Tetris Tutorial: T-Spins for beginners! [2 min explanation, 3 min of examples]

Want to learn how to do T-spins in Tetris, but don't know where to start? This Tetris tutorial shows an easy way to spot and build your first T-spin double. Just watch for that flat top with the gap, and go from there.
Keep practicing this pattern, and eventually T-spin doubles will become second nature, no matter if you're playing Tetris 99, Tetr.io, Jstris, Puyo Puyo Tetris, or any modern Tetris game.
If you have any questions, leave a comment below, or come play Tetris with me at twitch.tv/gotron88. I play Tetris 99 on Wednesdays at 4:00pm and Sundays at 1:30 pm. Tetr.io on Fridays at 5:00 pm (all times in Mountain Time).

[@basw84]

Thanks, this was the most clear tutorial on the t spin I've seen

[@GoTron88]

Hey thanks! That was the goal since I had trouble finding a good t spin video myself before

[@arrozconeverything]

Realized I was doing this, at pure luck/random, without even knowing what I was doing. Thank you for this tutorial.

[@GoTron88]

Haha pretty cool to be able to just stumble into a T spin though. It was definitely a learned thing for me by watching others.

[@brianthomas8411]

Hey thanks. Yeah I've always known about this but never realized the game tracks it and actually rewards the skill for this trick. Pretty sick

[@JJ-it7cz]

The editing of this video gives me late 2000's KZbin vibes and I love it

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! I will take that as a compliment lol

[@Sth809]

i thought it was a bit more complicated setting it up but thank man its been easier than ever

[@GoTron88]

Glad I could help!

[@bland9876]

As somone use to old school tetris I still find this trippy.

[@GoTron88]

Yeah I played classic Tetris growing up too. Modern Tetris is a fun spin on it though. But honestly you can consider both to be fairly different games.

[@bland9876]

@@GoTron88 I saw something even more trippy someone had like a huge stack of T spins and was able to move the block all the way to the bottom.

[@GoTron88]

Yeah so long as you have an overhang, you can spin pieces in all sorts of ways. If you watch my back-to-back T-spin setups video, you get a small idea of that. DT Cannon for instance.

[@Dredabeast95]

Dude….I hate I never got to see your videos when I played Tetris 99. But im happy I get to learn from you since Ive gotten into PuyoPuyoTetris2! 😇 This is the best guide HANDS DOWN. You did great, and Im excited to learn more from you!

[@GoTron88]

It's okay! T-spins are useful no matter what Tetris game you play haha

[@NeroTheHero]

Turns out I've been doing these, I just never knew it had a name lolol. Thank you King 🙏🏿

[@GoTron88]

No problem! And actually if you can learn to do them on purpose, they're a great power up.

[@curbacz16]

Holy crap this is so clear and simple to explain! Now it’s just a matter of practice! Thank you thank you thank you!

[@GoTron88]

No problem! If you're looking for more videos on T-spins, I did make a follow up vid too! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bISaqGaCpKh5p5I

[@jhonm6347]

Thank god, a tetris creator that speaks loud enough and knows basic video editing. Now I understand.

[@GoTron88]

It's a blessing and a Curse because I sometimes forget to use my inside voice lol

[@justaregularslitherwing]

Tysm!! I literally struggle with T-Spins when i play Tetris 99, so this video is literally helpful for a first time competitive player like me!! :P

[@GoTron88]

Yeah no problem! This is the absolute starter pack of how to spot T-spins though. If you wanna start thinking more about building T-spins on your own free will, definitely check out the follow up video

[@DRUNKENATHEISTSTUDIO]

People have showed and tried to explain this to me but this video might actually help me in zone battle on TEC. Thanks 😅!

[@GoTron88]

You can also practice in TEC single player modes. I'd recommend trying to do a bunch of T-spins in Playlist mode where the gravity is low and there's no game over. Then just aim for high scores with T-spins

[@sweetnumb]

Thanks infinitely for making this video! I could always do T-Spins if I'd watch an example or two right beforehand, but your great explanation has this drilled into my memory so I'll always know how to do them in the future without having to look up another video. Thumbs all the way up!

