remaining shape itself is trapped, Shuffle explains that you need to undo earlier moves or restart.

Restarting or choosing a new deal after a pair removal or shuffle in an unfinished game records that attempt as a loss. A completed table records one win. Reloading a completed game does not count another win.

• Mouse or touch: select two free matching tiles. No dragging is needed.
• Keyboard: Tab focuses free tiles and controls. Arrow keys move focus toward another free tile in that direction; Enter or Space selects it. Escape clears a tile selection or hint.
• Hint: highlights a legal matching pair. Press again to cycle through available pairs. A hint is a possible move, not advice guaranteed to solve the table.
• Undo: reverses the last pair removal or shuffle. You can repeat it throughout an unfinished game, back through the saved move history. It restores the earlier board and shuffle count but does not rewind time. Undo history survives reloads when local browser storage is available.
• Shuffle: rearranges the remaining tiles. There is no numerical limit or points penalty. You can undo a successful shuffle.
• Pause: hides the table and stops the timer until you resume. The Statistics view also pauses play.
• New game: choose Random deal for a fresh table or Restart current deal to replay the original arrangement. Both reset the timer, shuffle count, and undo history.
• Larger tiles: enlarges the table for easier reading and tapping. Scroll across it to reach tiles outside the view; Fit table returns to the full layout. Full browser and Full screen provide more room.
• Saved progress: the table, timer, and statistics save in this browser when storage is available. Returning restores the position, with no added time for your absence.

• Look at what a pair opens. A match that frees several tiles gives you more choices than one that leaves the same tiles blocked.
• Work on the high layers and long rows. They can hold back many tiles. Compare their available matches before clearing isolated pieces.
• Compare identical copies. When three copies are free, check what each possible pair uncovers. The choice of which copy to leave can matter later.
• Keep bonus tiles in mind. Differently numbered flowers still match, as do differently numbered seasons. These pairs may open a route you overlooked.

Mahjong Solitaire is also known as Shanghai Solitaire. It borrows its tiles from Mahjong but uses a separate, single-player matching system. Brodie Lockard created a computer version on the PLATO system in 1981; Activision released Shanghai in 1986. Read about Mahjong Solitaire on Wikipedia.

For another game about uncovering pairs, try Pyramid Solitaire, where card pairs add to 13. For a different planning puzzle with every card visible, play FreeCell.