Mahjong Solitaire
Unlimited games, no timer
Setting up the board…
- Unlimited games
- No timer
- Full screen
Classic mahjong solitaire, as many games as you like
This is the relaxed side of Mahjong Daybreak. Every game is a new deal of the 144 classic tiles, with no clock and no score to chase. Take a hint, undo a move or shuffle the board whenever you like, and start a fresh game as soon as you finish.
Mahjong solitaire, also spelled mahjongg, plays right in your browser on a computer, tablet or phone, with no download and no sign-up.
Free play or the daily puzzle?
This page
Free play
- As many games as you like
- No clock, no score to chase
- Hints, undo and shuffle with no penalty
Home page
Daily puzzle
- One puzzle a day, the same for everyone
- Timed, with a small penalty for each help
- A result to share with friends
Tips to clear more boards
New to the game? Start with how to play, then try these habits of seasoned players.
1. Start with the long rows
Tiles at the ends of the longest rows hold back the most tiles. Clearing them first opens up the board.
2. Dig into the tall stacks
A tile high on a stack hides others beneath it. Freeing the top of the pile early gives you more choices later on.
3. Pick your pair with care
When three identical tiles are free, take the pair that frees the most tiles. When all four are free, clear them all.
4. Keep easy pairs in reserve
A pair that blocks nothing can wait. Save it for the moment you run out of other moves.
5. Watch for stacked twins
A tile resting on its own twin can never be matched with it. Keep the other two copies apart so each twin still has a partner.
The turtle and other classic layouts
Most games start from the turtle, the best-known layout: 144 tiles on five levels, from a wide base of 87 tiles up to a single tile on top. Other layouts, such as the butterfly or the pyramid, change the shape of the board and the way you have to think. More layouts are on the way.
A puzzle born on a computer
Unlike the four-player table game, mahjong solitaire was not handed down through the centuries. Brodie Lockard created it in 1981 on PLATO, an early educational computer network, and it became famous a few years later as Shanghai, published by Activision in 1986. It has been a fixture of computers, and now phones, ever since.
Mahjong solitaire questions
Is there a time limit?
No. Free play has no clock at all. If you enjoy racing, try the daily puzzle on the home page, which is timed.
Can I play mahjong solitaire in full screen?
Yes. Press Full screen at the top of the board to hide everything else. Safari on iPhone does not allow it, so turn your phone sideways to get the biggest tiles.
What if I get stuck?
Undo a few moves, ask for a hint or shuffle the remaining tiles. In free play there is no penalty, so use them as often as you like.
Can every game be won?
Yes. Every deal is built so that it can be cleared, and so is every shuffle. A dead end always comes from the order of your moves, never from bad luck.
Is mahjongg the same game?
Yes. Mahjongg is simply another spelling of mahjong, and mahjongg solitaire is the same tile-matching game you play here.