here are generally three main
types of puzzle fighting styles, all of which, if used
properly, are equally good. These styles can be mixed to
produced more balanced attack strategies, but for the most
part, most people usually stick to one.
---Regular Powergem Style---
People who use this style are usually very good with timing.
This style involves making powergems of medium to large size
and destroying them quickly in succession so that the
opponent is overwhelmed by the attack. The trick to using
this method successfully is in trying to find the correct
time to attack. One must attack either before the crystal gem
or right after the crystal gem in order for this style to be
effective. One drawback to this method is that if you don't
kill the opponent after your first series of attacks, you
will have no more blocks left, and your opponent can mount a
counter attack. Another drawback to this style is that in
order to create powergems you will inevitably fill the middle
of the screen. This can be dangerous. The good thing about
the regular powergem style is that 
it
works well against players that are slower than you. You can
create a powerful attack before your opponent has a chance to
counter attack. This style also works well against people who
like to wait and amass a huge attack. The strengths of the
regular powergem style lie in its ability to surprise your
opponent by attacking with everything very early in the game.
---One Hit Kill Style---
The name of this style suggests the strategy behind it.
People who play this style like to focus on one gem of one
color. During the course of the game, they continue to build
only on this one color, until it is big enough to kill the
opponent once it is broken. This method may sound stupid at
first, but when done correctly, it is one of the better
styles. The key to creating a one hit kill is by finding
weaknesses in the attack patterns of characters. Focus on one
color, and exploit the attack pattern so that you can use the
attack pattern to your favor. When choosing a place to build
your huge gem, build it on the sides, and not so much in the
middle, although many times this is unavoidable. One of the
difficulties in using this method is to keep from destroying
the gem prematurely (before it is powerful enough to kill
with one hit). In addition, one has to be extremely careful
not to allow the opponent to cover your creation with counter
blocks. Another drawback is that because the attack is
focused on only one color, it is difficult to counterattack.
The fact that the strategy is dependent on one color makes it
frustrating sometimes when the crash gem of the color you
want never appears in the right time. Over time, an intuition
develops that helps you decide whether the block is big
enough to kill in one hit.
---Chain Style---
People who use the chain style well have perphaps reached the
ultimate level of puzzle fighting attainable. Mathmatically,
the chain style is most efficient. It uses the least blocks
to create a given attack strength. Thus, if you were to
destroy half a screen worth of blocks using chains compared
to destroying the same half 
but of power gems, the chain
attack would be more powerful. The chain style is potentially
the most powerful, but it also takes more thought and
planning than the other two styles. There are two things to
keep in mind when using the chain style. First, the planning
must be premeditated. Secondly, the crystal gem is the best
catalyst for the chaining to begin. When setting up the
chaining, you want to conserve the crash gems as much as
possible. Do not use the crash gems, but rather, arrange them
where if one color is destroyed, the blocks will fall down,
and continue to chain. This is difficult at first, and it is
difficult to explain. The people who are good have an
intuition about where crash gems should go. A general rule is
to place crash gems of the same color close to regular blocks
of the same color, but not so that they break each other.
Earlier, I mentioned that the crystal gem is good for a
catalyst. Usually, the users of the chain style are able to
finish off thier opponents after the first crystal gem. They
build thier blocks so that it evolves around one color, and
when the crystal gem eliminates that color, a chain of 5-7
evolves, and the opponent has no time to react. The benefits
of chaining are that it is so overwhelming and hard to
counter.
Some general things that need to be discussed are
"accuracy vs. speed" and general timing. In the
beginning of the match, speed is more important than accuracy
for one simple reason. One must get blocks on the screen in
order to attack. The more blocks one has, the more possible
it is for one to attack. This is not to say that random
haphazard placing of blocks is recommended. I am saying that
it is important to go as fast because if your opponent is
faster, he can attack before you and get an upperhand in the
game. You can extend this methodology to when you have
cleared out all your blocks and 
your opponent is still alive. Build as quickly as possible to
get potential blocks to counter or attack with. Conversely,
during the middle stages of the game, accuracy is more
important. Why the change? The middle game is very stable,
and very few surprises are liable to happen. Thus, you can
take more time thinking about where you want your blocks to
go. It is also crucial not to make any mistakes in placing
blocks because that mistake can hinder you from realizing the
potential of your blocks. For example, if you slip up, and
happen to cover a red power gem you were building, that red
power gem may become useless for the rest of the game. In the
beginning of the game, this isn't much of a factor because
you haven't really begun to settle down yet. When are the
times when speed and accuracy are both required? Always, if
possible. But, it really becomes a matter of life and death
when you are covered to the throat in counter blocks.
As an expert, you now have the skills to brag with. For a
real challenge use Dan on your friends or the computer. Using
Dan is not a bad idea. Dan is a great teacher of timing for
attacking and countering. Try it sometime. Peace.
