S and Z starts

Starting a game with a S or Z piece (known as S and Z starts) is a delicate way of starting, since it leaves a hole in the stack.

An S and Z start may be handled differently, depending on the player style, skill and the game mode (multiplayer, etc..) .

Soft-drop method

This method consist in placing a tetriamino under the first piece.

Platform method

Since soft-drop method tends to slows the player, he may use the platform method. It consists in making a platform over the first line.

T-Spin Method

A T-Spin may be used to clear the first line of the stack. This has the same drawbacks as the soft drop method, and is unavailable (or, in the case of the "well-known twist", equivalent to the platform method) in older games that have little or no wall kick, but other games reward a T-Spin with extra points or garbage.

Back to back tetris method

The player may "ignore" the first line and build a tetris to clear the hole.