General Questions
What is Mahjong Solitaire?
Mahjong Solitaire is a single-player tile-matching puzzle game that uses the same 144 tiles as traditional Chinese Mahjong. The goal is to remove all tiles from the board by matching pairs of identical open tiles. It is sometimes called Shanghai Solitaire, Mahjongg, or Kyodai. You can play Mahjong Solitaire online for free right here.
Is Mahjong Solitaire the same as regular Mahjong?
No. Traditional Mahjong is a four-player strategy game involving drawing, discarding, and building winning hands. Mahjong Solitaire is a solo puzzle game where you clear a patterned layout by matching pairs. We cover the differences in detail in our article on Mahjong vs. Mahjong Solitaire.
Is Mahjong Solitaire free to play online?
Yes. MahjongSolitaireOnline.com lets you play Mahjong Solitaire for free in your browser. No download, no registration, and no payment is required. The site is supported by advertising so we can keep it free for everyone.
Can I play Mahjong Solitaire on mobile?
Yes. Our game is built with HTML5 and works on smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. You can play directly in your mobile browser without installing an app. The board and controls adapt to smaller screens.
Gameplay and Rules
How do you win Mahjong Solitaire?
You win by removing every tile from the board. Only open tiles can be selected, so plan ahead to avoid blocking tiles you need later. Read our complete beginner's guide to Mahjong Solitaire and our tips and strategy guide for detailed advice.
What is an open tile?
An open tile is one that is not covered by another tile above it and has at least one long side free. Only open tiles can be matched and removed. This is the most important concept in the game. Our rules guide explains open tiles with examples.
Do flowers and seasons match with any tile?
Almost. Any flower tile can match with any other flower tile, and any season tile can match with any other season tile. They do not need to be identical. This special rule gives you flexibility when you are stuck. See the matching rules section in our beginner's guide.
Is every Mahjong Solitaire game winnable?
No. Because tiles are shuffled randomly, some layouts are mathematically impossible to clear. Good strategy improves your odds but cannot guarantee a win every time. Advanced players learn to recognize unsolvable patterns early and start a new game rather than wasting time.
What are the most common layouts?
The most popular layout is the classic turtle. Other common layouts include the pyramid, spider, fortress, and arena shapes. See our guide to Mahjong Solitaire layouts for difficulty ratings and strategies for each one.
Strategy and Improvement
How can I get better at Mahjong Solitaire?
Start by learning to identify open tiles quickly and plan two or three moves ahead. Focus on clearing tiles from the top layers and edges first. Avoid removing matching pairs as soon as you see them — sometimes it is better to leave them for later. Our advanced strategy guide covers deeper techniques.
What are the most common mistakes beginners make?
Common mistakes include removing pairs too quickly, ignoring tiles that are covered, failing to count how many of each tile remain, and playing too fast without scanning the board. Read our article on common Mahjong Solitaire mistakes to see how to fix each one.
Is Mahjong Solitaire good for your brain?
Mahjong Solitaire exercises pattern recognition, memory, and strategic planning. While it is not a substitute for medical advice, many players find it a relaxing way to stay mentally sharp. We explore this topic in Is Mahjong Solitaire Good for Your Brain?.
About Mahjong Tiles
What do the Mahjong tiles mean?
The tiles are divided into three suits (dots, bamboo, characters), four winds, three dragons, and bonus tiles (flowers and seasons). Each has cultural and historical significance. Our Mahjong tile meanings guide explains the symbolism behind every tile.
Where did Mahjong Solitaire come from?
The computer game was created in the early 1980s and became famous when it was bundled with personal computers in the 1990s. Read The History of Mahjong Solitaire for the full story.
Technical and Site Questions
Do I need to create an account?
No. You can play and read all guides without creating an account.
Does the site save my progress?
No. The game runs entirely in your browser session. If you close the tab or refresh the page, the game restarts.
Who runs MahjongSolitaireOnline.com?
This site is run by a solo creator and Mahjong enthusiast based in Beijing, China. You can read more on our About Us page.
How can I report a problem or suggest an improvement?
Email us at thirteenmagic@gmail.com. We read every message and genuinely appreciate feedback.
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