How to Beat Angry Birds: A Beginner's Guide

Dec. 23, 2010— -- You're hooked. You wanted to know what the "Angry Birds" buzz was all about, so you downloaded the game to your smartphone and now, like millions of others, you're an all-out pig-slaughtering, slingshot-wielding addict.

Maybe you already have your own strategies for beating the game, but if you're like most newbies, a little expert advice might help you conquer more levels of the game as you wait at the airport or digest Christmas dinner over the holidays.

To help put you on the path to cracking the catchiest game of the year, ABCNews.com spoke to an "Angry Birds" master, who has beaten every level of the game and was willing to share his own secret tips and tricks.

Suraj Patel, a 27-year-old New York tech entrepreneur, started playing in July (as part of a challenge with his three brothers) and earned his bragging rights in August.

"Angry Birds" veterans may already know these tips, but Patel said he'd take any extra questions via Twitter. If you want to know more, he's @SurajStar.

Pay attention to the tracker

Don't just pull that slingshot back and fire off those birds willy-nilly.

As each bird flies through the air and (hopefully) lands on its target, the game traces its trajectory with a white dotted line. Use that line to your advantage, Patel urged. If you missed your target, place your next bird above or below that line, depending on how far you want the bird to travel.

And, when you find a path that works, stick to it. Some levels require that you fire at the same place up to four or five times, he said.

Know your birds

Not all birds are created equal. For the red birds introduced at the earlier levels, there's not much more than meets the eye. But in later levels, the game offers up different birds that excel at different tasks.

"There are a lot of ways to beat each level, but if you want to get three stars, you need to use the right kind of bird for the right kind of thing," he said, adding that if you strategically use your birds, you have a better shot at earning the bonus points awarded for leftover birds at the end of the level.

At the start of each level, Patel said, look at the set-up your birds need to break in order to smash the pigs, and then use your birds accordingly.