Rainbow Mahjong Solitaire
About the Rainbow Layout
The Rainbow layout sweeps across the screen as a broad half-circle arch, built from several nested concentric bands of tiles that curve from one end of the ground to the other. The arc is open and flat along the bottom edge, so the two feet of the rainbow rest on an invisible horizon while the colored bands stack up and over in smooth, rounded rows. The hollow space under the arch keeps the whole shape light and airy rather than dense, with most tiles strung out along the curving bands instead of piled deep.
Rated 2 out of 5, the Rainbow is one of the gentler, more welcoming boards in the set, a fine choice for a calm session. Because the bands are mostly a single layer wide and the arch is open underneath, free tiles are plentiful and overlaps are shallow. It is a relaxing, low-pressure puzzle where progress comes quickly and the main pleasure is watching the colorful arc slowly thin out band by band.
Difficulty: Medium (2/5) | Tiles: 82
How to Clear the Rainbow Layout
Begin at the two feet of the rainbow. The ends of every band, where the arch meets the ground on the left and right, are always free, so they give you an immediate supply of matchable tiles. Working inward from both feet at once keeps the whole arc shrinking evenly instead of leaving one side overgrown.
Peel the bands from the outside in. The outermost band is the most exposed, and clearing it loosens the band tucked just inside it. Think of unwinding the rainbow one stripe at a time rather than poking holes in the middle, which can leave inner tiles awkwardly pinned between their neighbors along the curve.
The only real squeeze is the top of the arch, the crown, where the curving bands bunch closest together. Tiles crowd there because the curve is tightest at the peak. Avoid clearing the crown too early; let the side bands open up first so the top tiles have free ends to either side when you reach them.
Endgame on the Rainbow is usually smooth because the open underside means few tiles are ever deeply buried. Keep matching toward the center from both feet and the arch simply melts away. If a stray pair at the crown traps you, the Shuffle button re-deals the remaining tiles solvably, so a near-finished rainbow is never a dead end.
The Story Behind the Rainbow Layout
A rainbow is pure optical magic, sunlight bent and split into its colors by raindrops still hanging in the air, and it has charmed people for as long as anyone has looked up after a storm. Its perfect arc and its association with calm-after-the-rain make it an almost soothing thing to stare at, which is exactly the mood this gentle layout aims for.
As a Mahjong shape the arch is a natural winner. Concentric curved bands give the board a graceful symmetry, and the open space beneath the arc means the tiles read as a clean, recognizable rainbow rather than a solid lump. Clearing it band by band feels a little like the rainbow fading naturally from the sky, a quiet, satisfying way to wind down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the easiest tiles to start with?
The two feet of the rainbow, where the bands touch the ground on the left and right. The ends of every band are free, so starting at both feet gives you immediate matches and keeps the arch shrinking evenly.
Is the Rainbow a good layout for beginners?
Very much so. At 2 out of 5 it is one of the easier boards, with mostly single-layer bands and an open underside that keeps tiles from being deeply buried. Free tiles stay plentiful throughout, so it is forgiving for newer players.
What is the trickiest part of the arch?
The crown at the very top, where the curving bands bunch closest together. Open up the side bands first so the crown tiles have free neighbors on either side by the time you reach them.
How do flowers and seasons work here?
Any flower tile matches any other flower, and any season matches any other season. On an open board like the Rainbow that flexibility makes them very easy to clear whenever a pair becomes free along the bands.
See more Nature Mahjong boards, or browse all layouts.
