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Minesweeper
Minesweeper has been a staple of desktop computing since it shipped with Windows 3.1 in 1992. You're given a grid of hidden squares, some of which contain mines. The numbers you reveal tell you how many mines are in the eight surrounding squares. Use logic to figure out which squares are safe and which are deadly.
Minesweeper Rules
Click any square to reveal it. If it's a mine, the game is over. If it's safe, it shows a number indicating how many of its eight neighboring squares contain mines. A blank (zero) square means no adjacent mines, and all connected blank squares are revealed automatically.
Right-click (or long-press on mobile) to place a flag on a square you believe contains a mine. Flags are markers for your own reference — they don't affect gameplay but help you track which squares to avoid.
You win by revealing every non-mine square on the board. You don't have to flag mines to win — just open all the safe squares.
Minesweeper Strategy & Tips
Start in the middle or a corner
Your first click is always safe (the board generates around it). Clicking near the center of the board tends to open up larger areas, giving you more numbers to work with. Corners and edges give you fewer starting clues.
Learn the 1-2-1 pattern
When you see 1-2-1 along an edge, the mines are always under the two cells adjacent to the 1s (not the 2). This pattern shows up constantly. Learn to spot it instantly and you'll clear boards much faster.
Use the number-minus-flags technique
If a numbered square already has that many flags around it, every remaining hidden neighbor is safe. For example, if a 2 has two flagged neighbors, you can safely click all its other hidden neighbors.
Work the borders between known and unknown
The most productive squares to analyze are at the boundary between revealed numbers and hidden cells. Don't stare at the middle of a big unrevealed area — work from the edges of what you know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the first click in Minesweeper always safe?
Yes, in most modern versions. The board is generated after your first click, guaranteeing it won't be a mine. Our version follows this convention.
Do you have to flag all the mines to win?
No. You win by revealing all non-mine squares. Flagging is a tool to help you keep track, but it's not required. Speed players often skip flagging entirely.
Is there always a logical solution in Minesweeper?
Not always. Some configurations require a 50/50 guess, especially in corners. However, expert-level boards are solvable without guessing more often than you'd expect — usually 80-90% of the time with careful play.
What is a good Minesweeper time?
On a standard Beginner board (9×9, 10 mines), under 30 seconds is solid. Intermediate (16×16, 40 mines) under 90 seconds is respectable. The world records are in the low single-digit seconds for Beginner and under 30 seconds for Expert.