How to win at Mahjong Solitaire: clearing all 144 tiles
5 min read ·
Mahjong Solitaire looks like a matching game, and it is, but the order of your matches decides whether a board clears. Pick the wrong pair early and you can bury the last two tiles of a kind under each other.
Every deal on Puzzimo is built so it can be cleared completely. This guide shows how to stay on the winning path.
The rules
- Remove all 144 tiles in matching pairs.
- A tile is free when no tile lies on top of it and its left or right side is open.
- Two free tiles match when their faces are the same. Any two flowers match, and so do any two seasons.
Free the tiles that block the most
- Work the long rows from their ends. The middle of a long row stays locked until the tiles beside it go, so open the ends early.
- Take the tall centre stack and the tiles at the far left and right as soon as you can. They cover or block more tiles than anything else.
- Prefer matches that free new tiles. Before matching, check what each candidate pair will uncover; a pair on top of the pile is usually worth more than two loose tiles at the edge.
Think before matching three of a kind
Each face appears four times. When three of them are free at once, don't match the first two you see. Check where the fourth one is: if it's buried under one of the three, match that one first, or you'll leave the last two stuck one on top of the other.
When all four are free, match them in any order: they'll pair off cleanly.
Hints, undo and shuffles
- Hint shows a pair of free matching tiles. It uses one of your hints (three free a day) and adds 30 seconds to your time.
- Undo takes back your last pair and draws on your shared undo balance.
- Shuffle deals the remaining tiles again into an arrangement that can still be cleared. You get two per game, each adding 30 seconds; undo can't go back past a shuffle.
When no pair is left, try undoing to the choice that caused it before you shuffle: a single different match earlier often avoids the dead end completely.
A move checklist
- Look at every free pair before matching anything.
- Prefer pairs that free tiles in long rows or on the high stacks.
- With three of a kind free, match the one covering the fourth first.
- Keep flowers and seasons for when they unlock something.
- If you're stuck, undo to the last real choice before shuffling.
Practise
Puzzimo's Mahjong Solitaire uses the classic turtle layout, with a new deal every game and a daily deal for everyone. Results are ranked by time. On a phone, the Landscape button turns the table sideways with bigger tiles.
Frequently asked questions
What makes a Mahjong tile free?
Nothing lies on top of it, and at least its left or right side is open. Tiles covered from above, or blocked on both sides, can't be taken yet.
Why do I get stuck at the end in Mahjong Solitaire?
Usually because the last two tiles of a kind ended up stacked on each other. When three of a kind are free, match the one covering the fourth first to avoid it.
Should I use shuffles early?
No. You get two per game and each adds 30 seconds, so keep them for real dead ends, and try undoing to an earlier choice first.