Jewel Christmas

Jewel Christmas is the fast end of the festive shelf. Match any three Xmas decorations and they explode; the board refills immediately, and the game keeps moving whether or not you have finished reading it.

Chain reactions are the whole scoring model. When the refill lands on another set of three, it goes off on its own, and a well-placed match can set off a run that keeps clearing without another input from you. Hunting those is more valuable than hunting large single matches — a three that drops decorations into a loaded column beats a four in a dead corner.

The pace makes it a poor choice for a careful evening and a good one for ten minutes with a cup of something. Bright ornaments on a dark board keep it readable even when the clears come quickly.

1. Swap two neighbouring decorations to line up three of a kind.
2. Watch what falls in — the refill frequently completes another match by itself.
3. Favour matches under crowded columns to make chain reactions more likely.
4. Keep moving; the game rewards a steady pace rather than a perfect one.

Before swapping, glance at the column above your match. If it holds two of one colour, the refill will often land the third and hand you a free clear — that is where the big chains in this one come from.