Keep the biggest tile in a corner
As long as your highest value stays anchored, the rest of the board is easier to stack into a smooth gradient.
2048 Guide
2048 Guide
The board stays friendlier when your number order stays clean and predictable.
Layout Habits
Avoid back-and-forth swings
Frequent direction reversals scramble the middle fast. Pick a main flow and build around it.
Protect space in the middle game
If the center is starting to clog, rebuild room first instead of forcing one risky merge.