How to Play Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a logic puzzle where you uncover safe cells while avoiding hidden mines. Once you understand the basics, every game becomes a satisfying chain of deductions.
Basic Rules
The Goal
Reveal every cell that doesn't contain a mine. If you click a mine, the game is over. When every safe cell is uncovered, you win.
What the Numbers Mean
Each revealed number tells you exactly how many of its 8 neighboring cells contain mines. A "1" means one adjacent mine, a "3" means three, and so on.
The center "2" has two mines among its eight neighbors. The highlighted cells are the ones it counts.
Controls
Getting Started
First Click Is Always Safe
The board is generated after your first click, so you'll never hit a mine on your opening move. Click anywhere to begin.
Start at the Edges
Corner cells only have 3 neighbors. Edge cells have 5. Fewer neighbors means fewer possibilities — making deductions simpler. Experienced players often click near corners first.
Use Flags Wisely
When you've identified a mine, right-click to mark it with a flag 🚩. Flags help you track what you've deduced and enable chord clicking (covered below). You don't have to flag every mine to win — just avoid clicking them.
Common Patterns
Recognizing these patterns will let you play faster and more confidently. Try each puzzle below — click cells you think are safe, right-click to flag mines.
The "1" on an Edge
A "1" on the edge of the board with only one hidden neighbor — that neighbor must be the mine. Any other hidden neighbors of nearby numbers can be safely revealed.
The 1-1 Pattern
Two "1"s side by side along a wall, each with overlapping hidden cells. The mine must be in the shared hidden cell, making the non-shared cells safe.
The 1-2-1 Pattern
A "2" flanked by two "1"s along a wall. The "2" needs two mines — the only option is the cells directly behind the two "1"s. The cell behind the "2" is safe.
Corner Deduction
A "1" in a corner with one hidden neighbor — it's a guaranteed mine. Numbers around it can then be reduced, unlocking safe cells nearby.
Advanced Tips
Chord Clicking
Click on a revealed number that already has the right number of adjacent flags, and all remaining hidden neighbors will be revealed at once. This is much faster than clicking each cell individually — but be careful, wrong flags will trigger a mine!
When to Guess
Some board states are genuinely ambiguous — there's no logical way to determine which cell is safe. When you must guess, prefer cells with the most revealed neighbors (more information) and cells away from dense mine clusters. A 50/50 is a 50/50 — just pick one and move on.
Speed Tips
- Use chord clicking aggressively — it's the single biggest time saver
- Don't flag everything — only flag when it helps you chord-click
- Develop peripheral pattern recognition; scan the board rather than studying one area
- Play Intermediate before Expert — the jump from Beginner is large
Ready to put these strategies into practice?