I now have programmed many applications using c++ for the console, and some for in windows, and I have finished, and reviewed articles/tutorials/MSDN about creating basic directX interfaces(initializing window, drawing triangle, 3d triangle, texturing,lighting, meshes), but I am still not clear on how to do a basic 2d game using C++ and directX. -Direct draw is no longer used- so what do I use? Just do direct3d- maybe create different surfaces, apply textures and use those as backgrounds/movable objects/main character? I am trying to start, like the guide suggested, with tetris or something simmilar, but am not sure which way just to create - say a image of a block, move it around on screen, add to it to make something usable. Any advice? (I am trying to start with something I can adapt later to 3d, or complicated 2d, which I am hoping is possible to do with directX-and later openGL[leanring directx first])

Yes, if you're just doing 2D programming in Windows, D3D using orthographic projection is probably what you want.

After that, think of it how you'd normally write 2D games.