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''Shanghai'' is a solitaire game played with TabletopGame/{{Mahjong}} tiles, originally in a turtle-shaped layout (although numerous others have since been devised), where the object is to clear all tiles by removing them in matching pairs. Creator/{{Activision}} released the game for Platform/AppleMacintosh in 1986 and trademarked the name ''Shanghai''. There are numerous versions available, ranging from the compact (but fully functional) ''Taipei'' by Creator/{{Microsoft}} to the sophisticated ''Kyodai''. Some of the more sophisticated ones include other solitaire games played with the same tiles, such as Rivers.

Good versions (e.g., the aforementioned ''Taipei'' and ''Kyodai'') construct the layout in such a way that it's always initially possible to win, although it might be extremely difficult (and still luck-based since you don't have complete information). Unfortunately, [[UnintentionallyUnwinnable not all versions are good]].

Most of these games are called "Mahjong" or some variant, which is [[NonIndicativeName wrong]]; their only connection to mahjong is that they're played with the same tiles, in the same way that bridge is played with the same cards as rummy. In both cases, the resemblance ends there. The name "Mahjong solitaire" is sometimes used as a generic name for this game.

There was some [[http://home.halden.net/vkp/vkp/origin.html debate]] on the exact origins of the game. The official story is that it was invented by Brodie Lockard at the University of Illinois in [[TheEighties 1981]], but others say it was based off an older children's game called "Demolish the Turtle" from China.

[[http://home.halden.net/vkp/vkp/index.html Vegard Krog Peterson]] has a comprehensive guide to these games.

!!This game contains examples of:

* LuckBasedMission: Zigzagged. While completing a game of mahjong solitaire typically does require at least a little luck, it's not completely out of the player's control. While making choices based on incomplete information is unavoidable, being careful and observant will greatly increase your odds of success.
* PuzzleGame: Of the "Pure Puzzle" variety. Players are tasked with finding matching pairs of tiles; when a match is found, the two tiles are removed from play. However, only tiles that are "free" -- not wholly or partly covered by another tile -- can be used in a match. Play continues until all tiles are matched or the player has no more legal moves.
* UnintentionallyUnwinnable: While mahjong-solitaire games use a set of rules for arranging the tiles that ''should'' create a solvable arrangement, they're not always foolproof. It's entirely possible to get a tile arrangement that isn't solvable by legal play.
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