Mahjong Solitaire: The Centuries-Old Solitaire Experience!

Board games have been a staple of civilized entertainment for years, offering individuals or groups an easy way to let loose and enjoy themselves a little. Games like Mahjong Solitaire have been a staple of the board game industry ever since it was first invented back in the 12th Century AD in China. However, the modern version of Mahjong Solitaire came to life in the 1800s.

Today, millions of players both in China, across Asia, and throughout the world, all play Mahjong. The original Mahjong’s rise came due to its prominence within the imperial courts and the aristocrats of Chinese culture. The modern game Mahjong Solitaire was brought to various countries around the world by Chinese travelers and those who moved abroad. The game's popularity stuck, and it is now a global phenomenon!

Have you ever played Mahjong Solitaire? If not, the rules are simple. On the board are 144 tiles, all given a specific pattern that relates to the four elements of our world: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. These 144 tiles are broken down into four groups of 36.

Try out the game for yourself today using our comprehensive Mahjong Solitaire experience, which is available to play online and for free!

Bonus tiles

An important part of Mahjong Solitaire’s gameplay is the use of ‘bonus tiles’ – this can seem quite confusing at first. Across the 144 titles used within a game of Mahjong Solitaire, eight of these tiles are bonuses that are broken into patterns related to Flowers and Seasons. These are then divided into specific flowers – the Bamboo, Plum, Orchid, and Chrysanthemum specifically.

The seasons are broken down into the Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn seasons. How are bonus tiles used? Flower tiles allow you to remove a tile from the board so long as it shares the same numbering as the bonus tile. The seasonal bonus tiles are used to remove any tile that shares the same color scheme as the bonus tile. Bonus tiles can be used repeatedly within a game of Mahjong Solitaire.

However, be wary when using bonus tiles! While they can help you at the moment, overuse or incorrect usage could see you make clearing the table more challenging, if not impossible. We recommend that you try to avoid using bonus tiles unless absolutely necessary, as excessive usage can make the table impossible to clear.

How to Play Mahjong Solitaire

Use this quick 6-step guide to make sure that you play Mahjong Solitaire as it is supposed to be played!

Click & Match Tiles

Playing Mahjong Solitaire is extremely simple when using our platform: you simply need to match up any tiles that share the same pattern and color scheme. As you play, you will unlock more tiles by removing two matching tiles from the board. The goal is simple: match every tile on the board to their matching tile and clean the board of all tiles.

The simplest way to start is to look for matching tiles which are paired adjacently to one another. As you go, though, this becomes more difficult. Also, please note that in Mahjong Solitaire tiles have to have at least one edge open – you cannot match tiles that have no edges open. The goal is to ensure that no isolated tiles are left on the board, as excessive numbers of isolated tiles will mean you lack the combinations needed to clear the board.

Unlock Tiles

As mentioned above, a tile cannot be selected to be removed from the Mahjong Solitaire board if it has tiles on each side. One side has to be open for you to be able to select a tile to remove it from the board. Therefore, you should be looking to find pairs of tiles that can be left open for quick clearing; do not always just take the first tile pairing that you see!

Your goal is to clear each layer of the Mahjong Solitaire board so that you can reach the tiles underneath. Judge whether a matching tile, with one or both sides exposed, is the right move or if you should wait to remove that tile later in the match.

Choose Pairs of Tiles

Selecting tile pairs is easy: you just need to make sure that the tiles share the same design and color scheme. Some tiles may share the same design but not the same color pattern, and vice versa. When you find a tile that you wish to remove from the Mahjong Solitaire board, find a matching tile that has at least one side exposed. Tap on one tile, then a matching tile, and both should be removed.

We recommend that players start by pairing off the easiest matching pairs: those that have been paired together on the board. When required, use bonus tiles (see below for more tips on using bonus tiles in Mahjong Solitaire) to open up new combinations. Reduce the risk of losing by avoiding ignoring isolated tiles: isolated tiles that no longer have a matching partner will result in a loss.

Understanding & Using Bonus Tiles

As mentioned above, bonus tiles in Mahjong Solitaire are a critical part of the overall experience. The Flowers and Seasons bonus tiles are a critical tool to learn how to use properly, as they can be the difference between a victory and a defeat!

However, we do recommend that you avoid using bonus tiles without due consideration beforehand. Avoid using bonus tiles when you can create a matching pair using standard tiles. Through smart and timely use of your bonus tiles, you can make clearing the table easier. Through the overuse of bonus tiles, though, you increase the risk of playing yourself into an unwinnable situation. Avoid that at all costs!

Tips To Win When Playing Mahjong Solitaire

To increase your chances of being able to win when playing Mahjong Solitaire online, we recommend that you focus on the following tips to improve your chances of success:

Always start your game by looking for matching tiles that are close to one another or even adjacent to their matching tile. This gets rid of the ‘easy’ tiles and opens up opportunities.
As you work through the board, avoid leaving isolated tiles in excess. Too many isolated tiles will leave you without pairing options that work, which can lead to defeat.
Try to look ahead to see what the consequences of your next move will be. Could matching two tiles before properly reviewing the board leave you with a future problem?
When needed – and only when needed – use bonus tiles. Avoid relying on bonus tiles too much; use them as a ‘break glass’ emergency to avoid any headaches.
Keep playing – everyone loses at Mahjong Solitaire, especially at first. Learn from your mistakes; record your games, if possible, to learn where you might be going wrong.

Strategies For Success In Mahjong Solitaire

To win at Mahjong Solitaire, there is no ‘golden path’ to take to success. There are, though, some useful strategies that you can use to have a higher chance of victory. These include:

Most players begin by tackling adjacent pairs first. These are the low-hanging fruit of Mahjong Solitaire and tend to be the best place to start for any winning strategy.
Focus primarily on getting rid of isolated tiles. These should be the priority for many players, as most players lose a game of Mahjong Solitaire due to not paying enough attention to isolations.
Think before you move: do not simply grab the first matching pair of tiles that you see. Consider if this could make isolations more likely or if you might be left without a next move.
Another strategy is to rely upon bonus tiles to clear the board quickly. This requires you to be aware of the potential risks of bonus tiles, though, making this a more advanced strategy.
Generally, the winning strategy is the one that works for your own skill level. Beginners should focus on adjacent and avoiding isolations, while advanced players can use bonuses liberally.