[@GoTron88]

Glad I could help!

[@kittylovemitten]

Thank you for this helpful tutorial!! I showed it off to my friends and they were all like WOOOAOOGOOHOHHHHHH

[@GoTron88]

I've never heard that noise before in my life LUL. But thanks!!

[@apollocreed7668]

Cats can’t play Tetris. Get me a samich.

[@veg411]

@@apollocreed7668 cringe

[@navybluechilipeppers]

some poggers editing my guy. I really like the colours on the blocks, it's good way of explaining things.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! I'm a visual learner. I need bright pretty colours

[@DJLaZyI]

greatly appreciated - i always thought a t spin was just jargon for finagling something into a gap, didnt know it required a T piece. big ups for helping me get my Dailies, haha

[@GoTron88]

Glad it helped!

[@amogaamogus]

well its called a T-SPIN for a reason i think...

[@RayDawnGames]

Thanks for the link on Reddit! Now it's time for for practice. 😎

[@GoTron88]

Absolutely! And the more you practice, the more intuitive the patterns become.

[@dillanmatney9958]

Thank you so much for the pro tip! I'm definitely going to be using this in Tetris 99. I'm so pumped now! :)

[@GoTron88]

It takes a lot of practice before they become practical, but once they become more second nature you'll be flying!

[@swordbladez]

Thank you so much! If the game had ever explained this as nicely as you just did, I would’ve a lot more than the 2 I have by accident! Now I will be doing this on purpose!

[@GoTron88]

Haha still takes a lot of practice. But definitely helps to be aware that you can T-spin deliberately!

[@andynitka777]

@GoTron88 I have been practising in marathon mode :) The setup is harder to get and I have to abandon to get my stack managed... But I can get a few at the start reliably. I know why in 99 mode I sometimes get killed so quickly :)

[@Jerryfan271]

Hey, excellent & succinct description of the thought process for building TSDs. The base of the t-spin, the '1-wide hole' (with sides of same height) is really key as TSD is almost always possible when you see that. I think this way of explaining it is far superior to others that I've seen.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! Yeah I had trouble finding a simple explanation for T spins for so long. So I said screw it, I'll figure it out myself and then make my own vid lol

[@toechitakirin2807]

so cool!! he clearly explained how to do T-spin in flat 5 minutes

[@GoTron88]

Thanks a lot! I feel like a lot of t spin vids on YT seem to drag on their explanations, so I tried to keep mine as concise as possible.

[@draxcir]

Bro thank you so much. I’ve been playing Tetris for a couple of years and to my standards I thought I got pretty good but felt I hit a wall. Then I heard about T-Spins and could not figure it out. Turns out my “pretty good” is like a toddler playing when online. Thanks for the clear examples. Now I’m off to practice.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! Honestly good fundamentals will still get you pretty far in online vs. But there is a certain point where T-spins become necessary to advance farther.

[@Crisisdarkness]

You have given the best explanation and with many examples, I am very grateful.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks!

[@codyssmith73]

Thank you for this, even though it goes against every Tetris intuition I have!

[@GoTron88]

Yeah it's very very different from Classic Tetris haha

[@sonquatsch8585]

THE BEST T-SPIN TUTORIAL.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks!

[@Moikeromatsu]

Thanks for the tutorial! I finally understand how to do T spins!

[@GoTron88]

Happy to help!

[@Ardeact]

all the other damn tetris youtubers talk talk talk, great job showing examples and thinking.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! My goals for my tutorials are always to keep things short and to the point as much as I can

[@richardallen6067]

Thanks boss. Needed to learn this for some effects multiplayer points

[@GoTron88]

No problem! T-spins start to become more prevalent around SR 6500. You can probably get away with not using them earlier, but better to stay learning them when you can.

