Bell Mahjong Solitaire
About the Bell Layout
The Bell hangs across 78 tiles in a classic chime shape: a small crown or loop at the very top for hanging, a body that swells outward as it descends into a wide flaring mouth at the bottom, and a clapper, a little dangling tongue, suspended in the open space beneath the rim. The body is broad and filled in, giving the upper and middle of the board real density, while the flared lip spreads the tiles wide at the base. That solid, rounded mass earns it a 3 out of 5 difficulty.
Playing the Bell has a satisfying top-heavy weight to it. The crown and shoulders up top are tightly packed and ask for patience, then the board opens up as you reach the flaring mouth, where the tiles spread out and free edges multiply. The little clapper hanging below is a charming detail and a tidy late-game pocket. Watching the bell's curved silhouette emerge as the body thins is genuinely pleasing, making this a good middleweight challenge for someone who wants more than a quick clear.
Difficulty: Hard (3/5) | Tiles: 78
How to Clear the Bell Layout
Start at the flared mouth. The wide rim at the bottom is where the bell spreads out, so its left and right edges offer the most open tiles from the opening move. Clear along the lip first to bank easy matches and keep the base from clogging.
Crack the crown to free the top. The small loop at the apex and the shoulders just below it pin the tiles underneath. Opening the crown early lets the dense upper body begin to collapse, which is the key to unlocking the heaviest part of the board.
Work the body in horizontal bands. The swelling middle is broad and filled, and its center tiles are hemmed in on both sides. Sweep across in rows, edge to edge, so each band exposes the one beneath it instead of leaving a stranded core in the belly of the bell.
Save the clapper for last. The hanging tongue sits in the open mouth and stays reachable throughout, so it is a perfect endgame reserve. If the body locks up before you get there, the Shuffle button re-deals the remaining tiles into a solvable arrangement and the bell rings again.
The Story Behind the Bell Layout
A bell makes sound from shape. Its flared body is tuned bronze, the crown at the top is how it hangs from the headstock, and the clapper is the small swinging weight that strikes the inside of the rim to ring it. This layout captures that whole anatomy, from the loop you would hang it by down to the dangling tongue, so the silhouette reads instantly as a bell even rendered in tiles.
Bells have summoned and celebrated for as long as people have cast metal, marking the hours, calling gatherings, sounding alarms and pealing in joy. Their voice carries weight and occasion, a sound meant to be heard across a whole town. Among the Objects layouts the Bell brings that note of resonance and ceremony, an everyday object with an outsized presence, both visually on the board and in what it represents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Bell rated 3 out of 5?
The body of the bell is broad and densely filled, so the tiles in the middle stay blocked until you clear the bands around them, and at 78 tiles there is a fair amount to manage. The flared mouth is easier, which keeps it moderate rather than hard.
Where is the best place to begin on the Bell?
At the flaring mouth along the bottom. Its left and right edges hold the most open tiles, so clearing the rim early gives you a steady supply of matches while you tackle the denser body above.
How should I handle the packed middle of the bell?
Sweep across it in horizontal bands from edge to edge. The center tiles are blocked on both sides, so clearing whole rows exposes the next layer down and prevents a stuck cluster forming in the belly.
What is the clapper for, and can the Bell become unwinnable?
The clapper is the small hanging tile group below the rim; it stays open and makes a reliable late reserve. The board is always solvable because it is built from a completed state, and Shuffle re-deals the remainder into a winnable layout if you stall.
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