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How to Play

Quick Summary: Step-by-step guide to playing both game modes and maximizing your score Difficulty: Beginner Time to Read: 5 minutes

Learn how to play GRIDLOCK and develop winning strategies across both game modes.

Before You Start: Universal Winning Principles​

These strategies apply to both Market Grid and Coin Grid modes:

1. Pattern Priority​

Focus predictions on completing high-value patterns rather than random accuracy:

  • Visualize potential rows, columns, and diagonals before making predictions
  • Position uncertain predictions outside of critical pattern cells
  • Aim for 2-3 complete patterns rather than partial progress on many

2. Strategic Power-Up Placement​

Position power-ups on cells within multiple patterns:

  • ✅ Good: Power-up on a cell that's part of a row AND column
  • ❌ Bad: Power-up on an isolated corner cell (unless Four Corners pattern)
  • 💡 Best: Power-up on a cell that's part of 3+ potential patterns

3. Market Timing​

Choose active trading periods for more predictable movements:

  • Best times: Market opens (9:30 AM ET), major news events, high volume periods
  • Avoid: Low liquidity hours (late night, weekends for some coins)
  • Check: Recent volatility before selecting time ranges

4. Risk-Reward Balance​

Shorter time frames offer higher points but harder predictions:

  • Conservative: Start with 24H (longer trends, more patterns)
  • Balanced: 4H mode (optimal difficulty-to-reward ratio)
  • Aggressive: 1H mode (highest points, most volatile)

Market Grid Mode: Complete Walkthrough​

Goal: Arrange 12 coins strategically to maximize pattern completion based on final rankings.

Understanding Market Grid​

No Explicit Predictions Needed: The game automatically ranks coins by their actual price change percentage. Your strategy is positioning coins you believe will perform well in pattern formations.

Scoring is Based on Rankings: Coins are sorted by performance, and patterns form based on how well-positioned your high-performers are.

Step-by-Step: Playing Market Grid​

Phase 1: Choose a Category​

Available Categories:

  • L1_CHAINS: Base layer blockchains (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB, etc.)
  • DEFI: Decentralized finance protocols (Uniswap, Aave, Curve, Synthetix, etc.)
  • MEMES: Meme-driven tokens (Dogecoin, Pepe, Shiba Inu, TRUMP, etc.)

Selection Tips:

  • Choose a category you follow regularly
  • Check recent category performance (trending vs. consolidating)
  • Meme coins have highest volatility, L1 chains are more stable

Phase 2: Select and Arrange 12 Coins​

  1. Review Available Coins: All 12 coins from your chosen category are displayed
  2. Select Coins: Fill your 4×3 grid with coins you believe will perform well
  3. Strategic Arrangement:
    • Top row: Coins you expect to perform best
    • Middle rows: Moderate performers
    • Bottom row: Likely underperformers (but still consider pattern opportunities)

Example Strategy (L1_CHAINS):

Row 1: [ETH] [SOL] [BNB] [AVAX]  ← Expect strong performance
Row 2: [SUI] [APT] [TON] [LTC]   ← Moderate performance
Row 3: [XRP] [ZEC] [HYPE] [BTC]  ← Conservative plays

Phase 3: Place Power-Ups (Optional)​

You can place up to 3 power-ups (one of each type):

ATTACK 🗡️:

  • Succeeds when: Placed on the coin with the lowest volatility (most stable price)
  • Strategy: Place on established coins (BTC, ETH in L1 category)

GUARD 🛡️:

  • Succeeds when: Placed on the coin with the highest volatility (biggest swings)
  • Strategy: Place on meme coins or newer tokens

RESTORE 🔄:

  • Succeeds when: Automatically converts one incorrect prediction to correct
  • Strategy: Place on pattern-critical cells where you're uncertain

Power-Up Placement Example:

Row 1: [ETH-ATTACK] [SOL] [BNB] [AVAX]
Row 2: [SUI] [APT] [TON-RESTORE] [LTC]
Row 3: [XRP] [ZEC] [HYPE-GUARD] [BTC]

