Square Tetris

The New Tetris, Square mode of Tetris Worlds, and Lockjaw: The Overdose reward the player for creating 4x4 block squares out of four tetrominoes. Building wide platforms (flat top sides) into the top of a square in progress allows more than one such square to be built at once, keeping options open for handling any tetromino.

The New Tetris was developed prior to the standardization of tetromino colors. The diagrams below, like most other diagrams in Tetriswiki, use Tetris Worlds colors per the more recent Tetris Guideline.

Monosquares

Spiral J monosquare

It is best to build J and L monosquares using this spiral method so that platform width is maximised as early as possible.

Spiral L monosquare

T monosquare

If three T pieces are readily available and there is only a platform one block wide upon which to build, it is wise to build in a slightly different way:

O monosquare

I monosquare

L on the left and J on the right require a double slide (see below).

2×4 constructions

If two of the same 2×4 constructions are put together, monosquares are formed. Alternatively, two different 2×4s can be put together (or one sandwiched between two I pieces) to make multisquares in addition to those below.

Multisquares

Most of these multisquares can be constructed in different rotations, with the pieces being added in different orders or with an I piece on the opposite side. The following are some of the most efficient ways of building them.

SJSJ and ZLZL

JSSJ and LZZL

ZLLZ and SJJS

This is possible in The New Tetris but relies on uncommon wall kicks. In the case of ZLLZ, the trick is to have the Z in the correct rotation and take it down so that the bottom square is resting on the top square of the lower L, then rotate clockwise and then anticlockwise in quick succession. This is reversed for SJJS. The space immediately above the inner edge of the construction (indicated) must be free for the move to be successful.

ZLTT and SJTT

STTJ and ZTTL

TZTJ and TSTL

TTLZ and TTJS

This requires the same move as for the ZLLZ and SJJS multisquares, and is good to fall back on in the middle of building a T monosquare.

LTZT and JTST

LTTI and JTTI

TTLI and TTJI

Similarly to TTLZ and TTJS, good to fall back on when a T monosquare is abandoned.

ZLJI and SJLI

JSLI and LZJI

LJSI and JLZI

To test: is this possible?

LSIL and JZIJ

Requiring double slide (or tactical rotation)

With I before S or Z (triple slide or tactical rotation in addition to the moves above):

IJLO and ILJO

JJOI and LLOI

Double slide

The New Tetris uses smooth falling animation for tetrominoes. The way this implementation mixes the falling animation with collision detection means that a tetromino can normally slide only one block under an overhang unless there is something on the floor to support it.

There are, however, ways of getting a new piece further under the overhang in The New Tetris by making use of tactical rotation: rotating the piece in the right direction at the right time.

External links

• http://gilly.homeip.net/tetris/strategy/general