2048: keep your largest tile anchored without trapping the board

A corner is a useful anchor in 2048, but it is a strategy, not an inviolable rule. Keep the largest tile near one corner and arrange the next-largest tiles in descending order along an edge. This leaves predictable merges and more empty cells than chasing every immediate pair.

Before each swipe, ask what will merge, where a new tile might appear, and whether the move leaves another legal option. A move in the “forbidden” direction can be worthwhile if it prevents a dead board; rebuild the ordering afterward rather than repeating random swipes. Compare two runs: one that maximizes the immediate score, and one that preserves space. Which decision kept the board alive longer? Play at /games/2048.