The Albatross Special setup is a build designed by Japanese players. By creating an Air T-Spin Double, you can quickly follow up with a T-Spin Triple without wasting any T pieces in the stack (unlike DT Cannon or C-Spin which both require one T to set up).
This opening requires a relatively early O. With five pieces in the preview, if you cannot see an O, then try a different opening. With a late O, a T-Spin Double is still possible, but the logical follow-up of a T-Spin Triple and another T-Spin Double is lost. With an understanding of this, the weakness is avoided and becomes merely a telltale to do a different opening. What takes more foresight however is knowing which way to face the Albatross.
The other known issue with a bad draw of pieces is from an S Z T or a Z S T. If you get either of them, try another opening (such as Pelican, shown below).
Another weakness is that it is garbage-sensitive. If you get a garbage hole along the edge before placing your J or L for the T-Spin Triple, then the T-Spin Triple opportunity and subsequent T-Spin Double are nullified. There is a 10% chance of a garbage hole to ruin the second and third spins in this setup.
Introduction
Mirrored Setup
If you keep both directions of this opening in mind, you can always do it if you get an early O. Note that regardless of which way you do the Albatross Special, a late O is the biggest threat because if the Z and S are in place, you can no longer fit the O in the space.
The easiest way to determine which way to face the setup is by looking at if L or J comes first. If L comes first, prop the S on the left side and perform the T-Spin on the left. If J comes first, prop the Z on the right, and perform the T-Spin on the right.
Placing the S/Z Mino
When setting up the T-Spin Triple after the initial air spin, watch out for the following situation. By spinning in the S piece, you can deal with a sequence of pieces that may have seemed impossible.
Dealing with an Early I Piece
When setting up the T-Spin Triple, a late I piece is preferable because it allows a much flatter stack, and thus better followups. If you do get an early I piece (before the O and S), place it against the wall and fill the rest of the row with an L, J, or T. It is better to hold the T and place and L or J, because you can still attack with your second T piece. However, if you finish your second bag and there is an early T, you can place it in the stack, and opt for a different follow-up. You may also leave the well empty and make a T-Spin Double.
Following Up
One of the best follow-ups you can do after the T-Spin Triple is to perform another air T-Spin Double. By changing the placement of the L and O pieces, this method will work with any bag.
It also leads to a Perfect Clear opportunity (L on O piece):
The probability for the Perfect Clear above is 26.67%. If O piece was placed on L piece, then the probability is also 26.67%.
If Perfect Clear is not possible, you may set up another T-Spin Double or T-Spin Triple. In the case of the first field, Yoshihiro SD is also possible.
Alternative followups include setting up a side 4-wide combo, or Infinite TST. Albatross into Infinite TST is probably the best way to start a game of Ultra - it allows one to attack with their first two T pieces, instead of wasting them in the stack. C-Spin is also possible, but it wastes a T piece.
Following Up After an Early I
- If you placed an L to complete the T-Spin Triple, you can perform a similar follow-up technique.
- With the J option, there is not a great air T-Spin Double available, so it is usually best to opt for something simple, like stacking up for a 4-wide or using a T-Spin Mini to clear the overhanging block and set up for a Tetris or another T-Spin Double.
- With the T option, you can set up another T-Spin Triple by using the remaining pieces of the third bag and a piece from the fourth.
- If the well is left empty, you can stack an STSD. The Perfect Clear chance is 23.81%.
Perfect Clear after TSD
Instead of going for the TST, you could do a Perfect Clear. Credit to pwn_by_numbers. Albatross theoretically has a 99.99+% chance (211674/211680) of achieving a Perfect Clear after the first TSD. These are some notable shapes (96.83%, 90.48%, and 98.21%, respectively):
Placing Initial Pieces
For S and I, the goal is to create a shape like the first image (98.21% chance of achieving a Perfect Clear):
For L, J, and O, the goal is to create shapes like these (97.62% chance of achieving a Perfect Clear):
For Z, place as below, but it is not as ideal. However, it is best if you have to deal with a double T (third image):
If you get a T, hold it.
How to PC
This field works for SZI last.
For LJ last, you would want to build this:
For O last, hold T till the end:
2 Ts is the worst case because there is not a universal solution like the others (SZI, LJ, or O). Below is an example of how you would Perfect Clear when you have 2 T's:
Perfect Clear after 8 lines
This Perfect Clear continuation is first introduced by Riviclia. In the second bag, you can always stack it like below but you have to waste a T piece. The Perfect Clear rate is 43.13%.
Drunk Albatross Variation
The Drunk Albatross Variation is a variation of the Albatross, except you shift the I piece to the opposite side of the board.
This was invented by an avid user of the Albatross, who was totally not drunk.
And in mirrored form.
This variation is unique because of its ability to set up the TST in two different ways. However, it requires the use of three bags.
Pelican Opener
- Further information: Pelican Opener
If you get an SZT start, you can do a different air T-Spin Double, which leads to similar follow-ups. As with Albatross, decide which mirror to use by seeing if L or J comes first. If J comes first, prop the S and spin on the left. If L comes first, prop the Z and spin on the right.
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