Just like many solitaire games, you can definitely lose in Mahjong Solitaire.
Since there are four tiles (two pairs) of each tile set, you can play in such a way that you’re deadlocked because of a previous choice.
Imagine, for example, there are two matching tiles with one stacked on top of the other. If you already removed the other two matches for that same tile set, then you’re stuck, since the only way to remove the top one is to match it with another match — but you can’t get to the only remaining matching tile since it’s covered by that tile.
I guess my question was whether "shuffle" was a legitimate part of the game, or if it means "you've lost, try again."
When the tiles are shuffled, the situation you describe gets undone, no? So I'm guessing that means you've basically lost, but in this implementation it doesn't make that clear (at least to me), so I just carried on and figured I won.
Yeah, I nothing that’s just a way to allow you to finish when you get stuck. In most games I’ve played (and I’ve played many different ones on iPhone, computer, and consoles), I don’t think I’ve seen that. Usually once you’re stuck, they’ll let you know and you have to start a new game.
I have, however, often seen them allow you to replay the same setup to try and beat it again. Many also allow undo (sometimes limited, sometimes unlimited) to reverse your moves to get out of being stuck.
Since there are four tiles (two pairs) of each tile set, you can play in such a way that you’re deadlocked because of a previous choice.
Imagine, for example, there are two matching tiles with one stacked on top of the other. If you already removed the other two matches for that same tile set, then you’re stuck, since the only way to remove the top one is to match it with another match — but you can’t get to the only remaining matching tile since it’s covered by that tile.