Tetris Wiki

Twists, called "spin moves" in The New Tetris's manual, let a player fix some otherwise difficult situations. These examples cover recent games, but some of them may not work for earlier Tetris games that use little or no wall kick.

Most twists can be done in Tetris Best or Tetris Return. Some can be done through a diagonal slide in Tetris Best 2.

For a tutorial video of SRS twists, see:


Rewards for twists[]

Some games give scoring rewards for twisting a tetromino into a tight space. Two basic algorithms, with slight variations, have been used in newer games to detect and reward in-place spins:

  • Immobile, used in The New Tetris: A twist is recognised if a tetromino locks in a position where it cannot move left, right, or up. There is only a reward if rows are completed in this way.
  • 3-corner T, used in Tetris DS and other SRS based games: A T-spin bonus is awarded if all of the following are true:[1]
    1. Tetromino being locked is T.
    2. Last successful movement of the tetromino was a rotate, as opposed to sideways movement, downward movement, or falling due to gravity. (Canceling lock delay in games that allow it, such as Tetris DS, does not count as a movement.) The tetromino doesn't even have to end up in a different orientation than it was dropped in; setting up the "well-known twist" below in Tetris Worlds or Tetris DS and pressing both rotate buttons (B–A or A–B) will trigger the T-spin bonus even without any net rotation.
    3. Three of the 4 squares diagonally adjacent to the T's center are occupied. (In Tetris DS, the walls and floor surrounding the playfield are considered "occupied", while in Tetris Worlds for GBA, they aren't.

Different games add further restrictions:

  • 3-corner T no wall, used in Tetris Worlds: The walls and floor surrounding the playfield are not considered "occupied". This means that if a wall kick places the T tetromino with its flat side against the wall or floor, the T-spin will not be recognized. (Kicks that place the flat side against blocks in the playfield still work.)
  • 3-corner T no kick, used in Tetris: New Century, iPod Tetris, and Tetris Evolution: The final rotation must not involve a wall kick, that is, it recognizes only the "well known twist" below.

(The names for the algorithms are unofficial, taken from the fan game Lockjaw.)

In some of these diagrams, especially those involving S and Z tetrominoes, the "center" corresponding to the center of rotation in SRS is marked with a circle (C).

Twists by tetrimino[]

Twists with T (or T-Spin)[]

A well-known twist involves the tetromino T. In fact, these are the only twists that games that use "3-corner T no kick" reward.

dtgg
ggggt+Tggg
gggggtgggg

Soft drop

egg
ggggt+Ttggg
gggggtgggg

Rotate left

dtgg
t+Tggg
gggggtgggg

Soft drop

egg
t+Ttggg
gggggtgggg

Rotate once

etgg
+Ttggg
gggggtgggg

Or twice

In SRS games that reward kick T-Spins like Tetris DS and Tetris Zone, these twists count towards the score. This one does not count towards the score in games like Tetris Evolution or Tetris Splash.

td
gg+Ttgg
ggggtggg
ggggggggg

Soft drop

a
gggg
ggggt+Ttggg
gggggtgggg

Rotate right

The following works in Tetris DX, TGM rotation, and SRS, but it is not scored as a T-spin in Tetris Worlds if performed on the floor of the playfield.

dtgggg
ggggttgggg
gggtgggg

Soft drop

agggg
ggggtgggg
gggtttgggg

Rotate right

The above move must be done differently in The New Tetris, but also works in games using TGM rotation, but not SRS. As this does not involve a wallkick in TGM, it also works in Sega rotation. This diagram will use TNT colors.

dNTgggg
ggggNTNTgggg
gggNTgggg

Firm drop

egggg
ggggNTgggg
gggNTNTNTgggg

Rotate left

This example from SRS is not a T-spin under the immobile rule, as the tetromino could have been rotated before being dropped, but SRS games from Tetris Worlds through Tetris Online (Japan) count it anyway due to the 3-corner rule:

gtd
ggggggtttg
ggggggggg
gta
ggggggttg
ggggggtggg

This one is a T-spin in Tetris DS but not Tetris Worlds due to the difference in how the playfield walls are handled:

tdg
tttggggggg
ggggggggg
tag
ttggggggg
tggggggggg

Triples may not seem possible, but especially games using SRS will allow them regardless. Notice that the ending position of the T tetromino does not overlap the starting position. Later guideline games don't recognise this, either by not counting triples made with this twist as a T-spin (Tetris Zone), or by not recognising twists with kicks as a T-spin at all (Tetris Evolution).

