Mahjong solitaire vs. mahjong: what is the difference?
"Mahjong" can mean two very different games. One is a game for four players with rules, hands and scoring. The other is a one-player matching puzzle that only borrows the tiles. If you searched for mahjong and ended up confused, this page sorts it out.
The short answer
| Mahjong solitaire | Mahjong (Chinese or American) | |
| Players | 1 | Usually 4 |
| Goal | Remove all tiles by matching pairs | Build a winning hand before the other players |
| Rules to learn | A few minutes | Hours, plus practice |
| Luck and strategy | Planning which pairs to take | Drawing, discarding and reading other players |
| What you need | A phone, tablet or computer | A tile set and three friends (or an online table) |
Mahjong: the four-player game
Mahjong is a tile game that began in China in the 1800s. Players draw and discard tiles to complete a hand, a bit like the card game rummy. There are many regional versions, such as Chinese, Hong Kong and Japanese mahjong.
American mahjong is its own version. It adds joker tiles, and the winning hands change every year. Players use a card of hands published by the National Mah Jongg League. That is why you see searches for a new "mahjong card" each spring. American mahjong has become very popular again, and many people now play in clubs and with friends.
Mahjong solitaire: the one-player puzzle
Mahjong solitaire uses the same kind of tiles but nothing else from the four-player game. The tiles are stacked into a shape, and you remove them two at a time. A tile can be taken only when nothing is on top of it and its left or right side is open. Clear every tile and you win.
The game started on computers. Brodie Lockard wrote the first version on the PLATO system in 1981, and Activision's Shanghai (1986) made it widely known. It has been a favorite on computers and phones ever since, sometimes under names like Shanghai or Mahjongg.
Do I need to know mahjong to play the solitaire game?
No. You only need to recognize two identical tiles. You don't need to know hands, winds, scoring or any of the four-player rules. Calm Mahjong also shows a small number on each suit tile by default, so you don't need to read Chinese numbers.
Can mahjong solitaire help with the four-player game?
It can help you get used to how the tiles look: the dots, bamboo and characters, the winds and the dragons. Some teachers of American mahjong suggest it as light practice for tile recognition. It will not teach you the rules or strategy of the four-player game.
Which one is for you?
- Want a quiet puzzle you can play alone, any time, for a few minutes? Mahjong solitaire.
- Want a social game night with friends and a new card to learn each year? American mahjong.
More: Mahjong Solitaire Tips: How to Clear More Boards · Mahjong Tiles Explained for Solitaire · How to play