This book’s diagrams appear in several variations, which I explain below.
Reading My Tetris Diagrams
Step Diagrams
Step diagrams are enumerated to show a sequence of steps:
| Diagram Set 0-1 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| Starting field. | Place the S (green piece) and O (yellow piece) to create an offensive setup. |
Here, “diagram Set 0-1” refers to the first labeled diagram set in chapter 0 (this introduction). Later, “0-2” refers to the second diagram set in chapter 0.
A gray bridge between the two steps connects them causally. Here, step 1 is the left diagram. After placing an S and an O piece, it progresses to step 2 in the right diagram.
Gray blocks represent a generic shape. Yellows correspond to O pieces. Green corresponds to S pieces.
The gray table below the diagram explains the diagram verbally.
I will sometimes refer to a specific block as being in column 2 and row 3. This means the block is in the second column from the left and the third row from the bottom.
This is like the X and Y axes in mathematical graphs.
Non-Step Diagrams
Non-step diagrams are non-causally linked, such as:
| These show 2 ways to create the above techniques. |
The two examples above are not causally linked by a series of steps. They are independent of each other. A gray bridge does not link A and B.
The words in the gray box describe the diagram set.
Tetris Mechanisms and Terms
Tetris has many mechanisms and terms to note before playing.
1. The Tetrominoes
This game has seven basic Tetrominoes (Mino or Piece). Each tetromino is made of four blocks and has unique characteristics.
Everything in Tetris is made up of these seven essential pieces:
| Diagram Set 0-3 |
| The above shows the I (cyan piece), L (orange piece), J (blue piece), S (green piece), Z (red piece), O (yellow piece), and T (purple piece). |
One easy way to remember is to match each piece to a letter of the English alphabet.
So the L piece is shaped like the letter L. The I piece is shaped like the letter I. The same applies to all other pieces.
2. The Basic Field
Tetris involves a 10×20 block field, ten blocks wide and twenty blocks high:
| Diagram Set 0-4 |
| Each block in this 10×20 field can be empty or filled. Here, the white blocks typically mean they are empty. |
You can fill them with the seven minos: L, J, O, I, T, S, and Z.
When an entire row (a horizontal line of ten filled blocks) is filled, it vanishes, and the stack above it moves down one row. This disappearing mechanism is known as a line clear.
You top out and lose the game when a new piece tries to appear but cannot fully fit in the playfield because the spawn area is blocked:
| Diagram Set 0-5 | |
| A | |
| The red-circled area marks the spawn zone (around row 20). If it is blocked, the next piece cannot spawn, and you top out (lose). |
3. Stacking and Jaggedness
Stacking is placing your pieces to form multiple shapes on a Tetris field.
To stack your field properly, you need one vital concept: parity.
Parity is loosely defined as a field’s jaggedness.
Here is an illustration of its importance:
| Diagram Set 0-6 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| The field is flat. This lets you stack pieces easily. The horizontal L, J, and O pieces do not cover holes. |
The above starting field is relatively flat. Pieces stack cleanly (i.e., do not cover the bottom holes).
What happens if it is not, like the following diagram?
| Diagram Set 0-7 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| The field is jagged. This leaves the horizontal L, J, and O with no flat places to sit. They cover holes. This is hence unclean (dirty). |
The more jagged the field, the harder it is to stack properly and cleanly.
4. Previews and Hold
The following shows a standard Tetris field with the hold and preview columns beside it.
Hold lets you save a piece to use later. The held piece typically appears in the upper-left corner of the field.
In Modern Tetris, you have a preview in the upper right corner of the 10×20 field (in the red circle here):
In some games, this preview may be at the top. This preview shows the next incoming pieces in chronological order: I, Z, S, L, and I.
The pieces will spawn (appear) at the top in that arrangement. Hence, the I piece, followed by the Z piece, will arrive soon.
The number of previews ranges from one to six, depending on the Tetris version.
5. Line Clear Types and T-Spins
A line clear occurs when an entire row is filled with blocks, thus making it disappear:
A Line Clear:
| Diagram Set 0-8 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| 3 |
| A Z piece clears a single line in step 2, leaving only red blocks. |
The slightly lighter gray and red blocks in step 2 mean that the bottom row is in a transitional state of being erased.
After a split second, the filled row vanishes completely. The rows above it will cascade down.
I use lighter shades of each primary color for the blocks to show this in many diagrams.
Tetrises:
| Diagram Set 0-9 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| 3 |
| Whenever 4 lines disappear at once, especially with an I piece in step 2, this is called a Tetris. |
Ah, yes! This is the famous Tetris line clear that many Tetris players grew up with.
T-Spins:
Modern Tetris variants introduce a new mechanism beyond the mighty Tetris: the T-spin.
Classic Tetris players may not know of this, but it is the dominant attack in modern Tetris games.
Whenever lines disappear because of a rotated T piece line clear, it is called a T-spin line clear:
| Diagram Set 0-10 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| This T-shaped cavity is a T-spin setup. | The player inserts a T piece into the cavity, clearing 2 lines. |
Yes, step 2 is like magic! With some rotation, you can kick the T piece into the cavity!
Let us continue with step 3:
| 3 |
| You are left with this field. |
T-spins are vital because they are powerful offensive techniques that send significant attacks to your opponent.
They are far more efficient than Tetrises.
6. Garbage and Downstacking
Garbage is an element added to modern Tetris games. It often appears in one-versus-one or other multiplayer modes.
It is marked by gray-colored blocks rising from the bottom (red circle):
You can send garbage to the opponent whenever you do some line clears, Tetrises, T-spins, combos, or other mechanisms.
When an opponent attacks you, they send you rising garbage lines. The goal is to raise your field until you top out (reach the top row and lose).
When you clear lines consecutively, you can send extra damage, called combos, to the opponent. This means line clears connect one after another without breaking.
Downstacking is the ability of a player to dig down through lines to the bottom as far as possible:
| Diagram Set 0-11 | |
| 1 | 2 |
| The starting field. The goal is to lower its height. | The player inserts a J piece into the cavity on the far right, clearing 1 line. |
| 3 | 4 |
| The far-left hole is exposed. | He inserts an I piece into the far-left hole, clearing 4 lines. |
| 5 |
| The player significantly reduces the stack’s height. |
This is a vital multiplayer skill, as getting down is a defensive approach that negates an opponent’s garbage.
If You Fear Tetris
If you fear Tetris and find it too complicated, trust me, I probably fear Tetris a lot more than you do.
This is because every game has random elements. No matter how skilled the player, they may encounter unfortunate sequences with no way out.
However, as long as I am here, I will guide you with as clear a description and illustrations as possible to help you see the relation between Tetris and spirituality.
I still recommend that you play just five minutes of Tetris. No amount of description can replace five minutes of experience.
No sweat!
