How to Tetris

Tag: downstacking

  • First Steps to Tetris: A Guide for Casual Players

    Book A

    For Super-Casual Players
    No pressure. No theory. Just the basics — explained simply.

    94 pages of content!

    No AI text or image generation was used in this book.

    Coming Soon on Amazon!

    Free digital version released on this website on 27 Jan 2026!

    The print version will be out on Amazon soon!

    A Short, Ultra-Casual Introduction to Tetris

    First Steps to Tetris is an ultra-casual beginner guide by Tetris researcher Galactoid (3000+ hours of playtime), written for players who want to understand the game without being overwhelmed.

    If you’ve ever opened Tetris and thought, “I don’t really know what I’m doing,” this book is for you.

    ✦ WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

    ✅ How Tetris works, explained plainly
    ✅ Simple stacking habits that keep your board safe
    ✅ How to make clean Tetrises without complex planning
    ✅ What to do when your board gets messy (basic downstacking)
    ✅ What perfect clears and T-spins are — without needing to master them
    ✅ Core tricks reduced to their simplest form

    Everything is taught step by step, with clear diagrams and zero assumed knowledge.

    ✦ WHY THIS BOOK IS DIFFERENT:

    🔹 Other beginner guides still overload new players.
    🔸 This book removes complexity until only the essentials remain.

    Short, friendly, and non-intimidating — this book is designed to help you feel comfortable playing Tetris.

    No AI text or image generation was used in the creation of this book.

    ✦ BONUSES INCLUDED:

    📘 Free companion resources: website content and gameplay demonstrations.

    First Steps to Tetris is Book A in the How to Tetris series and comes before How to Start Tetris (Book 1).

    Key Book Features

    1. Learn from an Experienced Tetris Educator

    Galactoid—Tetris researcher and guidebook author—shares beginner-friendly explanations refined through years of teaching players across all skill levels. Everything here is stripped down to what truly matters.

    2. Understand How Tetris Actually Works

    Learn how pieces move, rotate, and clear lines without jargon or theory. This section removes confusion, so the game makes sense from the start.

    3. Stack Safely Without Overthinking

    Discover simple stacking habits that keep your board low, clean, and manageable—no advanced planning required.

    4. Make Clean Tetrises the Easy Way

    Learn the simplest way to build and clear Tetrises without complex setups or extensive memorization.

    5. Fix Messy Boards Calmly

    Understand basic downstacking—how to clear mistakes and recover when things go wrong, explained in plain language.

    6. Learn What “Advanced” Things Are (Without Needing to Do Them)

    Get a gentle introduction to perfect clears and T-spins so they’re no longer mysterious—no pressure to master them.

    7. Includes Free Companion Resources

    Free companion resources: website content, YouTube tutorial videos, and gameplay demonstrations.

    8. Book Chapters

    Here are Book A’s chapters:

    Before We Start
    How to Read this Book
    Chapter 1 How Tetris Really Works
    Chapter 2 Getting in the Zone
    Chapter 3 The Art of Movement
    Chapter 4 Stack Smarter, Not Harder
    Chapter 5 Scoring Big With Tetrises
    Chapter 6 Skim Lines Like a Pro
    Chapter 7 Digging & Combos Made Simple
    Chapter 8 T-Spins without Tears
    Chapter 9 Opening Moves: Starting Strong
    Chapter 10 Recovering Fast
    Chapter 11 Clearing the Field: A Bonus!
    Chapter 12 Ace Tetris with Core Tactics
    Where to Go Next
    Glossary
    Bibliography
    More Tetris Content
    About the Author