🧩 CW Tetris Help

Complete guide to playing CW Tetris

Learn Morse code while mastering the classic puzzle game

📋 Table of Contents

1. Game Overview 2. Tetris Rules 3. Tetris Pieces 4. Game Controls 5. Scoring System
6. Morse Code Integration 7. Strategies & Tips 8. Game Settings 9. Leaderboards 10. Troubleshooting

🎮 Game Overview

CW Tetris combines the classic Tetris puzzle game with Morse code learning. As you play, all game events are announced in authentic CW (Continuous Wave) Morse code, helping you develop your listening skills while enjoying one of the world's most popular puzzle games.

🎯 Educational Goals

  • Learn Morse code through immersive gameplay
  • Develop CW listening skills with game context
  • Practice letter and number recognition
  • Build familiarity with common CW phrases

💡 Why CW Tetris?

Traditional Morse code learning can be repetitive and boring. By integrating CW with the engaging gameplay of Tetris, you'll naturally absorb Morse patterns while focused on the puzzle challenge. This creates a positive learning environment where CW practice becomes enjoyable rather than tedious.

📐 Tetris Rules

🎯 Objective

Arrange falling pieces (tetrominoes) to create complete horizontal lines. When a line is filled, it disappears, and you earn points. The game ends when pieces reach the top of the playing field.

⚡ Mechanics

  • Pieces fall from top to bottom
  • Rotate and move pieces before they lock
  • Complete lines disappear automatically
  • Game speed increases with level
  • Hold pieces for strategic placement

🏆 Winning Strategy

  • Keep the playing field as low as possible
  • Plan ahead using the next piece preview
  • Save long pieces (I-pieces) for Tetris clears
  • Use the hold function strategically
  • Learn T-spin techniques for advanced play

Tip: Listen to the CW announcements to develop pattern recognition while focusing on piece placement!

🧩 Tetris Pieces (Tetrominoes)

There are 7 standard Tetris pieces, each with unique shapes and rotation patterns. In CW Tetris, each piece is announced in Morse code when it spawns.

I-Piece (Line)

CW: "LINE"

Best for Tetris (4-line clears)

O-Piece (Square)

CW: "SQUARE"

Doesn't rotate

T-Piece

CW: "T BLOCK"

Great for T-spins

S-Piece

CW: "S BLOCK"

Avoid creating holes

Z-Piece

CW: "Z BLOCK"

Mirror of S-piece

J-Piece

CW: "J BLOCK"

Versatile piece

L-Piece

CW: "L BLOCK"

Mirror of J-piece

🎮 Game Controls

⌨️ Keyboard Controls

Move Left ← Left Arrow
Move Right → Right Arrow
Soft Drop ↓ Down Arrow
Rotate Clockwise ↑ Up Arrow
Hard Drop Space
Hold Piece Shift

🎯 Game Controls

Pause/Resume P
Restart Game R
Return to Menu Esc

📱 Mobile Controls

On mobile devices, touch buttons appear below the game grid:

  • Rotate: Rotate piece clockwise
  • Left/Right: Move piece horizontally
  • Down: Soft drop (faster fall)
  • Drop: Hard drop (instant fall)
  • Hold: Hold current piece for later

🏆 Scoring System

📊 Line Clear Scoring

Single (1 line): 100 × Level
Double (2 lines): 300 × Level
Triple (3 lines): 500 × Level
Tetris (4 lines): 800 × Level

⚡ Drop Scoring

Soft Drop (per cell): 1 point
Hard Drop (per cell): 2 points

🎯 Bonus Scoring

Back-to-Back Tetris: +400 points
Perfect Clear: +2000 points
Combo (per combo): 50 × Level

📈 Level Progression

Level increases every 10 lines cleared. Higher levels mean:

  • Pieces fall faster
  • Higher scoring multipliers
  • More challenging gameplay
  • Prestige and ranking benefits

📡 Morse Code Integration

CW Tetris seamlessly integrates Morse code audio to enhance your learning experience. All game events are announced in authentic CW, helping you develop listening skills naturally.

