Butterfly Shimai Tips & Strategy

These tips build on the basic rules from our beginner guide.

Work from the outside in

Wings on the border can usually connect around the outside of the board, so they are the easiest pairs. Clearing the edges also widens the open area that inner wings can use.

Grab the free matches

Adjacent twins and twins in a clear straight line are free points. Take them whenever you see them; they never close off other options.

Prefer "opening" moves

If you have a choice, remove the pair that frees the most trapped wings. One good opening move can create three or four new matches.

Watch out for stacked twins

When two identical wings sit on top of each other in a column with another pair of the same pattern elsewhere, think about which combination keeps more routes open before you click.

Use power-ups last

Because power-ups are limited, do a full scan of the board, edges first, before you use one. Save them for late in a board, when fewer wings remain and a stuck position is more likely.

Don't over-think

With a timer running, hesitation costs more than an imperfect move. Make the easy matches while you look for the clever one.

Ready? Play Butterfly Shimai now.