Mahjong Solitaire Strategies
Strong play is less about speed than preserving options. Each pair changes which tiles are free, so the best move usually improves access to several future pairs.
Open the board, not just a pair
Prefer pairs that uncover a stack, release a blocked edge or expose two new tiles. Removing an easy pair that reveals nothing can be harmless, but it may use symbols needed to unlock a more important area.
Manage four identical tiles
When four copies of a symbol exist, do not automatically match the first two you see. Look at what each copy blocks and choose the pair that releases the most useful tiles.
Recover without guessing
If the board becomes tight, pause and scan by symbol rather than by location. A hint can reveal a legal pair you overlooked; shuffle is a recovery tool for positions with no available pair.