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Quick answer
Mahjong Solitaire is a free tile-matching solitaire puzzle that plays instantly in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download, sign-up or ads. Remove all tiles by matching identical free pairs; a tile is free when nothing covers it and its left or right side is open.
Mahjong Solitaire at a glance
What it is
Tile-matching solitaire puzzle
This page
Fortress layout: 144 tiles in 3 layers, hard difficulty
Goal
Remove all tiles by matching identical free pairs; a tile is free when nothing covers it and its left or right side is open
Modes
Six layouts: Turtle, Dragon, Pyramid, Fortress, Butterfly and Fish (120-144 tiles); every deal is generated with a solution
Controls
Tap or click two tiles; keyboard arrows and Enter; hint, undo and shuffle buttons
Players
1
Price
Free, no ads, no sign-up, no download
Works on
Phones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser
The Fortress is a square wall around a courtyard. Each corner holds a tower two layers high with a lookout tile on top, the walls are doubled, and a raised keep stands in the middle of the courtyard.
Long walls mean long blocked rows. The corners are where the walls begin, so the towers are your way in: clear a tower and both walls that meet there gain a free end.
Strategy tips
Storm the towers. Each lookout covers the four tower tiles below it. Remove the lookouts early so the towers, and then the wall ends beside them, can come down.
Lower the keep. The keep sits on top of the courtyard. Once it is gone the courtyard rows open from the ends.
Avoid hollowing out one wall. Clearing a single wall completely can strand tiles behind it in the courtyard. Spread your moves around the square.
Hold back a flexible pair. Keep a flower or season pair available for the moment the walls run dry.
Fair, every time
The Fortress is one of the harder layouts, but every deal still has a guaranteed solution. Use Hint when you are unsure and Undo to try a different line.
How to play Fortress 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
How many tiles are in the Fortress layout?
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The Fortress uses the full 144 tiles across 3 layers, built as an outer wall, corner towers and a central keep.
Why does the Fortress feel so tight?
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The walls are double height and the courtyard is raised, so most tiles have neighbours on both sides. Free tiles open up slowly, one wall end at a time.
Which part of the Fortress should I clear first?
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Start with the tower tops and the keep. They sit on top of other tiles, and removing them early frees the walls and courtyard beneath.
Is the Fortress the same as a castle layout?
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It follows the same idea of walls and towers. This version is designed from scratch to fit 144 tiles in eight rows so it also plays well on phones.