- Tiles
- Layers
- Difficulty
A layout that rewards patience
The Turtle is built around long horizontal rows. A tile in the middle of a row only becomes free once everything to its left or right is gone, so the real puzzle is deciding which end of each row to open first. Rush one side and you can leave matching tiles stranded in the middle.
The shell rises in four steps to a single crowning tile. That tile blocks four tiles below it, so taking it early is almost always a good idea.
Strategy tips
- Clear the caps. The top tile and the three end caps unlock the most tiles for the fewest moves.
- Work rows from both ends. Opening a row from the left and the right doubles the number of free tiles in it.
- Count before you match. When three of a face are free, think about which two to take: keep the one that is blocking something else for later.
- Save the seasons and flowers. Any two flowers match, as do any two seasons, so they make flexible spare moves when you are stuck.
Why play it here
Every deal is checked for a solution before you see it, the tiles stay at least 36 pixels wide even on a small phone, and the board turns to fill a portrait screen. Your best time for the Turtle is saved on your device.
How to play Turtle Mahjong
- 1
Find a free tile
A tile is free when no tile lies on top of it and its left or right side is open.
- 2
Pick a matching pair
Tap two free tiles with the same picture. Any two flowers match each other, as do any two seasons.
- 3
Clear the board
Matched pairs disappear. Keep pairing until every tile is gone to win.
- 4
Use the helpers
Hint shows a playable pair, Undo takes back a move, and Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles if you run out of moves.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called the Turtle layout?
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Seen from above, the stacked tiles form a rounded shell with a head and tail sticking out at each end, so it looks like a turtle. It is the arrangement most people picture when they think of Mahjong Solitaire.
How many tiles does the Turtle layout use?
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It uses the full set of 144 tiles stacked in 5 layers, so every face in the set appears.
What should I clear first in Turtle?
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Start with the single top tile and the three end caps. Clearing them opens the long middle rows from both ends, which is where most games are won or lost.
Is Turtle hard?
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It is a medium challenge. The long rows reward planning ahead, but the many free tiles at the start give you plenty of choices.