📻 What You'll Hear

Game Events

TETRIS START
LEVEL ONE
GAME OVER

Piece Actions

LINE DROP
T BLOCK ROTATE
SQUARE LOCK

Line Clears

SINGLE LINE
DOUBLE LINE
TETRIS FOUR LINES

⚙️ CW Settings

10-30 WPM range, default 15 WPM

400-800 Hz range, default 600 Hz

0.1-1.0 range, default 0.7

🎓 Learning Tips

  • Start with slower CW speed (10-12 WPM)
  • Focus on gameplay first, CW recognition second
  • Use the CW display to see transmitted text
  • Gradually increase speed as you improve
  • Practice recognizing common game phrases

💡 Strategies & Tips

🎯 Tetris Strategy

  • Keep it Low: Always work to keep the stack as low as possible
  • Build for Tetris: Create a well on one side for I-piece line clears
  • Use Hold: Save pieces strategically for better placements
  • Plan Ahead: Use the next piece preview to plan moves
  • Avoid Overhangs: Don't create unreachable holes
  • T-Spin Setups: Learn basic T-spin patterns for bonus points

Pro Tip: The most important skill is maintaining a flat, low stack while being ready to build toward a Tetris opportunity.

📡 CW Learning Strategy

  • Start Slow: Begin with 10-12 WPM CW speed
  • Context Learning: Use game context to understand CW messages
  • Pattern Recognition: Focus on whole words, not individual letters
  • Regular Practice: Play daily for consistent exposure
  • Visual Aid: Watch the CW display while listening
  • Progress Gradually: Increase speed as recognition improves

Learning Tip: Don't worry about translating every CW message. Let your brain naturally associate sounds with game events.

⚙️ Game Settings

🎮 Difficulty Levels

Easy

Slower piece fall speed, more forgiving timing

Normal

Standard Tetris speed and mechanics

Hard

Fast speed, challenging for experienced players

🎚️ Starting Level

Choose levels 0-9 to start. Higher starting levels mean faster initial speed and higher scoring potential, but increased difficulty.

📡 CW Customization

Speed (WPM)

Adjust Morse code transmission speed

  • 10-15 WPM: Beginner friendly
  • 15-20 WPM: Intermediate level
  • 20-30 WPM: Advanced/Expert level

Tone (Hz)

Frequency of CW audio tone

400-800 Hz range. Choose what sounds comfortable to your ears.

Volume

CW audio volume level

Adjust to be audible but not overwhelming.

🏆 Leaderboards & Statistics

📊 Ranking System

CW Tetris features comprehensive leaderboards to track your progress and compete with other players worldwide.

Global Leaderboard

Top scores from all players, all time

Personal Best

Your highest score and current rank

Statistics

Games played, average score, total lines cleared

🎯 Achievements

Unlock achievements as you improve your skills and reach new milestones.

🏅 Line Clearer: Clear 100 lines
🏅 Centurion: Score 100,000 points
🏅 Expert Level: Reach level 15
🏅 Tetris Master: Reach level 20
🏅 Efficient Player: High line/piece ratio

Note: You must be logged in to save scores and unlock achievements.

🔧 Troubleshooting

🔇 No CW Audio

Possible Solutions:

  • Check that CW is enabled (green toggle button)
  • Verify browser audio permissions are granted
  • Test with the "Test CW Audio" button
  • Check system volume and browser audio settings
  • Try refreshing the page and starting a new game
  • Ensure you're using a modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

🎮 Game Performance Issues

Possible Solutions:

  • Close unnecessary browser tabs and applications
  • Try using a different browser
  • Clear browser cache and cookies
  • Restart your browser
  • Check for browser updates
  • Disable browser extensions temporarily

📱 Mobile Issues

Possible Solutions:

  • Use landscape orientation for better experience
  • Ensure touch controls are responding
  • Try refreshing the page if controls become unresponsive
  • Close other apps to free up memory
  • Use a modern mobile browser

💾 Score Not Saving

Requirements:

  • You must be logged in to save scores
  • Check that you have a stable internet connection
  • Verify your session hasn't expired
  • Try logging out and back in

💬 Still Need Help?

If you're still experiencing issues, please visit our main help page or contact support. Include details about your browser, device, and the specific problem you're experiencing.