[@Tatsugoori]

Thanks, i need this so i can get better at Tetris 99, i accidentally did a T-spin, and was wondering what it was lmao

[@GoTron88]

Yeah it's funny how thing can sometimes work out by just spamming the spin button lol. But there totally is a rhyme and reason to them haha

[@hakimasfat5068]

Small gap, overhang, *_T-SPIN_*

[@GoTron88]

You're an excellent student! haha

[@TheSiulTrebler]

Thanks for the tutorial, now I know how it works

[@GoTron88]

Kappa

[@TheSiulTrebler]

@@GoTron88 👀

[@Stathio]

I've played Tetris on and off since the original, and I always wished one of the ones I played would just actually TELL the player what a T-spin even is- I've been confused about them since they were even a thing since they feel so unintuitive to the rest of the gameplay of Tetris. Thanks for this explanation.

[@GoTron88]

Yeah they've been around since the modern Tetris SRS system got introduced in Tetris DX on the Gameboy Color I think, which I actually did own back then. Even back then I didn't know T-spins were a thing. It wasn't until I watched other T99 players that I learned what they were haha.

[@kennyzink9735]

so helpful, my tetris connected zone attack game stock is going up after this

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! If you're looking to really up your zone attack power, you should try working on chaining combinations of T-spins and Tetrises together. My follow up T-spin vid might help you with that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bISaqGaCpKh5p5I

[@chrischih3420]

This is the video clearly taught how to T-Spin.

[@GoTron88]

Glad to hear it!

[@SilentKnightJL]

Just started playing Tetris effect and I'm being destroyed in multiplayer. Everyone keeps doing the t-spins so I had to learn how to do it myself. Thanks!

[@GoTron88]

What SR are you? T-spins are quite important in the 7k range. But below that you could probably get away with jus tplaying defense haha

[@SilentKnightJL]

@@GoTron88 I'm like 3k. Btw sorry for month late reply.

[@ProtractedScribbles]

Thanks for the explanation and all the examples! I picked up Tetris Effect through Steam recently and have been trying to kick the habit of relying solely on i-pieces/Tetris clears (I have trouble picturing things only written/verbally told to me ^_^'' )

[@GoTron88]

Yeah me too I'm a visual learner so as good of resources sites like four.lol are, sometimes I just need to see things on repeat several times before it sinks in haha

[@isoonett3782]

BEST TUTORIAL EVER! YOU ARE THE SAVIOR!!

[@GoTron88]

Haha thanks!

[@Ari-qw9ec]

He didnt zone. It made me sad. I cried 10/10 tutorial that didn't over complicate its self by showing to much info at once like setting up two TSDs at once even when you had the opportunity (pause on 3:17 )and just let the beginner focus on one at a time

[@GoTron88]

I do have a few vids on back to back setups and donations too, so feel free to check those out!

[@skadoosh-_-7]

Great Tutorial, Well edited, Thanks king.

[@GoTron88]

Appreciate it!

[@tulioalejandromartinez]

When you rotate the T does it matter the direction? I only/always use one direction rotating (X button on PS)

[@GoTron88]

Yeah it does. I try to explain the logic at 1:34 but I know it's not 100% clear. Basically rotate the T so the butt doesn't get in the way of the well, then rotate it again in the same direction. So it won't always be the x button, but if you used the x to rotate is clockwise, then you gotta use x again to rotate it in the same direction again once the T is in place

[@Legend354.]

Thank you, also why is a T spin as many points as a Tetris in Tetris effects 🤔

[@GoTron88]

Pretty much all modern Tetris games give T spins equal or sometimes more points than a Tetris. My earliest modern Tetris game was Tetris DX in the Gameboy Color.

[@LastEmpireOfMusic]

the tspin and garbage marks at the end in tetris effect , did you postpro that or is there actually a tspin training mode in tetris effect?

[@GoTron88]

I added those postpro

[@janettec6906]

Thank you!! You made it so simple!

[@GoTron88]

Glad it helped!

