Introduction to Higher-Level Tetris

An introduction to the competitive world of Tetris that covers topics like T-Spins, Combos, and Openers.

Notice Before Reading

Hello. This guide is pretty old. Most—if not all—of the information covered here, and much much more, is also covered on https://four.lol/ in a more professional looking format and was contributed to by players much better than myself. A lot of the sample embeds used in this guide have broken since I wrote it three years ago, so I recommend going directly to this website, or checking out resources from Hard Drop that are linked at the end of the guide, instead of reading this guide.

Introduction

This goal of this guide is meant to introduce players who seek to improve to the competitive realm of Tetris. This guide is mostly geared towards players interested in Versus mode, but a lot of this information is useful in Single-player modes where score is important. The only information here that is not useful in Single-player modes is the “Garbage Management and Combo Setups” section.
In this guide, we will cover:

• Basic Hidden Mechanics
• Introduction to T-Spins
• Common T-Spin Double Setups
• Common T-Spin Double + T-Spin Triple Setups
• Introduction to All-Spins
• Garbage Management and Combo Setups
• The Perfect Clear Setup

This guide assumes that you already have a basic understanding of how Tetris works. Modern Tetris games are wildly different from Tetris games of the past, specifically from before the 2000s. If this is your first Tetris game, or if it’s been a long time since you last played, I recommend learning the following skills before using this guide.

• Good stacking skills and the ability to avoid leaving holes in your stack.
• Decent piece placement speed. Sprint is a good mode to practice to improve this skill.
• Ability to pay attention to the Next Queue. Even looking at one next piece can help you make much better decisions.
• An understanding of basic Tetris terminology. A full glossary can be found here[harddrop.com] to use as a reference.

Basic Hidden Mechanics

Tetrimino Names

The first topic we will cover isn’t exactly a hidden mechanic, but it is the basis for them. This knowledge will help you understand the first truly hidden mechanic we will discuss. Every tetrimino (or piece) has a letter from the English alphabet associated with it, and they are also always the same color (These colors remain consistent in most licensed Tetris games that have been released since 2001). You can tell which tetriminos are next by recognizing the color of each piece in the Next Queue from your peripheral vision. They also always spawn in the exact same orientation.

Using this image as a reference, the tetriminos, from left to right, are as follows:


• I tetrimino (Cyan)
• J tetrimino (Blue)
• L tetrimino (Orange)
• O tetrimino (Yellow)
• S tetrimino (Green)
• T tetrimino (Purple)
• Z tetrimino (Red)

For the remainder of the guide, each tetrimino will be referred to by its letter, so you should learn the letters associated with each piece.

The 7-Bag Randomizer

If you’ve already spent some time playing Puyo Puyo Tetris, or other modern Tetris games, you have probably noticed that you rarely get a flood of a single piece, or a drought of a piece that you really need. This is because of the way the randomizer in modern Tetris games, including Puyo Puyo Tetris, works.

In the next image, a game has just begun, and the player has chosen to hold their first piece. Look at the Hold Queue, Active Piece, and Next Queue in the following image:



Did you notice that every unique tetrimino appears only once? This is a product of the way the Tetris randomizer—the 7-Bag Randomizer—works in Puyo Puyo Tetris. In every bag (set of seven pieces) you will get one of each piece in a random order. This means that pieces one through seven will contain one of each tetrimino, and then pieces eight through fourteen will contain one of each tetrimino, and so on. By keeping the 7-Bag Randomizer in mind, you can place your pieces a lot more confidently, knowing that the longest possible drought is only 13 pieces and the longest possible flood is only 2 pieces. The 7-Bag Randomizer helps you plan ahead a lot, so keep it in mind while playing.

Introduction to T-Spins

Definition of a T-Spin

If you want to learn how to play Tetris at a competitive level, you will have to learn how to perform a T-Spin, a special move utilizing the T Tetrimino. The T-Spin is often difficult for new players to wrap their heads around, and the following explanation probably won’t help. However, there are other techniques for being able to recognize a T-Spin. We will cover setting up T-Spins on purpose later in the guide.

In order for a move to be considered a T-Spin, the following conditions must be met:

• The last move performed must be a rotation. The piece falling due to gravity or Soft Drop counts as a move.
• At least 3 of the corners of the T must be occupied upon locking the piece.

An important thing to note is that pieces won’t lock as soon as soon as they come into contact with a surface, like it does in classic Tetris games. You can still move and rotate the piece even if it is on the floor or at the top of the stack. This is what enables you to reliably perform T-Spins. You Soft Drop the piece into position, and then rotate it to perform a T-Spin.