Phase 4: Start Game and Wait​

  • Click "Start Game"
  • Game enters WAIT state
  • Results settle based on real market data
  • Duration: Based on selected time range

Market Grid Scoring​

Pattern Points:

  • Full Row (4 correct): 4,000 points
  • Partial Row (3 correct): 800 points
  • Full Column (3 correct): 3,000 points

Power-Up Bonuses:

  • Each successful power-up: +1,000 points

Example Final Score:

Full Row (Top Row):          4,000 points
Partial Row (Middle):          800 points
Full Column (Column 2):      3,000 points
ATTACK Success:              1,000 points
RESTORE Success:             1,000 points
─────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL SCORE:                 9,800 points

Market Grid Pro Tips​

  1. Don't Overthink Predictions: Focus on positioning likely winners in multiple patterns
  2. Diversify Row Strategy: Don't put all strong performers in one row—spread across patterns
  3. Column Optimization: Columns are worth 3,000 points—ensure at least one strong coin per column
  4. Power-Up Synergy: RESTORE is most valuable on cells within multiple patterns

Coin Grid Mode: Complete Walkthrough​

Goal: Predict directional movements (UP/DOWN) for each candle and complete high-value patterns.

Understanding Coin Grid​

Explicit Predictions Required: For each candle on the grid, predict whether the price will close UP (higher than open) or DOWN (lower than open).

Grid Size Varies by Time Range: Your chosen time range determines grid dimensions and scoring.

Step-by-Step: Playing Coin Grid​

Phase 1: Select a Coin​

Coin Selection Strategy:

  • Choose a coin you actively follow or research
  • Check recent price action (trending vs. ranging)
  • Consider volatility patterns (stable vs. erratic)

Popular Beginner Choices:

  • BTC/ETH: More stable, easier to predict trends
  • SOL/AVAX: Moderate volatility, clear trend patterns
  • DOGE/PEPE: High volatility, harder but higher potential scores

Phase 2: Choose Time Range​

Time RangeGrid SizeCandlesIntervalBase PointsDifficulty
24H6×4 (24)24 × 1-hour1h+25 each⭐️ Easier
4H4×4 (16)16 × 15-min15m+50 each⭐️⭐️ Medium
1H4×3 (12)12 × 5-min5m+75 each⭐️⭐️⭐️ Harder

Time Range Selection Guide:

Choose 24H (6×4) if:

  • You're new to crypto price prediction
  • You want more pattern opportunities (larger grid)
  • You prefer analyzing longer-term trends

Choose 4H (4×4) if:

  • You want balanced difficulty and rewards
  • You understand 15-minute chart patterns
  • You want access to diagonal patterns (+8,000 points!)

Choose 1H (4×3) if:

  • You're experienced with short-term trading
  • You can analyze 5-minute candle patterns
  • You want maximum points per prediction (+75 each)

Phase 3: Make Predictions​

For each candle on the grid, predict UP or DOWN:

Prediction Strategies:

Trend Following:

  • If price is in an uptrend, predict more UP candles
  • If price is in a downtrend, predict more DOWN candles
  • Use recent candle history as reference

Pattern Recognition:

  • Look for support/resistance levels
  • Identify consolidation periods (mix of UP/DOWN)
  • Check for momentum shifts (consecutive same-direction candles)

Strategic Prediction Placement:

Example 4H Grid (4×4):
[UP]   [UP]   [UP]   [UP]    ← Full row targeting
[UP]   [DOWN] [UP]   [DOWN]  ← Mixed predictions
[DOWN] [DOWN] [UP]   [DOWN]  ← Partial patterns
[DOWN] [DOWN] [DOWN] [DOWN]  ← Full row targeting

Pro Tip: Prioritize completing one full row over scattered accuracy. A complete row is worth 100× more than partial patterns.

