Mahjong Butterfly: a friendly layout with a tricky middle
Mahjong Butterfly is a mahjong solitaire layout shaped like a butterfly seen from above. Two wide wings spread to the left and right, and a narrow body runs down the middle, stacked three layers high. The board holds 104 tiles. Your goal is the same as in every mahjong solitaire game: remove matching pairs of free tiles until the table is empty.
Because the wings are wide and mostly one layer deep, the butterfly gives you plenty of free tiles at the start. That makes it a relaxing layout for new players. The challenge arrives later, when the body in the middle still holds three layers of tiles and the wings have run low.
How to play
- Find a free tile. A tile is free when nothing lies on top of it and its left or right side is open. Blocked tiles are shown a little darker.
- Tap two identical free tiles to remove them as a pair.
- Bonus tiles: any flower matches any other flower, and any season matches any other season.
- Stuck? Press Shuffle. The tiles still on the table are re-dealt so the board can still be cleared. Hint shows an open pair and Undo takes back your last match.
A strategy that works on the butterfly
Take the wing tips, but with a plan. The corners of the wings are free from the first move. Before matching them, check which inner tiles each pair would uncover. A pair that opens a new row is worth more than one that only removes two corner tiles.
Dig into the body early. The body is the tallest part of the board. Its top tiles block the tiles underneath, and the tiles beside it block its sides. Start taking body tiles as soon as they are free, so you are not left with a tall stack and nothing else to match.
Keep both wings alive. If you empty one wing completely, the tiles you need may all be trapped on the other side. Clearing both wings at a similar pace keeps your choices open.
Remember the four copies. Each tile appears four times. When two copies are gone, the last two must come off together, so make sure neither is buried under the other.
More mahjong layouts
Each layout plays differently. The classic turtle is the traditional 144-tile board. The Dragon stretches into long rows. The Pyramid rises four layers high, and the Fortress hides its centre behind walls and towers. For a relaxed game with large, clear tiles, try Big Tiles Mahjong.
Features
- Every deal is winnable, with unlimited hints, undos and shuffles.
- Real mahjong tile designs on a traditional patterned table.
- Full screen on computers and tablets; on phones the game turns sideways for bigger tiles.
- No download, no sign-up, free to play in your browser.
How to play Mahjong Butterfly
- The tiles form a butterfly with two wings and a raised body in the middle. Remove them in matching pairs.
- A tile is free when nothing lies on top of it and its left or right side is open.
- Identical tiles match. Any two flowers match, and any two seasons match.
- Tap a free tile, then its partner. If no pair is left, press Shuffle to re-deal the remaining tiles.
Mahjong Butterfly tips
Enjoy the easy start
The wing tips are free from the first move. Use them to make pairs, but think about which pairs open the inner wing rows.
The body is the hard part
The body is three layers high and sits between the wings. Start digging it out before the wings run empty.
Balance the wings
Clear both wings evenly. If one wing is empty and the other full, the free tiles you need may all be on one side.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles does Mahjong Butterfly have?
104 tiles in three layers. The wings are one or two layers deep and the body in the middle is three layers high.
Is the butterfly layout easy?
It starts easy, because the wing tips offer many free tiles, and gets harder as you reach the stacked body in the middle.
Can every game be won?
Yes. Each deal is built from a winning order, and Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles in a way that can still be cleared.
