How to Play Tetris

Q: How do you play tetris?

Seven block shapes fall from the top one at a time. Rotate and move each block so it fits into the stack below, and complete horizontal lines to clear them and score.

Q: How do you clear four lines at once in tetris?

Save a long I block and drop it vertically into a gap that is exactly four rows deep. Clearing four lines at once, a Tetris, gives the biggest bonus.

Q: How do you get a high score in tetris?

Keep your stack flat, avoid building towers that leave holes, clear multiple lines at once, and survive to higher levels where the game speeds up and gives more points.

Q: Can I play tetris online for free?

Yes. PlayArcade offers a free tetris game in your browser with a next-piece preview, soft drop, hard drop and mobile controls.

Tetris is simple to learn: fit falling blocks together, clear lines, and don't let the stack reach the top. Here are the rules and the habits that make high scores.

The Rules

Blocks fall from the top of the screen one at a time. There are seven shapes (the tetrominoes): I, O, T, S, Z, J and L. Your job is to rotate and slide each block so it locks into the growing stack. When a horizontal line is completely filled, it disappears and you score points. The game ends when the stack reaches the top.

← → move the falling block.
↑ rotate it.
↓ soft drop · Space hard drop.
Clear 4 lines at once for the biggest bonus.
The game speeds up as your level rises.

How Scoring Works

One line is 100 points times your level, two lines 300, three lines 500, and a full Tetris (four lines) is 800 times your level. This is why saving the long I piece for a four-line clear pays off so much.

Pro Stacking Tips

Keep the stack flat. A flat surface makes every piece easier to place.
Never leave a hole if you can avoid it — holes are hard to fix later.
Use the next-piece preview to plan two moves ahead.
Save the I piece for a four-line Tetris clear.
Build in columns of 4 or 5 on one side to leave room for the I piece.
Soft drop for control — the game speeds up, not your decision-making.

Ready to stack? Play tetris online free right now and chase a new high score.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you play tetris?

Seven block shapes fall one at a time. Rotate and move each block into the stack, and complete horizontal lines to clear them and score. Don't let the stack reach the top.

How do you clear four lines at once in tetris?

Save the long I block and drop it vertically into a gap exactly four rows deep. Clearing four lines at once is called a Tetris and gives the biggest bonus.

How do you get a high score in tetris?

Keep the stack flat, avoid holes, clear multiple lines at once, and survive to higher levels where pieces fall faster and points multiply.

Can I play tetris online for free?

Yes. PlayArcade tetris is free in your browser with a next-piece preview, hard drop and mobile controls.