📜 How to Play Mahjong Solitaire (Rules)

  • Match Identical Tiles: Select any two tiles showing the same suit and number (or matching dragons/winds).
  • The 2-Turn Path Rule (连连看): Two tiles can be eliminated only if they can be connected by a clear straight-line path with no more than two 90-degree turns, without passing through other tiles.
  • Outer Edge Paths: The path can travel outside the boundary of the board through the empty margin area!
  • Timer & Combos: Clear all pairs before the countdown timer expires. Fast consecutive matches award combo score multipliers!
  • Stuck? Use the Hint button to highlight an available match, or Shuffle to reorganize the remaining tiles.

🏛️ History & Evolution of Mahjong

Mahjong (麻将 / 麻雀, meaning "sparrow") developed in the Yangtze river delta of China during the late Qing Dynasty (1800s). The traditional 144-tile set draws symbols from Chinese cosmology, including Wan (Myriads of coins 萬), Tiao (Strings of copper coins 條), and Tong (Round coins 筒).

In the 1980s, game developers adapted the tile set into Solitaire and Lianliankan (connect-two) puzzle mechanics. It quickly became one of East Asia’s most beloved casual cognitive pastimes.

💡 Tile Matching Pro Tips

1. Clear the Perimeters First Outer edge tiles have immediate access to the boundary path. Clearing them creates open channels into the core grid.
2. Look for Adjacent Identicals Pairs sitting immediately side-by-side or on top of each other can be connected with zero turns!
3. Save Shuffles for Deadlocks Shuffles are precious. Only trigger a shuffle when the hint engine reports no available legal paths.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What are the suits on the tiles?
The tiles feature three main suits: Characters (萬), Bamboo (條), and Circles/Dots (筒), plus Honors such as Red Dragon (中), Green Dragon (發), and White Dragon (白).