Emperor Mahjong Solitaire
About the Emperor Layout
Emperor is a layout built to overawe, a throne made of 108 tiles that rises in five towering layers with broad side wings flanking the central mass. The core of the board is a tall stepped pyramid, each tier set back from the one below so the structure climbs to a single commanding peak, while the wings spread to the left and right like the arms of a great seat of state. From above it reads as a figure enthroned, high in the middle and wide at the base. At five out of five, it is one of the most demanding climbs in the set.
The dominant feeling is verticality. Most boards spread out; Emperor goes up. That fifth-layer summit means tiles are stacked deeper here than almost anywhere else, and depth is the enemy of free moves. The wings give you somewhere to work early and breathe, but the central tower hangs over the whole game, and you can feel it waiting. Bringing the Emperor low is a long descent from the throne, and the tension mounts as the upper tiers narrow to their final few tiles.
Difficulty: Master (5/5) | Tiles: 108
How to Clear the Emperor Layout
Open on the wings, not the tower. The two side wings are lower and broader, with plenty of edge-exposed tiles, so they are where your free matches live at the start. Clear them down steadily; this also widens the base around the central pyramid and exposes the lowest tier's flanks.
The tower must come down strictly from the top. Each of the five tiers covers the one beneath it, so the peak tile and the fifth tier have to go before the fourth opens, and so on. Never try to dig into a lower tier from the side while higher tiers still sit on it; you will simply have no legal moves there. Read the steps and always take the highest accessible tiles first.
The crux is the transition from wings to tower. Once the wings are gone, the only tiles left are the stacked tiers, and your margin for error collapses, because a stepped pyramid offers very few simultaneous matches. Before you commit the last wing pairs, make sure you are not stranding a suit you will need at the summit. Keep flexible pairs in hand so the narrow upper tiers stay solvable.
The endgame is the peak, the last handful of tiles at the throne's crown sitting one atop another. If you have descended the tower cleanly, these fall in order. If a pair has been buried under the peak, use Shuffle, which re-deals the remaining tiles into a fresh solvable arrangement and is often the only escape from a jammed summit.
The Story Behind the Emperor Layout
The emperor was the apex of the old Chinese order, the Son of Heaven seated above the entire realm, and the visual language of empire was always about height and symmetry: raised thrones, stepped terraces, a single figure elevated at the center while the court spread out below. Emperor renders that hierarchy in tiles. The five climbing layers are the tiers of a throne dais, the lofty peak is the seat itself, and the side wings are the court or the great arms of the throne extending to either side.
The number five is fitting too. Five was a deeply auspicious number in imperial China, tied to the five elements and the five cardinal directions with the emperor at the center, and a throne of exactly five tiers quietly nods to that symbolism. The whole shape is a small monument to authority, and dismantling it tile by tile has the feel of slowly bringing a dynasty down to the ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clear the central tower in Emperor?
Strictly from the top down. Each of the five tiers covers the tier below, so you must remove the peak and upper layers before the lower ones become accessible. Always take the highest reachable tiles first.
Where should I start?
On the two side wings. They are lower and broader with many edge-exposed tiles, giving you free matches early and widening the base around the pyramid before you tackle the climb.
Why are there no moves left near the bottom of the tower?
Lower tiers stay locked while the tiers above still rest on them. You cannot open the base from the side; the structure only releases from the summit downward, so keep descending from the top.
Is the Emperor layout guaranteed to be winnable?
Yes. It is built by reversing a solved board, so a complete solution always exists. If the summit jams with a buried pair, Shuffle re-deals the remaining tiles into another solvable arrangement.
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