How to Play Minesweeper: Beginner Strategy
Minesweeper is a logic game: every number tells you exactly how many mines touch that square. Learn to read the numbers and you will rarely need to guess.
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1. Understand the numbers
A 1 means exactly one of its eight neighbours is a mine. A 2 means two, and so on. An empty square has no mine neighbours.
2. Start with the corners and edges
They have fewer neighbours, so the numbers narrow things down faster.
3. Flag only certain mines
If a 1 has exactly one unopened neighbour, that neighbour is a mine.
4. Use satisfied numbers
When a number has all its mines flagged, every other neighbour is safe. Open them.
5. Learn the 1-2-1 pattern
Along a wall, a 1-2-1 row means the mines are under the two outer squares of the three hidden ones.
6. Compare neighbouring numbers
If two numbers share hidden squares, subtract what you know. The difference often reveals a safe square.
7. Guess last, and guess smart
If you must guess, pick the square with the lowest chance of being a mine, not a random one.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Minesweeper luck or skill?
- Mostly skill. Beginners guess more; experts guess rarely.
- What if my first click hits a mine?
- Press New Puzzle and begin again. Some versions protect the first click, but not all.