[@Rainbowdragon2]

I'm typically terrible at doing t-spins but I made two t-spin doubles and a t-spin single just by going off what basic shape I needed for it.

[@GoTron88]

Glad to hear it! The first step really is to just recognize the shape on the board. Next step is to start trying to deliberately make those shapes.

[@NikolaosKC]

Incredibly useful.

[@GoTron88]

Hey thanks!

[@hiraisheo4900]

Just one cuestion. What game is it at 2:58?

[@GoTron88]

Puyo Puyo Tetris

[@chaos9187]

thank you, this tutorial is great!

[@GoTron88]

NP hope it helps!

[@Pop_Shepski]

Can you T-Spin on the NES version? That’s the version me and the guys play at work

[@GoTron88]

TECHNICALLY yes, but it's much more difficult to execute in that you have to time it perfectly at the right frame, and there's no score benefit.

[@NextGeneration_]

3:10 whats this site called and is it free to play?

[@GoTron88]

That's Puyo Puyo Tetris. Not free. But at 3:29, Tetr.io IS free!

[@csolisr]

How to properly fill overhangs by the way? I keep placing the wrong piece and causing the overhang to disappear before I set up the T-spin. I also tend to play leaving either the left or right side of the field clean for easier Tetrises with the I-blocks - how many blocks of padding to each side are best for setting up overhangs?

[@GoTron88]

People generally prefer 6-3 build as in a padding of 3 rows on the right side, but that really just a suggestion. Maybe this video I made will help you? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bISaqGaCpKh5p5I

[@TheLegendofLeo]

Thank you! Hopefully I can beat this level 5 CPU in Tetris DS now.

[@GoTron88]

Good luck! Let me know how it goes.

[@TheLegendofLeo]

@@GoTron88It's a lot harder than it looks when you haven't played in years 😅But it's been fun getting back into the game!

[@superdomm09]

The only thing I struggle with is how to maintain after making a tspin. Every time I make one, my setup for everything else looks bad or really sloppy. It's like I can't do one if I'm doing another. If that makes sense

[@GoTron88]

Watch my T-spin part 2 and 3 videos, especially part 3 which focuses specifically on this.

[@Daredevil_5149]

Thanks bro, I struggled two months with what this thing was 😂😂😂

[@GoTron88]

No problem!

[@DrRobby1985]

Thank you SO much for your service ❤️

[@GoTron88]

No prob!

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

1:27 Are we not gonna talk about how people have been rotating it the opposite way? (Granted it needs a wall on both sides to kick it in when you do it that way, but the "backwards" TSD as I've been calling it is definitely a prominent feature the pros use... for some reason..)

[@GoTron88]

Funny you should mention this because I have a video on exactly this too lol kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6iXlINqra6Uj7s

[@guesswho3010]

Interesting, thanks !

[@GoTron88]

No problem!

[@becauseYES9999]

Tysm this is a great tutorial and explained a lot

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! Let me know if you were able to complete a T-spin

[@becauseYES9999]

@@GoTron88 I was :) I completed 5 in tetris 99 and finally completed the mission. Thanks for the advice

[@KyOllie]

Thank you for posting this!

[@GoTron88]

No problem! Hope it helped

[@anikamccandless8880]

Thank you! I was able to complete my objective :D

[@GoTron88]

Glad I could help!

[@ineedtocomeupwithahandle]

Im doing it but it doesnt count

[@chocomilkxd6123]

4:03 what tetris game is this one??

[@GoTron88]

Tetris Effect. Crossplay across all platforms!

[@SigmaElement]

But... in the tetris LSD tutorial they do a super weird T-Spin where the T piece just seems to teleport into place down to an immposible position, i just dont get that

[@GoTron88]

LSD is a back to back setup. This video is about the basic TSD. But I do have videos on a few common b2b setups

[@connorbredall3112]

How do you do a t-spin in Tetris for the Game Boy, including but not limited to, Tetris on Nintendo Switch Online Game Boy?

