Double Diamond Mahjong Solitaire
About the Double Diamond Layout
Double Diamond places two diamonds side by side, 88 tiles in all, each formed from four nested layers that rise to a point at the center and step down to a sharp outline at the edges. The two gems sit as a matched pair, mirror images joined at the middle, so the board has a clean bilateral symmetry that looks like a piece of cut jewelry seen from above. Each diamond is a small four-tier pyramid in its own right, faceted by the way successive layers shrink toward the apex. The difficulty sits at five out of five, driven by the depth packed into a fairly compact footprint.
What makes Double Diamond distinctive is that you are effectively solving two stacked shapes at once that share a seam down the middle. Each diamond feels manageable alone, but they are linked where they meet, and tiles along that join can lock across both gems. The play has a pleasing rhythm of working the two facets in tandem, and a real bite in the late game when both apexes are reduced to their final tiles at the same time. It rewards players who can keep two fronts balanced rather than tunneling into one.
Difficulty: Master (5/5) | Tiles: 88
How to Clear the Double Diamond Layout
Open on the outer edges of both diamonds, the lowest layer where the facets meet the table. Those rim tiles are exposed on their outer side and come off readily. Work both diamonds at once, taking edge pairs from each, rather than dismantling one diamond fully while the other sits untouched.
Mind the seam where the two diamonds join. Tiles along the central join can be braced by both gems, so a tile that looks free on one diamond may still be pinned by its twin across the seam. Clear the join area deliberately and keep both inner slopes descending together so neither side traps the other.
The crux is the two apexes. Each diamond's four layers must come down from its point inward, top layer before the one below, and because the gems are compact there are not many matches available once the rims are gone. Before you spend your last low-layer pairs, check that you are not leaving a suit stranded at one of the peaks. Balanced descent across both diamonds keeps the maximum number of pairs in play.
The endgame is the pair of apex tiles, the topmost stones of each gem, often coming off nearly together. If you have kept the two sides even, they finish cleanly. If one apex jams with a buried pair, Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles into a fresh solvable arrangement and is usually the simplest way to unstick a trapped peak.
The Story Behind the Double Diamond Layout
The diamond is the hardest natural material we know and the most prized of gemstones, valued as much for the geometry of its cut as for its rarity. A brilliant-cut diamond is all about facets, flat planes arranged to climb to a point and throw light back at the eye, and the nested layers of this layout mirror exactly that faceting, each tier a band of the cut stepping up to the apex. Pairing two diamonds doubles the symbolism, evoking a matched set, twin gems, or the mirrored sparkle of a well-made jewel.
Geometrically the appeal is the bilateral symmetry. Two identical pyramids reflected across a central line make a shape that is balanced and ornamental, the kind of motif you see in heraldry and jewelry alike. Clearing it has the quality of disassembling something precious facet by facet, and the twin apexes give the finish a satisfying matched-pair symmetry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I clear one diamond before the other in Double Diamond?
No. The two diamonds are joined at the center and tiles along the seam can lock across both, so emptying one in isolation can pin the other. Work both gems down together, keeping their facets even.
Why is a tile near the middle not free even though it looks open?
Tiles along the join between the diamonds can be braced by both gems at once. A stone that appears free on one side may still be covered or flanked by its twin across the seam, so clear the central area deliberately.
How do the apexes come apart?
Each diamond's four nested layers must be removed from the point downward, top layer before the one beneath. The two apex tiles usually finish close together, so keep both sides balanced as you climb so neither peak strands a needed suit.
Is every Double Diamond deal solvable?
Yes. The board is generated by reversing a solved layout, guaranteeing a full solution. If a peak jams with a buried pair, the Shuffle button re-deals the remaining tiles into another solvable arrangement.
See more Diamond Mahjong boards, or browse all layouts.
