Envelope Mahjong Solitaire
About the Envelope Layout
The Envelope layout takes the shape of a sealed letter seen from the front: a wide rectangle forms the body of the envelope, and a triangular flap folds down across the top half, its two slanted edges meeting at a point in the middle to give the clean, instantly readable look of mail ready to post. The lower rectangle is a broad flat field of tiles, while the diagonal lines of the flap cut across the upper portion in two neat slopes. It is a horizontal, landscape-shaped board, wider than it is tall, with a pleasing geometry of straight sides and angled creases.
Rated 2 out of 5, the Envelope is a relaxed and approachable board. The wide rectangular base is largely open with plenty of free edges, and the flap, while it adds a diagonal layer on top, is thin enough that it peels away without much fuss. Tiles seldom sit buried deeply, so the board stays generous with available moves throughout. The slanted flap gives it a touch more character than a plain rectangle, but this remains a comfortable, low-stress layout that is easy to clear in one sitting.
Difficulty: Medium (2/5) | Tiles: 136
How to Clear the Envelope Layout
Start along the outer edges of the wide rectangular body. The long bottom edge and the two short sides of the envelope are free from the outside and run for many tiles, so they hand you a large supply of easy matches to begin with. Sweeping these outer rows first thins the base and exposes the tiles underneath the flap.
Take the flap down its slanted edges. The triangular flap is a layer that sits over the upper half, and its two diagonal creases are the natural lines of weakness. Work along each slope, removing tiles from the outer edge of the flap inward toward the central point where the two sides meet. Clearing the flap is what unlocks the upper part of the rectangle hidden beneath it.
The crux is the point where the flap's two diagonals converge. That meeting point, and the seam where the flap overlaps the body, is the most layered spot on the board, so the tiles there free up last. Make sure you have cleared most of the open base and both slopes before you commit to that center, otherwise you can leave a matched pair stranded right at the tip of the flap.
For the endgame you will usually be finishing in the middle of the upper half, around that flap point. Keep a flower or season tile in reserve when you can, since it matches any flower or season and is a handy way to clear an awkward last tile near the seam. If you stall out with tiles left, the Shuffle button re-deals the remainder into another solvable arrangement so you can seal the win.
The Story Behind the Envelope Layout
The envelope is a quietly clever invention, a folded paper jacket designed to keep a letter private and intact on its journey, and the familiar pointed-flap shape has barely changed since pre-printed envelopes became common in the 1800s. That downward-folding triangular flap is the detail that makes an envelope instantly recognizable, distinguishing it from any other rectangle, and it is precisely that diagonal that gives this layout its visual hook.
On a Mahjong board the envelope works because it blends two kinds of geometry in one shape: the calm, orderly grid of the rectangular body and the crisp diagonals of the flap. That contrast keeps the board interesting to look at and to play, and there is a gentle charm in clearing a piece of mail tile by tile, as though you are slowly opening a letter that was never quite sealed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to start on the Envelope board?
Along the outer edges of the wide rectangular body, especially the long bottom edge and the two sides. They are free from the outside and span many tiles, giving you a big pool of easy opening matches and exposing the tiles tucked under the flap.
How do I clear the triangular flap?
Follow its two slanted edges. The flap is a thin layer laid over the upper half, so work each diagonal from its outer end inward toward the central point. Removing the flap is what reveals the upper part of the rectangle underneath it.
Why do I keep getting stuck near the middle top?
Because the point where the flap's two diagonals meet, and the seam where the flap overlaps the body, is the most layered area, so those tiles come free last. Clear the open base and both slopes before committing there, so you don't strand a matching pair at the flap's tip.
Is the Envelope layout guaranteed to be winnable?
Yes. Every deal has at least one full solution, and if you run out of moves the Shuffle button re-deals the remaining tiles into another solvable layout, so you can always reach an empty board.
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