Play Mahjong Online
Match open tile pairs to clear the classic Mahjong board.
Recent Games
No boards cleared yet. Match all the pairs to see your history here.
How to Play Mahjong
Modes: Classic
Mahjong is played with 144 tiles arranged in a layered Turtle. Clear the board by removing matching pairs of identical tiles.
A tile is free when no tile rests above it and at least one side is open.
Tap two matching open tiles to remove them. Only two identical, open tiles can be paired.
Use the Hint button to highlight a removable pair, or Shuffle to re-arrange the tiles when you feel stuck.
Rules
Remove tiles only in matching pairs — same suit and same rank.
A tile is free when nothing covers it from above and at least one side is open.
You cannot remove a tile that is covered above, or blocked on both sides.
Clear every tile from the board to win.
Scoring
| Solved | clear the full board of pairs |
| Time | fastest clear wins |
History & Origins of Mahjong
Mahjong solitaire — the single-player tile-matching layout — was invented in 1981 by Brodie Lockard while he was a student at Stanford. It spread through dorm computer labs long before the internet.
The four-player game of Mahjong itself dates to 19th-century China. Lockard borrowed its rich tile art (bamboo, dots, characters, winds and dragons) and reimagined it as a patience puzzle where you clear matching open pairs.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Matching tiles that are not truly free — a tile must have no tile above it and at least one open side.
- Clearing the wrong pair and burying the tile you needed next.
- Giving up instead of reshuffling; a reshuffle usually unlocks the finish.
Tips & Strategy
Always clear top-layer pairs first — they unlock the tiles underneath.
Keep tiles on both ends of a row open; a middle tile needs both sides clear.
Do not rush: check the whole board for pairs before removing.
Use Shuffle when only blocked tiles remain, then rebuild your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Mahjong free to play?
- Yes — Mahjong on ThinkyPlay is completely free, with no download and no sign-up.
- How many tiles are in the game?
- The standard set has 144 tiles in 42 types, including four flowers and four seasons, arranged in the classic layered Turtle.
- When can I remove a tile?
- A tile is removable when it is free — no tile above it and at least one side open — and you have found its matching pair. Flowers match any flower; seasons match any season.
- What happens if I get stuck?
- Use the Shuffle button to re-arrange the remaining tiles, or Hint to reveal a removable pair.
- What is Mahjong solitaire?
- A 1981 single-player tile puzzle where you remove matching pairs of open tiles from a layered layout.
- Can I undo a wrong pair?
- Yes — the Undo button restores the last pair you removed, so a mistaken match does not end the run.