T-Spins can fix odd holes in your stack, but they have an added bonus. T-Spins will send extra garbage to your opponents if the T also clears a line. A T-Spin Single will send 2 lines to the opponent. A T-Spin Double will send 4 lines to the opponent (that is as many lines as a Tetris!) A T-Spin Triple—a much more complicated move than a T-Spin Single or Double—sends 6 lines to the opponent, and is one of the strongest attacks in the game.

T-Spins can also begin or maintain the Back-to-Back (B2B) bonus, sending an extra line of garbage to the opponent. B2Bs are commonly observed by new players if they do two or more consecutive Tetrises. T-Spins also have this property and they share it with Tetrises. Just like 2 Tetrises maintain B2B, so do 2 T-Spins. The same is true when clearing Tetrises and T-Spins. If you clear a Tetris and a T-Spin consecutively, or vice versa, the B2B bonus will be maintained. While a single extra line of garbage may not sound like much, it can add up over time, so try to chain B2Bs together as often as you possibly can.

How to Spot a T-Spin

First let’s talk about how to intentionally set up a T-Spin Double or T-Spin Single. This image is a good reference when it comes to setting up a T-Spin:



The following series of images will demonstrate how to execute a T-Spin properly.



It seems a lot easier now, doesn’t it? At this point, you may use what you have learned to practice T-Spinning. The rest of the guide will delve into other mechanics.

T-Spin Triple and T-Spin Mini

Now we will cover the T-Spin Triple and T-Spin Mini. The T-Spin Triple is a very interesting move that is difficult to understand without practicing them. They utilize “wall kicks” to put to piece into a position that is normally not possible by moving or rotating the piece. This allows you to “kick” the T into a hole that seems impossible to fix. T-Spin Triples are very difficult to pull off, and even many of the best players the world has to offer will often play entire games without performing a T-Spin Triple, especially in the mid-game. Here is an example of a T-Spin Triple:



Take note that when performing a T-Spin Triple, the T piece needs a wall of at least 2 rows in height to kick off of if you are dropping it in to a 2-wide well. If you are dropping it into a 3-wide well, you simply slide the T piece under the overhang and then rotate.

The caveat of T-Spin Triples is that they are difficult to set up and risky to perform during the mid-game. They also leave an overhang behind, which requires a soft drop to fix. This is where the T-Spin Mini comes in. The T-Spin Mini is an interesting type of T-Spin that also utilizes a wall kick, but clears 1 line instead of 3. The T-Spin Mini does not send garbage, but will still maintain the B2B bonus. They are also a good way to fix weird overhangs, like the one that comes after a T-Spin Triple. Here is an example of a T-Spin Mini:


Avoid performing the T-Spin Mini unless you are trying to begin or maintain B2B. They waste time because of the soft drop and do no damage outside of B2B.

Common T-Spin Double Setups

TKI 3 Opener (Early I Start)

One of the easiest and most efficient T-Spin Openers is the TKI 3 opener, named after Tetris DS Player TKI. The TKI 3 opener easily leads into a lot of T-Spin Double opportunities, making it incredibly efficient when it comes to how many T pieces you will use in your stack. Do note that this opener is not always possible at the start of a game and is best done with an early I piece. In Puyo Puyo Tetris (and certain other Tetris games), you can observe the first 5 pieces in both yours and the opponent’s Next Queue. The order of the pieces you get is your bag order. Use this information when deciding what opener you want to use.

TKI 3 is best done when you have an early I piece, which you immediately drop as soon as it spawns. You will then prop the J or L up against the wall (depending on whichever comes first) and then create the overhang with an S or Z (depending on which side you are building). For future reference, all openers can be mirrored to the other side of the field by replacing J pieces with L pieces, and S pieces with Z pieces, and vice versa. Here are some images demonstrating two variations of the TKI 3 Opener:



Here is an animation demonstrating how TKI 3 can lead into a lot more T-Spin Doubles easily. This animation is not a strict guide on how to set up the TKI 3, as there are often alternatives that are better than the one shown here:

Super T-Spin Double

The Super T-Spin Double (STSD) is a setup that utilizes a move identical to the T-Spin Triple. Instead of clearing 3 lines, however, and leaving behind a nasty overhang, it instead clears 2 lines and leaves behind another T-Spin Double. Here is an example of a STSD:




Despite what this animation shows, the STSD is typically considered a poor opener, so keep that in mind. We will cover a similar opener that is a lot more flexible and efficient later. The STSD is much better utilized as a mid-game attack.

