A tree to take apart, two tiles at a time
This is our holiday board: 102 tiles stacked into a Christmas tree, on a pine-green table, with a single tile on top for the star. It plays like any mahjong solitaire game. Match two identical free tiles to take them off, and clear the whole tree to win.
The tree is a little smaller than the classic 144-tile layout, so a board takes about ten minutes. That makes it a good one for a coffee break, or for a round with family watching over your shoulder.
How to play
- Click or tap a free tile. A tile is free when nothing sits on top of it and its left or right side is open.
- Click its twin. If the faces match, both tiles come off the tree.
- Any flower matches any flower, and any season matches any season.
- Keep going until the tree is gone. Use Hint if you are stuck, and Undo as often as you like.
The star at the top is free from the start, but its twin may be buried. The tiles lower down on the widest rows open from the outside in, so clear the ends of those rows early.
Questions
Can every Christmas board be cleared?
Yes. Like all our boards, the tree is dealt so that at least one order of moves clears it. If you run out of moves, undo a few and try another pair, or shuffle the tiles that are left.
Is it free?
Yes, and there is nothing to download or sign up for. It works on computers, tablets and phones.
Is the tree available after Christmas?
It stays here all year. For more variety, the main mahjong solitaire board has four layouts, including the classic Turtle.
Want to try the real four-player game with family over the holidays? Our guide on how to play mahjong will get a table started in an evening.