The Turtle is the board most players picture when they think of Mahjong Solitaire. Its 144 tiles rise in five layers to one tile on top. Play free in your browser, with no download.
Goal: clear all 144 tiles in matching pairs.
| Layer | Tiles | Free at the start |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (bottom) | 87 | 14 |
| 2 | 36 | 12 |
| 3 | 16 | 8 |
| 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 5 (top) | 1 | 1 |
| All layers | 144 | 35 |
So 35 tiles are free on your first move, and the other 109 are covered or blocked. Layer 4 opens only after the top tile goes.
The Turtle is the default board, and the daily challenge always deals it, the same deal for every player that day. You get hints, undo and five shuffles a game; Settings offers 0, 3, 5 or 10. More than 650 other layouts wait in the layout picker. Install the game as an app from your browser menu to play without internet.
In September 2026, players here won 57.7% of the Turtle games they started, with up to five shuffles (September 2026 report). For opening plans, read the Turtle strategy guide.
Of the 144 tiles, 35 are free on your first move: 14 on the bottom layer, 12 on the second, 8 on the third and the single top tile. The fourth layer has none, because all four of its tiles sit under the top tile.
In September 2026, players here won 57.7% of the Turtle games they started. Unfinished games count as losses in that figure, and each game allowed up to five shuffles, the default. With fewer shuffles the board is harder, and with ten it is easier.
The game tells you and offers a shuffle, which moves the remaining tiles to new places. You get five shuffles a game by default. When none are left and no pair is free, the game ends. You can still undo moves and try another line.
Yes. The daily challenge always deals the Turtle, and every player gets the same deal that day. Your other games use the layout you picked last, so you can play the daily on the Turtle and practice other boards in between.