dtgg
rtttg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggggg

Soft drop and slide

gg
eg
ggggtggggg
gggttggggg
ggggtggggg

Rotate left

Tetris Best only:

dtggg
rtttgg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggggg

Soft drop and slide

ggg
egg
ggggtggggg
gggttggggg
ggggtggggg

Rotate left

This T-spin works in Atari rotation:

ggd
gSSSm
gS
ggggggggg
gg
gSe
gSS
ggggSggggg

And this works in both SRS and Atari rotation (assuming there is a rotate right button for Atari):

gg
gtd
gtttm
ggggggggg
gg
gta
gtt
ggggtggggg

A complicated SRS example:

ggggggggtd
ggggggtt
gggggggtg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
gggggggga
ggggggttt
gggggggtg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggtttm
gggggggtg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
gggggge
gggggggtg
gggggggttg
gggggggtgg

Twists with I[]

Works in TGM and SRS:

ggggggggid
ggggggw1i2
gggggggg3i4
ggggggggi
gggggggge
ggggggii1i2i
gggggggg3w4
gggggggg

If changing position to the second row, rotate three times so to twist on lower-middle square.

ii1i2i
ggggw3g4gggg
gggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ed
ggggiggggg
gggi1w2ggg
ggggi3g4gggg
ggggiggggg

Rotate left

a
ggggggggg
gggii1i2iggg
ggggw3g4gggg
ggggggggg

Rotate right

If changing positions to the right columns, turn right. If left, turn left.

In SRS, I tetrominoes can be rotated on their end blocks:

i
gi1g2
ggggi3g4gggg
ggggigg
a
gg
ggggggggg
ggggii1i2igg

This one works in SRS and Atari rotation:

gggd
ggii1i2im
ggg3g4ggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggg
ggia
gg1i2ggggggg
gg3i4ggggggg
ggiggggggg

SRS has a slight asymmetry with how end-block rotation is handled, preferring left end block rotations over the right. See I-Spins in SRS. If rotating on the right end block instead of the left, you need an extra block to force a kick down, or the edge of the playfield can be used in place of the extra block.

This one is silly but should work (with minor variations) in most systems, even if it is not rewarded (if the game rewards twists other than T):

ggg
ggd
gii1i2im
ggw3g4gggggg
ggggggggg
ggg
ggi
gi1w2e
ggi3g4gggggg
ggiggggggg

It can also form a triple or Tetris if the stack is higher, also with minor variations.

The minor variation required for TGM and Sega rotation systems is to do a mirror-image version. This also works in SRS, as well as other systems where I rounds to the right and has no wallkick. We will use TGM colors for this diagram.

ggg
dgg
rzzzzg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggg
zgg
azg
gggggggzgg
gggggggzgg

In games that use Atari rotation, a similar maneuver can produce a triple (or Tetris if there is one more row of minos):

gggd
gzzzzm
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggg
gze
ggzggggggg
ggzggggggg
ggzggggggg

For Tetris Best, this is the I-Spin Tetris. It works from both directions:

gggii1i2i
gggg3g4gggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggge
ggiggggggg
ggi1g2gggggg
ggi3g4gggggg
ggiggggggg

SRS variation (also works in Tetris Best and Atari):

gggd
ggii1i2im
ggg3g4ggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggg
gga
ggiggggggg
gg1i2ggggggg
gg3i4ggggggg
ggiggggggg

Twists with S and Z[]

Game Boy, Sega, TDX, TGM, SRS

sggggg
gggs+Sgggg
gggsggggg

Rotate left
and soft drop

eggggg
ggg+Ssgggg
gggssggggg

Rotate left

NES, Sega, TDX, TGM, SRS

GGGGGZ
GGGG+ZZGGG
GGGGGZGGG

Rotate right
and soft drop

GGGGGa
GGGGZ+ZGGG
GGGGGZZGGG

Rotate right

SRS and DTET:

s
+Ss
ggggsgggg
gggggggg

Rotate right
and soft drop

a
gggg+Ssgggg
gggssggggg

Rotate right again

SRS and DTET:

s
+Ssggggg
ggggsgggg
gggggggg
a
ggggg
gggg+Ssgggg
gggssggggg

SRS only:

zzgg
+Zzg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
gg
eg
gggggzgggg
ggggz+Zgggg
ggggzggggg
ggss
gs+S
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
gg
ga
ggggsggggg
gggg+Ssgggg
gggggsgggg

