Play Well at 9K Club

Keep sessions short

A run of Reach 9 takes a few minutes. That is the natural unit of play. If you have been sliding for an hour without noticing, the puzzle has stopped being a break and become a habit — close the tab and come back tomorrow, when a fresh board will go better anyway.

Play for the puzzle, not the number

The score and the club points are there to mark progress, not to be chased. Nobody is watching your total, it buys nothing, and it is not compared with anyone else's. The interesting part is the board in front of you.

Take screen breaks

• Look away from the screen for twenty seconds every twenty minutes.
• Play in decent light, and not at arm's length in the dark.
• If your hand or wrist aches from swiping, stop — switch to the keyboard or stop for the day.
• Do not play when you should be asleep. A tired board is a lost board.

Not for children

9K Club is intended for players aged 18 and over. There is nothing harmful on the site, but the club is built for adults and is not designed or moderated as a children's service.

There is nothing to gamble

It bears repeating, because of the company this name keeps online: 9K Club takes no deposits, pays nothing out, sells nothing and holds no balance. If a site offers you money, credit or a prize in the name of 9K Club, it is not us — tell us about it.

If play stops feeling like play

Screen habits can get away from anyone. If you find yourself reaching for the board to avoid something else, or returning to it compulsively, talk to someone you trust or to your doctor. Stepping away from a free puzzle costs nothing at all — your run will still be here, and so will the 9 tile.