Downstacking
Downstacking refers uncovering and filling holes in order to gain access to the bottom rows of the stack. Downstacking is a challenging skill to master and rich with depth. Inefficient downstacking is often the Achilles' heel of newer players. The primary goal is to lower your surface height. Doing so prevents you from topping out. Use as few pieces per garbage row as possible. Note: this article does not take into account details such as line clear delay and attacking power. Those matter when deciding whether or not you should try to group line clears together while downstacking. Contents Covering Holes Examples Managing Upstack Residue Lying Low Clearing Lines Finding Line Clears Platform Stacking Prioritizing Line Clears Problematic Patterns The Jagged Corner Crowding Covering Holes The location of each hole tells you how to place pieces above them. The higher the hole, the more important