No overhang method

gzz
gg+Zz
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
ga
gg
gggggzgggg
gggg+Zzgggg
ggggzggggg
ssg
s+Sgg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
ggggggggg
eg
gg
ggggsggggg
ggggs+Sgggg
gggggsgggg

Another S-Spin Double in SRS:

s
s+Sg
gggsggggg
gggggggg
g
ggg+Ssggggg
ggssgggggg

Twists with J and L[]

Works in virtually all versions, including Tetris (Game Boy):

LGGGGG
GGGLGGGG
GGGLLGGGG
GGGGG
GGGLLLGGGG
GGGLGGGG
GGGjggggg
GGGjGGGG
GGGjjGGGG
GGGggggg
GGGjjjGGGG
GGGjGGGG

Works with TGM and SRS:

jj
gggjgggggg
gggjgggg
gggjgggggg
gggjjjgggg
ll
ggggglgggg
ggglgggg
ggggglgggg
ggglllgggg
lggggggg
lgggggg
llggggg
ggggggg
glggggg
lllggggg
gggggggj
ggggggj
gggggjjSZ
ggggggg
gggggjg
gggggjjjSZ

(For the last one, the block highlighted in red is needed in TGM, but is optional in SRS. The edge of the field may also be used in place of that block.)

Works with TGM and TOD:

gggjj
gjgggggg
gggjgggggg
ggg
gjjjgggggg
gggjgggggg
llggg
gggggglg
gggggglggg
ggg
gggggglllg
gggggglggg

Note: For J in TGM, when there is only one row of minoes to the right of the J, you need an extra mino to force a kick left.

Works with SRS only:

ll
gggl
ggggl
ggggggggg
ggg
gggglll
gggglggggg
JJ
Jggg
Jg
ggggggggg
ggg
JJJg
gggggJgggg
gggggll
ggggl
gggggl
ggggg
gggglll
gggglg
jjggggg
jgggg
jggggg
ggggg
jjjgggg
gjgggg
LL
ggggLgggg
gggLgggg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
gggLLLgggg
gggLgggggg
JJ
gggJggggg
gggJgggg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
gggJJJgggg
gggggJgggg
L
Lggggg
gggLLgggg
ggggggggg
ggggg
gggLLLgggg
gggLgggggg
J
ggggJ
gggJJgggg
ggggggggg
gggg
gggJJJgggg
gggggJgggg
L
Lgggg
LLgg
ggggggggg
gggg
LLLgg
gggggLgggg
J
gggggJ
gggJJ
ggggggggg
ggggg
gggJJJ
gggggJgggg

Like other spin triples, this works with SRS only: (mirror image for L)

jgg
jjjg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
gg
g
ggggjggggg
ggggjggggg
gggjjggggg

Also works with higher overhang:

gg
jg
jjjg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
gggggggg
gg
g
g
ggggjggggg
ggggjggggg
gggjjggggg

In Tetris Best, it also works without an overhang. It also works with the tetrimino pointing down.

Atari rotation is a special case. It does this:

gLLL
gggL
ggg
glL
glgg
glgg

This one is only for Tetris Best 2 (only works for J):

jjjg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
gggg
jjg
gggjgggggg
gggjgggggg

O-spins (Tetris Best/2)[]

O-spins can be done with a diagonal slide, which was there since the old Tetris Best.

ggoogg
ggooggggg
gggggggg
ggrgg
ggooggggg
gggooggggg

Other O-spins can be done in Tetris Best only.

ggoogg
ggo+Ogg
gggggg
gggg
gggg
gggg
ggegg
gggggg
ggo+Ogg
ggoogg

180° Twists (NullpoMino only, any tetrimino)[]

For games with 180° rotation buttons other twists are possible. All of them work in NullpoMino. Some don't work in Tetris Best due to having 3-kicks, and Tetris Best only goes to 2.

Tetris Best 2 also has 180 rotation, but only floorkicks. However, some twists can be done with a diagonal slide in Tetris Best (or 2). These twists are marked with an asterisk.


