A computer invention
Mahjong solitaire was created as a computer game in the early 1980s; Brodie Lockard's version for the PLATO system was developed into the commercial game Shanghai, published by Activision in 1986. Its success led to countless versions, and it is now preinstalled or freely available almost everywhere.
How it works
Tiles are stacked in a pattern, often a turtle shape. The player removes pairs of identical tiles that are "free" — not covered and with an open left or right side. The goal is to clear the board. It is a puzzle of planning and matching.
Why it is not mahjong
Mahjong solitaire uses mahjong tile designs but none of the rules: there are no hands, sets, discards, winds or scoring. Its popularity means many people associate "mahjong" with tile matching, which can be confusing when they first meet the real game.
From solitaire to the real thing
Many players do discover four-player mahjong through solitaire, and the familiarity with the tiles is a genuine head start: they can already recognise the suits, winds and dragons. From there, an introductory lesson in any style takes them into the actual game.
