Some tips on solving the puzzle. Special thanks goes to current best player, mtanzer.
- plan to deal with large numbers first
- look for matching large numbers in the same row/column and figure out how to clear the space between them
- 1s are valuable, use them only when they're really needed
- don't be afraid to create more 1s by combining low numbers like a 4 and a 5
- you can use a 1 on a 2 to get rid of it cheaply. it also helps when you end up being just one block away from the endgame
- play through the board multiple times: on your first plays try to remember when a combination of moves works well, so you can use it again in the future
- when near the endgame, have a plan for how to deal with all remaining large numbers. you don't want to end up with 15 that can't be matched with anything
- most of the time when you reach the endgame, things won't work out very well. if you really want a great score, you'll usually have to try many openings until you reach an endgame that works well