How to play Connect (Shisen-Sho)

Connect is a mahjong matching game from Japan, where it's called Shisen-Sho. The tiles lie flat in a single rectangle, with no stacking, and two matching tiles can be taken when a line with at most two turns joins them through empty space.

A small Connect board, 12 tiles by 6. The red line shows a pair that can be joined.

The goal

Clear the board by joining matching pairs. When the last pair goes, you've won.

The rules

Two tiles can be taken together when:

They're identical. Each tile matches only its twin.
A line can join them that runs only through empty spaces, in straight horizontal and vertical pieces, and turns no more than twice. The line may run around the outside of the board, along the edge.

A straight line, one turn or two turns joins a pair; the line can go round the outside of the board. A pair that needs three or more turns can't be taken yet.

Unlike Mahjong Solitaire, any tile can be taken in Connect, wherever it lies, as long as its twin can be reached. The puzzle is in the paths: every pair you take opens new routes for the tiles around it.

Gravity

Gravity is an optional twist. With it on, the tiles close up the gaps that pairs leave behind: with Down, the tiles above a gap fall into it; with Left, the tiles to the right of a gap slide over. The board keeps changing shape as you play, so you have to think a move ahead.

With gravity down, the tiles above a gap fall to fill it.

Each setting, off, down or left, has its own leaderboard.

The tiles

Connect uses the same tiles as the other games, and each tile matches only its identical twin.

Bamboo, 2 to 9 10 points a tile
Dots, 1 to 9 10 points a tile
Characters, 1 to 9 10 points a tile
Dragons and the peacock 20 points a tile
Winds 40 points a tile
Flowers 40 points a tile
Seasons 40 points a tile

Playing on Mahjong Haus

Choose Connect (Shisen-Sho) in the settings (the gear in the top bar).
Choose a board: small (12×6, 72 tiles), medium (14×8, 112 tiles) or classic (18×8, 144 tiles, the size of the original game). Then choose gravity, your tiles and a background.
Take a pair. Tap a tile, then its twin. If a path joins them, a line flashes between them and both go.
Use the tools under the board: undo and redo, a hint, shuffle, the demo, and pause.

Scoring

Connect is scored like the other games: points for every tile, pace and speed bonuses, and finish bonuses (including the no-shuffle bonus) when you clear the board inside five minutes. Each board and gravity setting has its own leaderboard. See how scoring works.

Tips

Start at the edges. Tiles on the outside can always use the space around the board, so pairs there are often easy. Clearing the edge also opens paths into the middle.
Take pairs that open the most space. A pair in the middle of a crowded area makes room for many new paths.
Watch for crossed pairs. If two pairs block each other (A B A B in a row, say), neither can be joined straight across. Clear a way around before the board fills in.
With gravity, think a move ahead. Taking a pair moves the tiles above or beside it, which can open a path or close one.
Learn on the small board. It's quick to clear and shows the patterns well.

Questions

What does Shisen-Sho mean?: It's the game's Japanese name: Shisen-shō means Sichuan Province, in China. The game is also called Four Rivers, Two Corners and Nikakudori.
Can the line cross other tiles?: No. It only passes through empty spaces, or around the outside of the board.
Can every board be cleared?: With Guaranteed winnable path on, yes, though taking pairs in the wrong order can still leave you stuck. Undo, or shuffle the tiles left.