STSD opportunities can be difficult to spot for newer players. Look for a 2x2 or a 3x3 gap to convert into a STSD. Here are some examples of STSD opportunities and how to convert them:

Imperial Cross

The Imperial Cross is an interesting move that utilizes a kick into an oddly shaped hole and then two more rotations to clear 2 lines for a T-Spin Double. This will leave behind another T-Spin Double. Imperial Cross can be difficult to understand with just an image, so here is an animation where the player begins with a T-Spin Double and then creates an Imperial Cross:




And an image demonstration, in case you still need it:

Common T-Spin Double + T-Spin Triple Setups

Albatross Special (Early O and J/L)

The Albatross Special is a popular opener among players who are new to T-Double + T-Triple openers because of its simplicity and viability as an opener. It is an Air T-Spin Double, or Floating T-Spin Double, that immediately leads into a T-Spin Triple. It seldom requires any Soft Drops. It is most useful when you have an early O and a J or L piece. The early O is necessary, but the early J and L can be circumvented if you are willing to Soft Drop them into place. You will need to mirror the setup based on whether the J or L comes first. Here it is in action:




Look at the next three images. Take a note of this boxed area in the second image, after the T-Spin Double. Using the L and J pieces, you can set up a T-Spin Triple.




You can use this information to spot T-Spin Triple opportunities in the mid-game. Practicing the T-Spin Triple transition in Albatross can help with spotting these opportunities.

Pelican (SZ Start)

The Pelican is another Floating T-Spin Double very similar to the Albatross Special. It is useful if you get a SZ start. You will also need to mirror this setup depending on whether the J or L comes first. If the J comes first, prop the S against the wall. If the L comes first, prop the Z against the wall. Here it is in action:

Double Triple Cannon

The Double Triple Cannon, or DT Cannon, is a very popular, very powerful, and very flexible opener. DT Cannon can be constructed no matter the initial bag order. However, it is also one of the hardest setups to build, let alone improvise. Try to learn a specific DT Cannon Build and sticking with it. One of the most popular builds is the LST Base DT Cannon (shown below). It is most useful with an LST start, but is possible with an early L and J start.




The LST Base DT Cannon is popular because it is the fastest DT Cannon build, is easy to keep flat, and can lead to a barrage of follow-ups, including a 4-Wide combo, a Perfect Clear (both of which will be covered later in the guide), or more T-Spins. However, there are many ways to build the DT Cannon. Here are just a few more ways to build a DT Cannon.




The important part that you must remember is what you build next to the wall. It will always be an O with a J or L (depending on which side you build the structure) creating the lower overhang. The DT Cannon is a very powerful and versatile opener. It is a nearly essential skill when it comes to playing competitively.

Introduction to All-Spins

“All-Spins” is an unofficial term that applies to every tetrimino. The T piece is not the only one with spins or even kicks. Since every piece has many spins, we will only go over a few useful ones. If you want to learn every piece spin (especially useful for Big Bang Mode), Chopin has an amazing video that covers all Spins and Twists.

Knowing how to perform All-Spins will be crucial when we cover the next 2 sections. They are also useful for fixing misplacements, but you can intentionally set them up in order to send an attack more quickly, knowing that you can easily fix weird gaps in your stack later. Mouse over the animations to see in which direction the piece is being rotated.

J- and L- Spins

This section will only cover J-Spins. All L-Spins can be performed by mirroring the field and rotating in the opposite direction.

S- and Z- Spins

Like the previous section, this section will only cover S-Spins. All Z-Spins can be performed by mirroring the field and rotating in the opposite direction.

Be careful with S and Z pieces. Although it looks like the direction of rotation does not matter, it does. Be aware of which direction you need to rotate in order to fit the piece into a hole.

Garbage Management and Combo Setups

Improving your Downstacking

A very important skill to learn is proper downstacking. For this section The Fumen tool will be used to demonstrate two different downstacks from two identical fields with the same piece order. You can use Fumen—which allows you to create scenarios—for yourself here[harddrop.com].



Neither of these scenarios is particularly bad, but second example is much better than the first. Both players set up for a T-Spin Double, but the second player has much better access to their garbage. Stack your pieces in a way that avoids further burying holes in your stack so that you can easily gain access to them.

