Eight boards, one matching system
Mahjong Solitaire Layouts
Compare the real footprint and stack depth of every playable board before choosing where to begin.
A geometry-based guide
How difficulty is assigned
These are editorial geometry labels, not player analytics. Beginner boards are small and shallow. Moderate boards divide attention across a wider or split structure. Advanced boards use deeper stacks, dense cover, or a low share of initially free tiles.
| Layout | Tiles | Footprint | Layers | Initially free | Covered at start | Raised tiles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turtle | 144 | 16×8 | 5 | 35 (24%) | 60 | 57 |
| Pyramid | 120 | 8×8 | 4 | 40 (33%) | 56 | 56 |
| Fortress | 132 | 10×10 | 3 | 36 (27%) | 32 | 32 |
| Easy | 56 | 8×6 | 2 | 16 (29%) | 8 | 8 |
| Cube | 48 | 4×4 | 3 | 8 (17%) | 32 | 32 |
| Mountain | 104 | 10×6 | 3 | 24 (23%) | 44 | 44 |
| Bridge | 72 | 12×4 | 2 | 16 (22%) | 24 | 24 |
| Cross | 48 | 12×8 | 1 | 16 (33%) | 0 | 0 |
5 layers · 16×8 tile footprint · 35 tiles initially free Turtle
Advanced- Opening access
- 35 free (24%)
- Covered
- 60 positions
- Raised geometry
- 57 tiles above base
A wide body, projecting head and tail, and five nested levels create several separate fronts to unlock.
Play Turtle4 layers · 8×8 tile footprint · 40 tiles initially free Pyramid
Advanced- Opening access
- 40 free (33%)
- Covered
- 56 positions
- Raised geometry
- 56 tiles above base
Four centered square tiers narrow from an 8×8 base to a 2×2 cap, concentrating cover toward the middle.
Play Pyramid3 layers · 10×10 tile footprint · 36 tiles initially free Fortress
Advanced- Opening access
- 36 free (27%)
- Covered
- 32 positions
- Raised geometry
- 32 tiles above base
A solid 10×10 base supports a raised perimeter wall and four isolated corner towers.
Play Fortress2 layers · 8×6 tile footprint · 16 tiles initially free Easy
Beginner- Opening access
- 16 free (29%)
- Covered
- 8 positions
- Raised geometry
- 8 tiles above base
A shallow 8×6 base carries one small 4×2 top slab, keeping the board short and the covered area limited.
Play Easy3 layers · 4×4 tile footprint · 8 tiles initially free Cube
Advanced- Opening access
- 8 free (17%)
- Covered
- 32 positions
- Raised geometry
- 32 tiles above base
Three identical 4×4 layers align exactly, leaving only the top layer available at the start.
Play Cube3 layers · 10×6 tile footprint · 24 tiles initially free Mountain
Moderate- Opening access
- 24 free (23%)
- Covered
- 44 positions
- Raised geometry
- 44 tiles above base
A broad 10×6 base steps inward through two long tiers, forming a shallow ridge instead of a central peak.
Play Mountain2 layers · 12×4 tile footprint · 16 tiles initially free Bridge
Moderate- Opening access
- 16 free (22%)
- Covered
- 24 positions
- Raised geometry
- 24 tiles above base
Two raised 3×4 end blocks cover a long 12×4 base, splitting the opening across opposite sides.
Play Bridge1 layer · 12×8 tile footprint · 16 tiles initially free Cross
Beginner- Opening access
- 16 free (33%)
- Covered
- 0 positions
- Raised geometry
- 0 tiles above base
A single-layer horizontal bar intersects a wider vertical stem, so no tile begins covered from above.
Play Cross
Need the matching rules first? Read How to Play, then use the strategy guide to plan around blockers.