There are few tips that can help you solve a puzzle and avoid ending up in unsolvable situation:
- The general strategy is to keep removing matching tiles so that each removal opens up more possibilities for future tile matching. If you have a pair that does not open anything, leave it until you need it.
- Don't forget that you should open up new tiles with every matched pair. Choosing obvious pairs every time, such as those from the top levels, will often result in a loss by leaving more tiles uncovered.
- In certain situations, obtaining matching tiles can be either impossible or highly unlikely. The key is to avoid getting into positions where this is likely to happen. Concentrate on matching tiles on horizontal lines, as these are usually more difficult to remove.
- When you have 3 or more identical tiles free and matchable, match the pair that will free additional tiles. Matching the wrong pair can lead to unsolvable situations later.
- It is imperative to react fast. Fast reaction means making the correct decision given the current situation as the result of previous decisions. You will be required to imagine your movements several steps ahead. The game might look playable now, but if you don’t look ahead and you make the wrong move, then the game could end with no solutions.
- Some of the Mahjong characters on the tiles look quite similar, especially when you must quickly scan many tiles over and over. It is important to be able to distinguish all the tiles correctly and memorize where you last saw a certain piece.
All these tips may look intimidating the first time you play Mahjong solitaire, but don’t worry! This game actually is pretty easy to learn, but difficult to master. You will learn everything eventually, leading to less and less unsolvable situations after each successful game.
