Trident Mahjong Solitaire
About the Trident Layout
The Trident board is a striking, weapon-shaped layout. A long straight shaft runs up the center of the table, and near the top it meets a short crossbar from which three prongs rise: a tall central spike flanked by two outer prongs that curve gently inward, like the three-pronged spear of a sea god. The base is a clean vertical line, the head is a fan of points, and in tiles the whole thing reads as poised and a little dangerous, all reach and symmetry.
Sitting at 3 out of 5, the Trident is a balanced puzzle with a distinct shape to its challenge. The long shaft is mostly straightforward, a single tall column you can work along with comfortable margins, but the three-pronged head is fiddly, packing several narrow points and the crossbar junction into a small space. It feels like a board of two halves: a calm climb up the handle, then a careful untangling of the fork. The curving outer prongs add a few tricky tiles that don't sit on tidy straight edges, which is what nudges it above a beginner board.
Difficulty: Hard (3/5) | Tiles: 66
How to Clear the Trident Layout
Begin with the prongs, from the tips down. The three points at the top, the tall center and the two inward-curving sides, are the most exposed parts of the figure, and their upper tiles are free. Clear all three prongs roughly together rather than finishing one and leaving the others tall, so the head shrinks evenly toward the crossbar.
Mind the inward curve of the outer prongs. Because those two side points bend toward the center, their lower tiles tuck in close to the central prong and can overlap with the crossbar tiles. Open them from the outside edge first, where they are loosest, and avoid clearing the central prong so far down that it pins the curving tiles beside it.
The crux is the crossbar where the three prongs meet the shaft. This is the busiest, most stacked region of the board, a small junction asking the head's tiles to come off in the right order. Work the prongs and the crossbar in tandem: shorten the points enough that the bar's top tiles are exposed, then peel the bar so the shaft below it is freed. Rushing the shaft before the crossbar is clear is the most common way to get stuck.
Save the shaft for last and the endgame becomes easy. The long handle is essentially a straight column, so once the fork above it is cleared, the remaining tiles open from the top down with few surprises. Keep a flexible pair, or a flower or season, in reserve to unstick the crossbar if it tightens, since flowers match any flower and seasons match any season. And if the head ever knots up completely, Shuffle re-deals the leftover tiles into a new solvable board.
The Story Behind the Trident Layout
The trident is one of the oldest symbols of the sea, carried by Poseidon in Greek myth and Neptune in Roman, and used for real by fishermen spearing in shallow water. Three points let it pin a slippery catch where a single spike might miss, which is why the shape turns up everywhere from mythology to the flag of Barbados to the humble pitchfork.
Those three prongs make it a lovely Mahjong subject. The tall central spike and the two inward-curving outer points give the head genuine character and a satisfying bit of difficulty, while the long shaft offers a clean, calming column to finish on. It is a shape with a clear top and bottom, easy to read and pleasing to dismantle from its dangerous points down to its steady handle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which part of the Trident should I clear first?
The three prongs at the top, working down from their tips. The points are the most exposed tiles on the board. Clear all three roughly evenly so the head shrinks toward the crossbar without leaving any single prong stranded and tall.
Why are the outer prongs tricky?
They curve inward, so their lower tiles tuck close to the center prong and can overlap the crossbar. Open each outer prong from its outside edge, where the tiles are loosest, and don't drive the central prong down so far that it traps the curving tiles beside it.
What is the crux of this layout?
The crossbar junction where all three prongs meet the shaft. It is the most stacked spot, so the head's tiles must come off in the right order. Shorten the prongs to expose the bar's top tiles, then peel the bar to free the shaft beneath it.
Is the long shaft hard to finish?
No. Once the fork is cleared, the shaft is essentially a straight single column that opens cleanly from the top down. Save it for last and the endgame is the calmest part of the board. If anything locks up earlier, Shuffle gives you a fresh solvable deal.
See more Symbol Mahjong boards, or browse all layouts.
