Classic mahjong solitaire asks you to select two matching free tiles on the board. Tray mahjong changes one thing: you collect tiles one by one into a tray, and matching happens there. It sounds like a small change, but it shifts the game from spotting pairs to planning sequences.
How the tray works in Mahjong Elite
- Tap a free tile. As in the classic game, a tile is free when nothing covers it and its left or right side is open.
- It flies into the tray. The tray at the bottom of the screen has four slots.
- Pairs clear automatically. When a tile lands next to its identical twin in the tray, both clear and the slots open up again.
- Four unmatched tiles end the run. If the tray fills without any pair, you cannot collect more tiles.
- Clear the board to win. The level is complete when every tile has been matched.
Why a tray?
The tray brings two benefits on a touch screen:
- One tap per tile. You never have to hold one selection while searching for its partner.
- Room to plan. You can collect a tile now and its partner a move or two later, as long as the tray has space. That flexibility is what makes chains of moves and combos possible.
The cost is commitment. A tile in the tray cannot go back to the board unless you use undo, so every tap should have a purpose.
The golden rule: know the partner
Before tapping a tile, ask: where is its partner?
- Partner is free right now. Tap both, one after the other. They meet in the tray and clear. This is the safest move in the game.
- Partner will be free in a move or two. Collecting the first tile is fine if the tray has room for the tiles you need to clear the way.
- Partner is buried. Leave that tile on the board for now.
Managing the four slots
Think of the tray as a budget:
| Tray state | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 tiles | Comfortable | Collect freely, set up future pairs |
| 2 tiles | Getting tight | Only collect tiles whose partner is free |
| 3 tiles | Danger | Collect only a direct partner of a tile already in the tray |
| 4 tiles, no pair | Run over | Undo, continue or restart |
Special tiles change the budget. A frozen tile in the tray also freezes the slot next to it, so it effectively costs two slots until it is matched. See the special tiles guide for details.
Combos and stars
Matching pairs back to back builds a combo, which multiplies your score and lifts you up the weekly leaderboard. Stars reward clean play: the fewer hints and shuffles you use, the more stars you earn on a level.
Boosters in tray mode
- Hint highlights a matching pair you can collect.
- Shuffle rearranges the tiles left on the board.
- Undo sends your last tile from the tray back to the board.
Boosters in Mahjong Elite are an account inventory, not a per-level allowance. New players start with 2 hints, 2 shuffles and 7 undos, and more can be bought with in-game coins.
Tray mahjong vs classic mahjong
| Classic | Tray (Mahjong Elite) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you match | Select two free tiles | Tap free tiles into a 4-slot tray |
| When you lose | No pairs left on the board | Tray full with no pair |
| Main skill | Spotting pairs | Planning sequences |
| Phone friendliness | Two precise taps per match | One tap per tile |
The tray applies to solo levels. In VS duels with a friend, Mahjong Elite uses classic two-tile selection, so both players race on the same rules.
Want to try it? Read how to play mahjong solitaire for the basics, then download Mahjong Elite and start with the first world.
Frequently asked questions
- How many slots does the Mahjong Elite tray have?
- Four. Two identical tiles in the tray clear automatically, and four unmatched tiles end the run.
- Is tray mahjong harder than classic mahjong solitaire?
- It asks for more planning, because a tile you tap is committed to the tray. In return, you never need to select two tiles at once, which makes it faster on a phone.
- Can I undo a tray move?
- Yes. The undo booster sends the last tile back from the tray to its place on the board.
- What happens when the tray is full?
- If all four slots fill without a match, the run is over. Mahjong Elite may offer a chance to continue, or you can restart the level.