[@GoTron88]

Oh it's a bit trickier in Classic Tetris games like Gameboy and NES. It's still possible but the window to do it is way smaller. Like at higher levels such as Lv 18+ you have to rotate it within 1-2 frames

[@l1ghtneon740]

Thanks bro but I'll try it soon

[@GoTron88]

No problem!

[@sgmei]

Thank you. Time to add those T-spins into my stats. It’s been 0 since then 😅

[@GoTron88]

I JUST put up a brand new video if you're looking for more context. Buy honestly if you're starting from scratch just kind pick the flat spots that come up by chance and work with those first before building your own. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGnHYWyLeqqljbs

[@Jay_Super_Awesome]

I’m having trouble with the over hang

[@GoTron88]

Maybe this will help? kzbin.info/www/bejne/bISaqGaCpKh5p5I Especially at the 1:15 mark. If you slow it down and watch frame-by-frame you'll see quite a few overhang examples.

[@Jay_Super_Awesome]

@@GoTron88 thank you

[@mysterygamersyt69]

yo which tetris site is this

[@GoTron88]

Most of the footage is from Tetris 99 for the Nintendo Switch. But the examples come from Tetri.io, Puyo Puyo Tetris and Tetris Effect.

[@exsosus5002]

Hi guys, I can't for the love of God get the Hold tetrimono button to work. I have tried all the buttons on my Xbox controller - playing on controller on Steam PC. Please advise. I'm playing all these more difficult levels on Normal journey and I haven't used a single hold yet. Am I allowed to be a little proud? Ty if you can help me with which button it is to use Hold tetrimono.

[@GoTron88]

I play on PS5 so not sure how I can help you. Is it a wireless controller?

[@exsosus5002]

@@GoTron88 Wireless Xbox Controller for Windows 10 or later. Fixed in the last patch! R1 or R2, tap to use hold.

[@Vompean]

I can T spin now! Thanks!

[@GoTron88]

Glad I could help!

[@nicolasestrem]

Thanks, good video

[@GoTron88]

Thanks!

[@aimiliosmilidakis9388]

What's the game at 3:50?

[@GoTron88]

Tetris Effect. Available on all platforms and has crossplay!

[@blackjedi111]

What was the last game???

[@GoTron88]

That was Tetris Effect

[@hwylsoliloquy2959]

U THE GOATT, THANK YOUU SO MUCHH

[@GoTron88]

No problem!

[@xin0]

I learned the basis of t spin, I just need to grasp getting a t spin double :/

[@GoTron88]

It takes practice. I'm actually working on a part 2 for this video right now so stay tuned!

[@exsosus5002]

Thank you so much Mr. Pro Gotron 88. Does anyone here have a recommendation of video for beginners learning Zone Battle? I am on a loosing streak of 20+ losses in a row. Thank you!

[@GoTron88]

I've been thinking about this comment but I'd say it's a bit tricky because there are so many play styles. Maybe start with 2-wide well until you're comfortable stacking and downstacking with counters? I have a video on wells so maybe start there

[@exsosus5002]

@@GoTron88 TY I will watch your video this evening.

[@exsosus5002]

Hello again @GoTron88 I cannot find a beginner Zone battle video from you. Please link.

[@GoTron88]

It's not about Zone specifically, but I think 2-widing in general is good to use in TEC. Just watch the first part of this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6O3fGyJjtObbKc

[@exsosus5002]

@@GoTron88 Thank you, checking that one out.

[@milkcerealinc.7365]

I never realized how simple the t spin is. I’ve just been doing t spins by pure luck

[@GoTron88]

Simple but useful!

[@sam2stu]

I got it now thanks

[@GoTron88]

No problem!

[@element1192]

According to the tetris wiki, most modern tetris games award 50% more points for a t-spin double than for a tetris, and make a t-spin single equal to a tetris.

