Swapping gems into a line of three
The board is full of colorful gems. To make a match, swap two gems that are right next to each other so that three or more of the same color line up in a row or a column. When you make a match, those gems pop and disappear, you score points, and the gems above slide down to fill the gaps while new gems drop in from the top. Sometimes the new arrangement creates more matches all on its own, which gives you bonus points in a chain. You have a set number of moves, so look for the biggest matches you can.
Hunting for the cascade
Before touching a gem, let your eyes rove the board for two of a color already sitting almost in line, then find the third you can slide in to finish it. Bigger lines pay better, so it is often worth passing over an easy three to set up a four or five. The sweetest moves of all are the ones that trigger a cascade, where the gems dropping in after your match line up more matches by themselves, so glance above the gap you are about to open and picture what will fall into it.
The eye for a pattern it sharpens
Match 3 is really a game of seeing, training the eye to pick lines and colors out of a busy, shifting board and to notice a good move among dozens of dull ones. Better still, chasing cascades nudges a child to think a step ahead, picturing not just the match they make but the gems that will tumble down afterward and what those might line up in turn. It does all this at a calm, unhurried pace, which is why it can hold a child attention without ever feeling frantic.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Match 3?
Swap two gems that are next to each other to line up three or more of the same color in a row or column. Matched gems pop and score points, and new gems drop in from the top. Sometimes a match sets off a chain of more matches.
How do I swap gems?
Tap one gem to pick it up, then tap a gem right next to it to swap them. If the swap does not make a match of three, the gems swap back, so look for a line of three first.
What happens when matches chain in Match 3?
When matched gems pop, the gems above them drop down to fill the gap, and sometimes that fall lines up three more of a color on its own. That is a chain, and it scores extra without another move. Setting up a single swap that triggers a cascade is the difference between a good score and a great one.