Mahjong Solitaire · Layouts
Mahjong Solitaire Layouts: Turtle, Pyramid, Tower and Little Garden
A mahjong solitaire "layout" is the shape the tiles are stacked in when a game begins. You're always matching pairs, but a different stack changes the difficulty and the feel a lot. Our mahjong solitaire has four layouts right now. Here they are one by one, and every picture is drawn from the same coordinates the game uses.
Turtle: the classic 144
The Turtle is the layout everyone knows. It uses the full set of 144 tiles, stacked 5 layers high. The bottom is widest, each layer gets smaller, and there's just one tile at the top. One tile sticks out on the left and two on the right, so from a distance it looks like a turtle lying flat.
Only 35 tiles are free at the start. That little mountain in the middle is the key: the sooner you break it up, the smoother it goes. Play the Turtle.
Pyramid: tall and pointy
The Pyramid has 112 tiles in 6 layers. Each layer shifts in by half a tile, so every tile rests where two to four tiles below meet. Lots of layers, and every move affects the rest. It's great if you've got the hang of it and want a challenge.
2 tiles are free at the start. Try the Pyramid.
Tower: best on a phone held upright
We designed the Tower for phones: 108 tiles in 4 layers, tall and narrow. With your phone upright, the tiles come out a size bigger than in the Turtle, so they're easier to tap.
Each row has only 6 tiles, so you can work in from the ends quickly. 48 tiles are free at the start. Try the Tower.
Little Garden: a warm-up for first-timers
Little Garden has just 72 tiles in 2 layers, and you can clear it in a few minutes. Playing for the first time, or letting the kids have a go? Start here.
20 tiles are free at the start. Start with Little Garden.
Which layout does the daily puzzle use?
The daily mahjong solitaire puzzle rotates through Turtle, Pyramid and Tower by date (the Turtle shows up most). Everyone in the world gets the same board on the same day, so you're all racing on the same layout.
The four layouts side by side
| Layout | Tiles | Layers | Free at start | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle | 144 | 5 | 35 | Everyone |
| Pyramid | 112 | 6 | 2 | Challenge seekers |
| Tower | 108 | 4 | 48 | Phone players |
| Little Garden | 72 | 2 | 20 | First-timers |
Whichever layout you pick, every board is guaranteed to be solvable. For ways to break them up smoothly, see mahjong solitaire strategy. Picked one? Head back to free mahjong solitaire and start a game.
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Mahjong Solitaire — Play mahjong solitaire free in your browser: match pairs of free tiles to clear the stack. Every deal is guaranteed solvable, with a daily puzzle, hints, undo and four layouts. No sign-up, works on phone and desktop.