Tetris is a puzzle game originally created in 1984 for home video game consoles. It has since not only expanded to various types of home video game consoles, but various other platforms including apps for iPhone, iPod, iPad, Windows phones and Android phones. It is now considered one of the most widely recognized games of all time as well as one of the greatest games of all time.

Tetris is a simple strategic puzzle game that requires swift thought and reactions to accel.  As Tetris progresses, so does the difficulty level and speed of the game.

In this three step Tetris strategy guide, you will quickly learn the most important aspects of the game of Tetris along with the most effective ways to gain points.  This guide will focus more so on the Tetris app, but can be a reference for any form of the game.

1. Familiarize Yourself with Tetriminos

There are seven Tetriminos total in the game of Tetris.  Become familiar with each Tetris shape so that you can know which one would be the best fit for a whole in the game.  We’ll come back to this point.

The way you score points in Tetris is to clear lines.  To do so you must move and rotate Tetriminos to fit in to the line as shown in the photo shown to the left.  The only way to clear a line in Tetris is to make sure that every square in a row is filled.

To move a tetrimino, one must slide a finger down to the place desired.  It is important to only move the tetrimino once it it is in the position that will best fit the area.  You will get the Tetrimino to this position by rotating it.

To rotate a Tetrimino, one must tap the screen.  The Tetrimino will then shift to a new position.  You may tap the Tetrimino as many times as necessary to rotate it to your desired position.  Note that the Tetrimino has only so many positions to be switched to before repeating.

Once you create a full line, it will collapse clearing the space and giving you points.

Here is a link to the official Tetris website’s interactive tutorial that allows you to watch and try moving a Tetrimino, rotating a Tetrimino and clearing a line:  http://www.tetris.com/how-to-play-tetris/beginner-tips.aspx

2. Look Ahead in the Game of Tetris

Going back to the point of knowing what piece would best fit in a whole, you should also become familiar with the Ghost Piece and Next Queue sections of the game.

The Ghost Piece shows you where and how the active Tetriminos will land before, as, and after you move or rotate it.  It is visible as a shadow/reflection of the curret Tetriminos as shown in the picture to the left.

The Next Queue shows you the next Tetrimino that will become active after the current Tetrimino is in place.  It is shown at the top right under the word Next in the photo to the left.

These tools allow you to prepare for your next move by giving you a hint into the future of your game.  These hints enable you to think ahead to form your lines thereby clearing them and gaining points.

Here is the link to the official Tetris website’s interactive tutorial that allows you to watch and try using the Ghost Piece, using the next queue, and holding a Tetrimino:  http://www.tetris.com/how-to-play-tetris/intermediate-tips.aspx

3. Gaining Extra Points in Tetris

Two ways to gain bonus points are to perform a T-Spin and score a combo.

To perform the T-Spin, one must leave a gap in the shape of the T-Tetrimino, then rotate the T-Tetrimino once it becomes active to fit.  If this move clears a line, you will gain bonus points.

To score a combo, you must clear lines back to back with consecutive Tetriminos.  The bonus increases with the amount of Tetriminos consecutively used in a sequence of line clears.

Here is the link to the official Tetris website’s interactive tutorial that allows you to watch and try dropping a Tetrimino, performing a T-Spin, and scoring a combo:  http://www.tetris.com/how-to-play-tetris/advanced-tips.aspx

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