Phase 4: Place Power-Ups (Optional)​

Place up to 3 power-ups on specific candles:

ATTACK 🗡️:

  • Succeeds when: Placed on candle with lowest volatility (smallest price swing)
  • Strategy: Place on consolidation candles (small range)

GUARD 🛡️:

  • Succeeds when: Placed on candle with highest volatility (biggest price swing)
  • Strategy: Place on breakout/breakdown candles (large range)

RESTORE 🔄:

  • Succeeds when: Automatically converts one incorrect prediction to correct
  • Strategy: Place on pattern-critical cells (e.g., completing a diagonal)

Power-Up Placement Example (4×4 Grid):

[UP]   [UP-RESTORE] [UP]   [UP]    ← RESTORE on critical row cell
[UP]   [DOWN]       [UP]   [DOWN]
[DOWN] [DOWN]       [UP-GUARD] [DOWN]  ← GUARD on volatile candle
[DOWN] [DOWN-ATTACK] [DOWN] [DOWN] ← ATTACK on stable candle

Phase 5: Start Game and Wait​

  • Click "Start Game"
  • Game fetches real market data for your selected time range
  • Results settle based on actual candle OHLC (Open, High, Low, Close) data
  • Duration: Matches your selected time range (1H, 4H, or 24H)

Coin Grid Scoring​

24H Grid (6×4) Scoring​

Base Points:

  • Correct prediction: +25 points each

Pattern Bonuses:

  • Full Row (6): 12,000 points 🔥
  • Row (5): 4,000 points
  • Row (4): 1,000 points
  • Full Column (4): 6,000 points
  • Column (3): 1,200 points
  • Square (2×2): 3,500 points

Example Score:

Base: 18 correct × 25 =          450 points
Full Row (Row 2):             12,000 points
Full Column (Column 3):        6,000 points
Square (Top-left 2×2):         3,500 points
RESTORE Success:               1,000 points
─────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL SCORE:                  22,950 points

4H Grid (4×4) Scoring​

Base Points:

  • Correct prediction: +50 points each

Pattern Bonuses:

  • Row/Column (4): 5,000 points each
  • Row/Column (3): 1,000 points
  • Diagonal (4): 8,000 points 🔥 (highest single pattern!)
  • Diagonal (3): 1,500 points
  • Four Corners (4): 4,000 points
  • Square (2×2): 3,000 points

Example Score:

Base: 12 correct × 50 =          600 points
Full Row (Row 1):              5,000 points
Full Column (Column 2):        5,000 points
Diagonal (Top-left to bottom-right): 8,000 points
GUARD Success:                 1,000 points
─────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL SCORE:                  19,600 points

1H Grid (4×3) Scoring​

Base Points:

  • Correct prediction: +75 points each (highest per-prediction!)

Pattern Bonuses:

  • Full Row (4): 4,000 points
  • Partial Row (3): 800 points
  • Full Column (3): 3,000 points
  • Square (2×2): 2,500 points

Example Score:

Base: 9 correct × 75 =           675 points
Full Row (Row 1):              4,000 points
Full Column (Column 3):        3,000 points
Square (Middle 2×2):           2,500 points
ATTACK Success:                1,000 points
─────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL SCORE:                  11,175 points

Coin Grid Pro Tips​

  1. Prioritize One Full Row: Focus predictions to guarantee at least one complete row—this alone is worth 50-160× individual predictions
  2. Diagonal Dominance (4H only): In 4×4 grids, diagonals are worth 8,000 points—the highest single pattern bonus
  3. Pattern Intersections: A correct prediction at a row-column intersection counts toward both patterns (double value)
  4. RESTORE Power-Up: Place on the cell that, if correct, would complete the most valuable pattern (e.g., final diagonal cell)
  5. Market Context: Check recent trend before predicting—strong trends have higher directional consistency

Game Flow: What Happens After You Start​

Wait State​

After clicking "Start Game", your game enters WAIT mode:

What Happens:

  • Game fetches real-time market data from price feeds
  • Market Grid: Ranks coins by actual % price change
  • Coin Grid: Settles each candle prediction based on OHLC data

Duration:

  • Market Grid: Settles at end of current market period
  • Coin Grid 24H: 24 hours (24 × 1-hour candles)
  • Coin Grid 4H: 4 hours (16 × 15-minute candles)
  • Coin Grid 1H: 1 hour (12 × 5-minute candles)

During Wait:

  • You cannot modify predictions or power-ups
  • View your grid setup and predictions
  • Optional: Start a new game in parallel

Results Screen​

When your game settles, the Results Screen displays:

Score Breakdown:

  1. Base Points (Coin Grid only): Individual prediction accuracy
  2. Pattern Scores: Each completed pattern with point values
  3. Power-Up Scores: Success/failure of each power-up
  4. Total Score: Sum of all components

Visual Feedback:

  • ✅ Green cells: Correct predictions
  • ❌ Red cells: Incorrect predictions
  • Pattern highlights: Completed patterns shown with borders/highlights
  • Power-up indicators: Success (green) / Failure (red) icons

What to Check:

  • Which patterns you completed (and which you narrowly missed)
  • Power-up success explanations
  • Opportunities for improvement in next game

Next Steps:

  • Play Again: Start a new game with lessons learned
  • Review Strategy: Analyze what worked / what didn't
  • Try Different Mode: Switch between Market Grid and Coin Grid

Learning Path: From Beginner to Advanced​

Stage 1: Getting Started (Games 1-5)​

Objective: Understand basic mechanics

  1. Play Market Grid first (easier—no predictions needed)
  2. Try all three categories (L1, DeFi, Memes) to see differences
  3. Experiment with power-up placements
  4. Focus on completing one full row

Success Metric: Achieve 5,000+ points consistently

Stage 2: Pattern Optimization (Games 6-15)​

Objective: Maximize pattern completion

  1. Switch to Coin Grid 24H (largest grid, most patterns)
  2. Visualize potential patterns before making predictions
  3. Aim for 2-3 complete patterns per game
  4. Strategic power-up placement (pattern intersections)

Success Metric: Complete 3+ patterns in one game

Stage 3: Advanced Strategy (Games 16+)​

Objective: Mastery and high scores

  1. Try Coin Grid 4H (access to 8,000-point diagonals)
  2. Develop pre-game market analysis routine
  3. Experiment with contrarian predictions (against obvious trends)
  4. Optimize power-up types for different grid positions

Success Metric: Achieve 15,000+ points consistently

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them​

Mistake 1: Random Prediction Placement​

Problem: Predicting without considering pattern opportunities Solution: Visualize rows/columns first, then make predictions to complete them

Mistake 2: Wasting Power-Ups on Isolated Cells​

Problem: Placing power-ups on cells that aren't part of multiple patterns Solution: Only place power-ups on cells within 2+ potential patterns

Mistake 3: Ignoring Market Context​

Problem: Making predictions without checking recent price action Solution: Review last 24h of price movement before starting (especially for Coin Grid)

Mistake 4: Overcomplicating Market Grid​

Problem: Trying to predict exact rankings instead of focusing on positioning Solution: Identify 4-5 likely strong performers, arrange them in row/column formations

Mistake 5: Choosing Wrong Time Range​

Problem: Starting with 1H (hardest) as a beginner Solution: Progress: Market Grid → 24H Coin Grid → 4H → 1H

Tips for Success​

Market Analysis​

  • Check volatility: Use TradingView or CoinGecko for recent price action
  • News awareness: Major announcements can swing meme coins significantly
  • Volume indicators: High volume = more predictable movements

Pattern Strategy​

  • Row priority: Rows are generally highest-value patterns
  • Column fill: Ensure every column has at least 1-2 strong predictions
  • Diagonal focus (4×4): In 4H mode, diagonals are worth 8,000 points—plan around them

Power-Up Mastery​

  • RESTORE = Insurance: Use on pattern-critical cells where you're 50/50 uncertain
  • ATTACK on Stablecoins: In Market Grid, place on BTC/ETH (usually lowest volatility)
  • GUARD on Memes: In Market Grid, place on high-volatility meme coins

Time Management​

  • Play during active hours: Higher trading volume = more predictable patterns
  • Don't rush: Spend 2-3 minutes analyzing before starting
  • Review results: Learn from each game's outcome

Next Steps​

Deepen Your Understanding​

Quick Reference​

Last Updated: 2025-10-28 Game Version: MVP v1.0