[@GoTron88]

A lot do, yeah. In most of the versus games I play the garbage sent is the same though

[@element1192]

@GoTron88 I think it's unbalanced anyway, considering a tetris takes more setup than a t-spin single or double

[@GoTron88]

@@element1192 yeah I thought the same too, but I just came to accept T-spins, and ultimately they are a lot of fun to set up haha

[@element1192]

@@GoTron88 Other twists should be rewarded too tbh

[@GoTron88]

@@element1192 so there's a custom mode in Tetrio where you can enable this. It's fun but actually pretty chaotic lol

[@ssjakuma]

I played Tetris for more than 20 years, and played flat confidently building wells and getting multiple Tetris, avoiding T-spins. I have reached only as high as 4gh in Tetris 99. Once I perfect TSD, then I'll work on TST.

[@GoTron88]

Getting TSDs down is pretty important. TSTs... They're more situational. Still not a bad tool to have

[@arurramoon1965]

Know what, thank you you erned my sub.

[@GoTron88]

Thanks! I'm actually currently working on a video about some. Ore complex spins too so stay tuned!

[@arurramoon1965]

@@GoTron88 I will!

[@andrewvirtual]

Kickass

[@GoTron88]

Thanks!

[@howieju]

what game is 2:59?

[@GoTron88]

Puyo Puyo Tetris

[@Appollochan]

thank youuuu~ :3

[@GoTron88]

My pleasure!

[@hungdongminh1100]

T-spin double best way:use a 3x3 T-hole

[@GoTron88]

That's what she said! JK yeah they're the most efficient way of scoring points and sending attacks to opponents.

[@Membummi22]

i wish my brain can pause and analyze like this hahaha

[@GoTron88]

It's all just pattern recognition in the end haha

[@EthanMiguelScott]

Random Dr. Mario! 😂

[@GoTron88]

I'm still waiting for Dr. Mario 99 haha

[@renneruYT]

There's some weird tetris versions out there

[@Capngoldtooth]

Let's hope I can beat "ランダムな日本人" and "ランダムな日本人の友人" with learning this new tac tic...

[@razul5689]

YESS

[@alexys72904]

I just don’t know why the game wants you to do this on purpose?

[@GoTron88]

To be fair T-spins have been around since original Tetris. They just didn't provide additional score. But neither did back to backs or combos. And to be also fair this was all vetted and approved by the original creator of Tetris. So you know..his game his rules lol.

[@thealterego3187]

It adds complexity to multiplayers

[@GoTron88]

@@thealterego3187 This is true! But also the first time I saw the SRS system was actually on Tetris DX for Gameboy Color, which was primarily a single player game haha

[@TheSiulTrebler]

How to be as fast as you tutorial when?

[@GoTron88]

This 5 min video took me over 12 hours to edit

[@TheSiulTrebler]

@@GoTron88 monkaW

[@kittylovemitten]

@@GoTron88 monkaS

[@GoTron88]

@GoTron88 FeelsWeirdMan

[@Durgabo]

I showed this to a person on tetrio who wanted to learn tspins

[@GoTron88]

Nice! Did it help them?

[@Durgabo]

@@GoTron88 idk I haven’t seen them and I just met them in a random match

[@GoTron88]

@@Durgabo haha cool. Appreciate the reference though

[@remboakimbo]

Yoooooooooo!

[@GoTron88]

Yyooooo

[@bacchess]

smh no t spin mini

[@GoTron88]

I feel like TSD is easier to learn because the hole actually looks like a T haha. Easier to visualize

[@bacchess]

@@GoTron88 when part 2

[@GoTron88]

@@bacchess THESE THINGS TAKE SO LONG TO MAKE lol

[@SasukeUchiha-pd4qd]

Dr mario hhhhh

[@GoTron88]

Love that game haha

[@bupobm]

@@GoTron88 me too !

[@ssjakuma]

Flat top, wall, overhang. Flat top, wall, overhang. Flat top, wall, overhang. Fat lip, call my ex, hangover. I think I messed up.

[@GoTron88]

I dunno sounds about right lol