T-Spin Single

GGGTGGGGG
GGTTTGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGTTTGGG
GGGGGTGGGG
GGTGGGGGG
GTTTGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GTTTGGG
GGGGGTGGGG

T-Spin Double

GGGGTGGGG
GGGTTTGGGG
GGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGG
GGGGGTTTGG
GGGGGGTGGG
T
GGGTTGGGGG
GGGGTGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGTGGGGG
GGGGTTGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
T
TTGGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGTTGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGTTTGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG

T-Spin Triple

T
TTGGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGTTGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGG
TGGGGG
TTGGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGG
GGGGG
GGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG
GGGGTTGGGG
GGGGTGGGGG

I-Spin Single*

GIGGGGGGGG
GI1w2GGGGGGG
GI3w4GGGGGGG
GIGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GIGGGGGGG
Gw1I2GGGGGGG
Gw3I4GGGGGGG
GGIGGGGGGG

I-Spin Double

GIGGGGGGGG
GI1G2GGGGGGG
GI3w4GGGGGGG
GIGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GIGGGGGGG
Gw1I2GGGGGGG
GG3I4GGGGGGG
GGIGGGGGGG

S-Spin Single*

SS
GGGGGS+S
GGGGGGGG
GGGGG+SS
GGGGSSGGGG

S-Spin Double*

GGGGG+SSGG
GGGGGSSGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGG
GGGGG+SSGGG
GGGGSSGGGG

Another variant*

S
GGGS+SGGGGG
GGGGSGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGSGGGGG
GGGG+SSGGGG
GGGGGSGGGG

S-Spin Triple

S
S+S
GGGGSGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGSGGGGG
GGGG+SSGGGG
GGGGGSGGGG

Z-Spin Single*

ZZ
+ZZGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
Z+ZGGGGG
GGGGZZGGGG

Z-Spin Double*

GGZZGGGGG
GGG+ZZGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGG
GGGZ+ZGGGGG
GGGGZZGGGG

Another variant*

Z
GGGGG+ZZGGG
GGGGZGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGZGGG
GGGGZ+ZGGGG
GGGGZGGGGG

Z-Spin Triple

Z
+ZZ
GGGGGZGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGZGGGG
GGGGZ+ZGGGG
GGGGZGGGGG

L-Spin Double (requires 2 kicks)

GGGllGGGGG
GGGGlGGG
GGGGlGGGGG
l
GGGlGGGGG
GGGGllGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGlllGGG
GGGGlGGGGG

J-Spin Double (requires 2 kicks)

GGGGGjjGGG
GGGjGGGG
GGGGGjGGGG
j
GGGGGjGGG
GGGjjGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGjjjGGGG
GGGGGjGGGG

Teleporting[]

With 180° spins it is possible to pass through solid walls. This is called teleporting.

ZGGGGGG
Z+ZGGGGG
ZGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGG
GZGGGG
G+ZZGGGG
GGGGZGGGGG
Z
Z+ZGGGGGG
ZGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGGG
GGGGGG
GGZGGGG
GGGG+ZZGGGG
GGGGZGGGGG
GGGSSGGGG
GGGS+SGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGGG
GGGGGGGG
GGGGGG+SSGG
GGGGGSSGGG
GIGGGGGGG
GI1G2GGGGGG
GI3G4GGGGGG
GIGGGGGGG
GGIGGGGGG
GG1I2GGGGGG
GG3I4GGGGGG
GGIGGGGGG
II1I2I
GGGG3G4GGG
GGGGGG
GGGG1G2GGG
GGGII3I4IGGG

Twist Option[]

Sometimes there is more than one way to twist a piece into a hole. Think about which twist is best for the situation. Which cells should be filled, and which should be left behind?

gggg
gggg
ggggggggg
ggggggg
ggggggggg
gggg
gggg
ggggg-gggg
ggglllgggg
ggglgggggg

SRS only

gggg
gggg
ggggggggg
ggg
gg
ggggggggg
ggggggg
ggggggggg
ggg
gg
ggggglgggg
ggglllgggg
ggg-gggggg
ggg
gg
ggggggggg
ggggggg
gggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggtggg
gggtt-ggg
ggggtggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggtggg
gggttggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
gggg
gggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
gggg
gggtttggg
gggggtgggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
gggg
gggtttggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg
ggggggggg

See also[]