The rules
Drag pieces from the tray onto an 8×8 board. A piece must fit entirely on empty squares, and pieces cannot be turned. A full row or a full column clears. When no piece in the tray fits anywhere, the game is over.
Always keep room for the big pieces
The pieces that end games are the 3×3 square and the long bars of five. Keep at least one empty 3×3 area and one free row or column of five most of the time. Before every drop, ask: if a 3×3 came next, would it fit?
Fill edges and corners first
Squares along the walls are touched by fewer lines and are harder to fill later. Build from the edges inwards and keep the middle open: an open middle takes any piece.
No single holes
A lonely empty square surrounded by filled ones can only take a 1×1 piece, and it blocks its row and column from clearing. Before you drop a piece, check it does not leave one. Two-square gaps are nearly as bad.
Clear several lines at once
Clearing two or three lines with one piece scores far more than clearing them one by one, and clearing on turn after turn builds a streak. Build two rows up together and finish them with one piece. In Glazewick the lines that will clear light up while you hover, so you can check before you let go.
Habits that help
- Look at every piece in the tray before you place the first; the order matters.
- Place the awkward piece while there is still room for it.
- When the board gets crowded, stop chasing combos and clear any line you can.
Questions
- Can I rotate the pieces?
- No. In classic block puzzles, Glazewick included, pieces keep their shape and orientation.
- Which piece is the most dangerous?
- The 3×3 square, followed by the five-long bars. Plan the board around them.
- Do I get more points for clearing many lines at once?
- Yes. Several lines with one piece, and clears turn after turn, are worth much more than single lines.
