How to Approach Block Out Levels 273 and 274

For Block Out levels 273 and 274, prioritize keeping at least one tube empty so you have room to rearrange stacks. This is a general approach, not a move-by-move solution; check the board before each move, especially when a color is buried beneath other blocks.

Level 273: Preserve an empty tube

Before moving blocks, check which colors are exposed and which are buried at the bottom of crowded tubes. Move exposed matching blocks into a tube that can receive them, but avoid filling every tube with partial stacks. Keeping an empty tube gives you room to shift blocks and uncover other colors.

If you run out of empty tubes, look for a color with fewer blocks on the board that you may be able to gather and clear. The draft’s guidance is to use that opening to restore maneuvering space before tackling larger mixed stacks.

Level 274: Uncover buried colors in order

Start by identifying the tubes with the most mixed colors. Move their top layers only when you have a place to put them that won’t obstruct a later move. Once a buried color is exposed, gather matching blocks toward the same tube where possible.

Before committing a move, consider whether it will cover a color you still need to access. If it would, look for another place to shift the top layer. Avoid spreading matching colors across too many tubes, since partial stacks take up space you may need later.

If you reach a point with very few available moves, pause and reassess the stacks. Look for a way to shift a group of blocks into an empty tube to expose a buried color.