📖 Strategy Principle
Planning ahead means: before each move, think about what this move will lead to, and what the next 2-3 moves should be.
This is very similar to chess thinking:
- Predict results: What will the board look like after this move?
- Consider new tiles: Where will new 2s or 4s appear? (They appear in empty spaces)
- Plan follow-ups: Which direction should I move next to continue my strategy?
- Avoid traps: Will this move force me to use the forbidden direction?
💡 Key Question
Before each move, ask yourself: "After this move, what's the worst that could happen?" If the worst case is unacceptable, choose a different direction.
📊 Thinking Process Demo
Current Situation
Analysis process:
- "If I press right..." → The two 2s on top row will merge into 4, but second row right side will have a gap
- "If I press down..." → Most tiles won't move (bottom row full), only top will move down
- "If I press left..." → Top row will go left, top-left corner will be filled
- "Press up?" → Forbidden direction! 256 might leave the corner!
Conclusion: Press left to fill the top-left corner and keep the structure stable.
❌ Common Mistakes
- Impulsive moves: Merging immediately when you see the opportunity without thinking about consequences
- Only looking at current move: Focusing on immediate merges while ignoring the chain reactions
- Ignoring worst case: Always expecting new tiles to appear in ideal positions without considering them appearing in the worst spot
- Over-planning: Thinking too many moves ahead causes decision paralysis; 2-3 moves is actually enough
✅ Practical Tips
- Pause for a moment: Don't rush to move, spend 2-3 seconds thinking before each move
- Imagine new tiles in worst position: Assume they will definitely appear in the most inconvenient empty space
- Build "escape routes": Always keep at least two viable movement directions
- Identify "crisis points": When only 1-2 empty spaces remain, think even more carefully
- Practice "If-Then": Repeatedly practice the thinking pattern "If I move this way, then..."
⚠️ The Luck Factor
2048 has an element of luck—you can't control where new tiles appear or whether they're 2 or 4. But good planning can maximize your success rate and minimize luck's impact.
🎯 Putting It All Together
Planning ahead isn't a standalone strategy, but a way of thinking that connects all other strategies:
- Plan how to maintain the corner strategy
- Plan how to build the snake pattern
- Plan how to use only three directions
- Plan how to keep rows locked
With practice, all of these become instinct, and you'll "automatically" know what to do.