Mahjong Fortress: lay siege to the castle
Mahjong Fortress arranges 104 mahjong tiles in the shape of a castle seen from above. Long walls run around the edge of the table. At each corner stands a tower three layers tall. In the middle sits the keep, a raised block of tiles with its own inner walls. To win, you remove every tile in matching pairs, exactly as in classic Mahjong Solitaire.
The fortress is a layout of separate parts. Tiles in the walls, the towers and the keep block only their own neighbours, so you will often find a free tile whose partner is on the other side of the castle. Learning to move between the parts is what this layout is all about.
How to play
- Look for free tiles. A tile is free if nothing is stacked on it and it has an open left or right side. Blocked tiles are shown darker.
- Tap a pair of identical free tiles to remove them.
- Flowers match flowers and seasons match seasons, whatever picture they show.
- Tools: Hint points out an open pair, Undo reverses your last match, and Shuffle re-deals the tiles that are left when no pair remains.
Strategy for the fortress
Start with the towers. The four corner towers are the tallest points of the castle. Their top tiles cover the tiles below, and the towers also box in the ends of the walls. Taking them down early opens both.
Enter the keep from its ends. The keep is wide, and its middle tiles are blocked on both sides by their neighbours. Only the tiles at each end of a row can move, so work inwards from the ends.
Keep a reserve in the walls. The top and bottom walls are long, flat rows that stay easy to reach. It is tempting to clear them first, but they are your best supply of spare partners for the towers and the keep. Take wall pairs when they open something, not just because they are there.
Watch for stacked copies. In the towers, two copies of the same tile can sit on top of each other. Plan to remove the upper one with a different partner.
More mahjong to play
Try the tall Mahjong Pyramid, the long Dragon, or the relaxed Butterfly. New every day: Daily Mahjong. Prefer large, easy-to-read tiles? Play Big Tiles Mahjong.
Features
- Unlimited deals, every one winnable.
- Unlimited hints, undos and shuffles.
- Authentic tile faces on a traditional Chinese-pattern table.
- Full screen on computers and tablets; phones turn sideways for bigger tiles.
How to play Mahjong Fortress
- The tiles form a fortress with outer walls, four corner towers and a central keep. 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 Fortress tips
Take down the towers
Each corner tower is three layers tall. Clearing the tops of the towers opens the corners of the walls.
Breach the keep from its ends
The keep in the middle is boxed in on both sides by its own rows. Its end tiles are the way in.
Don't empty the walls too fast
The long top and bottom walls give easy pairs. Keep some of them for when the keep and towers need partners.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles does Mahjong Fortress use?
104 tiles in three layers, arranged as outer walls, four corner towers two tiles wide, and a keep in the centre.
What makes the fortress layout different?
Its tiles are spread into separate groups (walls, towers and keep), so you often need a partner from another part of the castle.
Is every deal winnable?
Yes. Deals are built from a winning order, and Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles so they can still be cleared.
