Good things come in threes, but as any fan of match-3 puzzle games will tell you, even better things come in fours and fives.

Because most match-3 games are cut from the same gem, understanding a few simple strategies can go a long way. Whether you have a sweet tooth for Candy Crush Saga or feel right at home with Homescapes, try these universal puzzle pointers.

Combos – those satisfying matches of four or more – are crucial in nearly every match-3. Creating one is often a happy accident, but there’s a way to up the odds: match toward the bottom of the board so pieces above cascade into cool combos. Think ahead!

Racking up combos doesn’t guarantee victory, however. Many match-3 levels have specific objectives. Need to clear a number of blue candies? Don’t get distracted by greens – unless they indirectly help the cause.

Rocking a Rocket? Cooked up a colour bomb? Sweet! But consider saving it until you really need it or can combine it with another power-up. Homescapes’ Paper Plane and Bomb specials are each useful on their own, for instance, but match them together and you’ve got a flying explosive that will obliterate a hard-to-reach spot on the board.

Unless you’re playing a time-based match-3 puzzler like Legendary, don’t rush it. There’s no penalty for being deliberate, so scrutinise the board carefully. And remember: many games will nudge you with a suggested move after a short delay, but it may not necessarily be the best move.