Another thing to take note of is downstack combos. When downstacking, look for opportunities to form long downstack combos. You will start sending a significant amount of garbage, which can turn the tide of the game in a matter of seconds. Though rare, opportunities like this are often missed because the player does not have a good downstack skill.

Combo Setups

Combo Setups, when properly utilized, can be powerful openers. However, they are more commonly seen in the mid-game. Building a combo setup involves leaving a few adjacent columns open. There are 3 types of combo setups:

• The 2-Wide Combo (most consistent but least powerful)
• The 3-Wide Combo (medium consistency and medium power)
• The 4-Wide Combo (least consistent but most powerful).

A Combo Setup typically involves leaving a single mino in all except one column. Here is an example of a 2-Wide and 3-Wide Combo.

The 4-Wide

The 4-Wide Combo is arguably the strongest attack in the game. 4-Wide Combos will only clear singles, which do no damage on their own. However, when part of a long combo, this combo setup can send up to five lines per clear.



To boost your consistency when using the 4-Wide enough to be usable, understand that All-Spins are necessary to execute the combo and that building it is very difficult because you are restricted to building in only 6 columns. Pay very close attention to the entire Next Queue, both when upstacking and downstacking. Without paying attention to the Next Queue during the downstack, your combo may end prematurely. A demonstration of a 4-Wide will be shown in the next section.

The Center 4-Wide

The Center 4-Wide Combo is a variation of the 4-Wide Combo that leaves the center four columns open forcing you to build on the outer three columns. This gives 4-Wide extreme longevity, since every piece spawns in the center 4 columns. This “center combo” strategy does not work with the 3-Wide or 2-Wide because the I piece spawns horizontally in all four of the center columns.



The Center 4-Wide is by far the hardest combo setup to build because of the stacking style required for the outer columns of the matrix. A common workaround is to construct a column on one side with L, J, and O pieces. Then, the next column is constructed with S, Z, T, and I pieces. Because of bag order, however, this is not guaranteed to work. Plan ahead and pay close attention to the Next Queue.

The Perfect Clear Setup

Starting the match with a Perfect Clear (PC) is a very strong way to begin the game. A Perfect Clear occurs when you clear the entire matrix of all minos. PCs send 10 lines at once, which can surprise the enemy. It also has the strange property of ignoring line clear delay (useful in Sprint). The Perfect Clear Opener has a low success rate, resulting in a PC only about 61% of the time. Other piece arrangements increase the chance (some to 100%, even) but the Perfect Clear becomes extremely difficult to spot. You can check out an extremely detailed analysis (much of it contributed by player Okey_Dokey) on the Hard Drop Wiki, here[harddrop.com].

The important things to take note of is the staggered shape created with the T, S, and Z pieces, and the box shape created with the I, L, J, and O pieces. They can be oriented either against the wall, or adjacent to each other (in which case the staggered shape must be pointing away from the box shape). Here are a couple of examples of PCs you can perform with this opener:

Conclusion

Now that you have all of these skills under your belt, go out and practice them. Remember to practice in Versus games, too. The pressure of incoming garbage makes the game a lot different from practicing in Single-player.

Here is a short video of a battle against the hardest CPU, demonstrating the use of several techniques discussed here. It primarily includes a DT Cannon Opener, T-Spin Doubles, and good garbage management.








If you are interested in delving much deeper into Tetris, check out the Hard Drop Wiki[harddrop.com]. If you are interested in getting involved in the Tetris community, check out the Hard Drop Discord server[discord.gg].

Special Thanks

All members of Hard Drop – for their contributions to the Tetris community that made this guide possible
iodbc – for proofreading this guide for me
Kitaru – for being an extremely knowledgeable member of the Tetris community and one of my favorite guys to talk to when it comes to Tetris
Blink, Casey.GV, RJ, and JohnNumbers – for being all-around radical guys who are fun to play against

[gmail]

not reading allat

[Furlisht]

Amazing guide! I learned a lot, thank you!

[nightjar111]

nice straight-to-the-point guide here.

[julf]

Pro

[Malachai80]

Now I know, why I suck in online matches ... great guide and thank you for the animations

[joegn]

EVERY GAME I PLAY starts with a PC

[hieu021102]

In 2001 there is SRS, debuted in Tetris Worlds.

[hieu021102]

@General Winter If the NES version doesn't, then the Game Boy does because it has 2PLY within Game Boy Link Cable support.

[tortoise]

This is a lovely guide

[JOHNNY GUEGGU]

MOST Tetris guides have statig images. This one has at lease a few animated GIFs - Thank you for this!