Strategy
Minesweeper patterns: how to read the numbers
The handful of number patterns that solve most Minesweeper boards, why each one works, and what to do when logic runs out.
5 min read
Minesweeper
Clear the minefield using the numbers as clues. Three levels, flags, chording and a first click that is always safe.
Level
Mines10
Time0:00
Paused
The board is hidden and the clock is stopped.
Tap to
Right-click to flag. Click a number to open around it.Long-press to flag. Tap a number to open around it.
Move between squares with the arrow keys. Enter or Space reveals a square, or opens around a number whose mines are flagged. F flags a square. N starts a new game and P pauses.
Enjoying Minesweeper? Share it:Post on X (opens in a new tab)
About Minesweeper
Minesweeper is a logic puzzle played on a grid of covered squares. Some squares hide mines. Uncover every square that is safe without touching a mine, and the board is cleared.
Each square you open shows how many of the eight squares around it hide a mine. Read those numbers together and you can work out where every mine is. This version runs in your browser on desktop and mobile, with three classic board sizes and your best times saved on your device.
How to play Minesweeper
- Pick a level, then click or tap any square. Your first square is always safe and opens up an area of the board.
- Read the numbers. A 1 means exactly one of the squares touching it is a mine; a blank square has no mines around it.
- Flag squares you know are mines with a right-click, a long-press, or the Flag tool.
- Open every square you know is safe. Clicking a number whose mines are all flagged opens the rest of its neighbours at once.
- Uncover every safe square to win. Opening a mine ends the game.
Minesweeper controls
| Reveal a square | Left-click, or Enter or Space on the focused square |
|---|---|
| Flag or unflag | Right-click, or F on the focused square |
| Open around a number | Click the number (or middle-click), or Enter |
| Move between squares | Arrow keys, Home and End |
| New game | N |
| Pause and resume | P (Esc also pauses) |
| Sound on or off | M |
| Reveal a square | Tap it (with the Dig tool selected) |
|---|---|
| Flag or unflag | Long-press, or tap with the Flag tool selected |
| Open around a number | Tap the number |
| Scroll a wide board | Swipe across it |
Minesweeper rules
The numbers
An opened square shows how many mines touch it, counting all eight neighbours including diagonals. A blank square touches no mines, so its neighbours open automatically, which is why one click can open a large area.
Safe first click
Mines are placed after your first click, never on the square you chose or the eight around it. Your first click therefore always opens an area rather than a single number.
Flags and chording
Flags are notes for yourself and are never checked while you play. The Mines counter shows the total number of mines minus the flags you have placed. Clicking an opened number whose flag count matches it opens all its other neighbours; if one of those flags is wrong, that opens a mine.
Levels
Beginner is 9 × 9 with 10 mines, Intermediate is 16 × 16 with 40 mines and Expert is 30 × 16 with 99 mines. On a tall, narrow phone screen Expert is turned upright to 16 × 30, with the same number of squares and mines.
Winning and losing
You win when every square without a mine is open; you do not need to flag the mines. Opening a mine loses, and the board then shows every mine and any flag that was wrong.
Time and records
The clock starts with your first click and stops while the game is paused, when the board is hidden. Your best time, games won and games played for each level are saved in this browser.
Tips and strategy
- Start with the corners of each number. A 1 next to only one covered square means that square is a mine.
- Look for 1-2-1 in a row along a wall of covered squares: the mines sit under the two 1s, not under the 2.
- A 1-2-2-1 pattern along a straight edge means the mines are under the two middle numbers.
- When a number already has all its mines flagged, every other covered neighbour is safe. Chord it to save clicks.
- If you must guess, guess where the most information will open up, such as a square far from the numbers.
- Near the end, compare the Mines counter with the covered squares left. It can settle the last few squares.
Frequently asked questions
Is the first click always safe?
Yes. Mines are placed only after your first click, and never on that square or the eight squares around it, so the first click always opens an area.
Can every board be solved without guessing?
No. Boards are random, like classic Minesweeper, so some positions come down to a guess, most often near the end of an Expert game. The game never changes the mines after your first click.
What is chording?
Clicking or tapping an opened number whose mines you have all flagged opens every other square around it at once. It is the fastest way to clear safe squares.
How do I flag a mine on a phone?
Long-press the square, or switch the tool under the board from Dig to Flag so that a tap places a flag.
Are my best times saved?
Your best time, wins and games played for each level are stored in this browser on this device. They are not uploaded, and there is no online leaderboard.
Guides and tips
How to play
How to solve Star Battle puzzles
The rules of Star Battle and the logical steps that solve it, from small regions to counting regions across several rows.
3 min read
More games like this
Puzzle
Sudoku
Fill the grid so every row, column and box holds 1 to 9. Four levels, pencil notes, hints and your progress saved as you go.
- Keyboard
- Touch
Puzzle
Block Puzzle
Drag blocks onto the grid and complete rows and columns to clear them. Chain clears into streaks and keep the board open as long as you can.
- Keyboard
- Touch