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Mahjong Solitaire Strategy and Tips

Here is how to think about winning at Mahjong Solitaire, split into short lessons. Each one reads on its own, and each one comes with a real position: press Try it on the board and you play the move yourself.

Take the tiles on top first

Lesson 1

In the stacked game, the key is to take tiles in an order that frees more tiles. A tile on top hides the tile below; taking it makes the one underneath available. If you only take end tiles, the middle ones stay buried and you run out of pairs.

When two pairs are available, pick the pair whose removal uncovers tiles beneath. The more pairs you can see, the less time you spend looking for the next one — which is how you get faster.

Here you can take the pair of East or the pair of 6-circles on top. Taking the 6-circles on top frees the two 5-characters underneath, so take them first.

Since everyone solves the same layout at once, building the habit of freeing tiles is steadier than reading far ahead.

Choosing among four identical tiles

Lesson 2

There are four of each tile, so when three or more identical tiles are free you can choose which two to pair. A wrong choice can leave the last two stacked one on top of the other — identical but stuck.

A good rule: don't leave a buried tile for last. Pair the tile on top with another free tile and take them first. The remaining two are then both free.

Here there are four 4-characters. Pair the one on top with the one in the middle; the buried one and the one at the right end remain, and both are free.

If you are unsure, use [Hint]: it prefers a pair that can still be cleared to the end, which helps you avoid the wrong choice.

When to use a hint

Lesson 3

In the stacked game, free tiles are scattered across the pile, so finding a pair by eye takes time. When you are unsure, press [Hint] and a pair lights up with a dashed edge and a "?".

The hint prefers a pair that can still be cleared to the end, so it lowers the risk of getting stuck. It helps most when you hesitate over four identical tiles late in the round. How many you can use is set per table.

When hints are limited, skip them where pairs are easy to see and keep one for when you can't find any pair. The count left is shown on the button, such as "Hint ×2", so you can see how many remain.

Here two pairs can be taken. Press [Hint] and see which one lights up.

Shuffle as soon as you are stuck

Lesson 4

When the pairs counter reaches zero you are stuck, and looking harder will not find a pair. The counter is in the tool row below the pile, so as soon as it reads zero, press [Shuffle].

A shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles so they can be cleared to the end again. Even when the number of shuffles is limited, using one and moving on ranks you higher than sitting stuck.

The same goes when a shuffle costs a pause (10 seconds): the pause is the price of getting out, so press it as soon as you notice and look for your next pair while you wait.

Here the two end tiles differ and the two in the middle are blocked on both sides, so no pair is left. Press [Shuffle].

Try it on the board

Pick a lesson and the board starts from that position. Start over as often as you like.

Now put it to work

Play with friendsLearn how to play (3 min)

Last updated 2026-10-05 · Run by Qdan, Inc.