Block puzzles use a small set of shapes, and each one has places it loves and places it ruins. Knowing them by heart is what lets good players plan two or three moves ahead. Here is every shape in Blockfold, how often you'll see it, and where it fits best. Other classic block puzzles use very similar sets.
Small blocks: your fixers
- Single square. Fills any one-square hole. It's not very common, so don't count on it.
- Line of 2 and small corner (3 squares in an L). Among the most common blocks. Use them to finish lines and fill awkward gaps.
- Line of 3. Very common and very flexible. Great for finishing a row or column that's missing three squares.
Where: anywhere that finishes a line or fills a gap. Save them for last when you plan a turn.
Medium blocks: the builders
- 2×2 square. Fits neatly into corners and against edges. Leaves no ragged edges, so it's one of the safest blocks.
- T, zigzag and L (4 squares each). These leave uneven edges. Put them where their bumps fill existing gaps, ideally against a wall.
- Line of 4. Good for building along an edge.
Where: against edges and into shapes that match them. Try not to leave a single empty square next to a T or a zigzag.
Big blocks: the game-enders
- 3×3 square (9 squares). The hardest block. It needs a completely clear 3×3 area.
- Line of 5. Needs five free squares in a straight line, across or down.
- Big corner (5 squares, 3 across and 3 down). Needs an L-shaped space, usually a corner of the board.
- 2×3 rectangle (6 squares, flat or standing).
Where: in the space you've kept open for them, usually a corner or an edge. Place them first in a turn, while the space is still there.
How often each shape comes up
In Blockfold, small and medium blocks make up most of what you're dealt; the 3×3 square is the rarest. When the board is crowded, the game also tries to deal a set of three you can actually place, so a game ends because the board is full, not because of one unlucky deal. Even so, you'll always see big blocks sooner or later, so keep room for them.
Quick reference
| Shape | Squares | Best spot |
|---|---|---|
| Single square | 1 | Any one-square hole |
| Line of 2, 3 | 2–3 | Finishing a line |
| Small corner | 3 | Inside corners of other blocks |
| 2×2 square | 4 | Corners and edges |
| T, zigzag, L | 4 | Where their bumps fill gaps |
| Line of 4, 5 | 4–5 | Along an edge, or a free row/column |
| 2×3 rectangle | 6 | Against an edge |
| Big corner | 5 | A corner of the board |
| 3×3 square | 9 | The open space you saved for it |
To put this into practice, see 10 block puzzle tips.
