How to Get a High Score on Bejeweled 2

"Bejeweled 2" is often called a "match three" game, as the object is to switch the positions of two adjoining jewels on the game board in order to create a horizontal or vertical line of three jewels of the same color. Every match of three is worth a set number of points, but you can earn bonus points and score multipliers by using special jewels and creating cascades of matches. The highest possible score you can earn in "Bejeweled 2" is 2,147,483,647 points, a score that was achieved by Californian Mike Leyde in 2009 after clocking in more than 2,000 hours of game time.

• 1

  Create chain reactions of matches, known as cascades, to earn a multiplier that increases for each additional match made on a single jewel swap. Create matches in the lower rows of the game board to increase the chances of achieving additional matches as new jewels fall into place above them.

• 2

  Create a match of four jewels to earn twice the normal points for a standard three-jewel match and earn a power gem. Use the power gem in a match with two or more jewels of the same color to detonate the power gem, destroying the eight jewels surrounding it and adding points to your score.

• 3

  Create a match of five jewels to earn a hyper cube. Swap a hyper cube with any jewel next to it -- ideally, the one whose color appears most frequently on the board -- to destroy all gems of that color on the game board, earning you twice the standard points for a three-jewel match for every destroyed gem.

• 4

  Advance through the levels, as the points earned for a standard three-gem match increases each level, causing the resulting multipliers and bonuses to increase as well.