Guide · Learn & practiceLogic · 2 min read

How to play
Minesweeper

Treat each number as a small equation. Start with certain flags and safe reveals, then combine clues when one number alone is not enough.

Your first round

  1. Make a first reveal to open a safe area.
  2. Find a clue whose number equals its remaining hidden neighbors; those neighbors must all be mines if the other surrounding squares are known safe.
  3. Once the clue’s mines are correctly accounted for, reveal its other neighboring squares individually.
  4. Compare overlapping clues along the frontier before considering an uncertain square.

Worked example

Make the idea concrete

Account for one mine

A revealed 1 has only two hidden neighbors, A and B. Another clue proves A is a mine. The 1 already has its mine, so B is safe. The deduction depends on A being proven, not merely flagged.

Build your strategy

  • Check whether two nearby clues share hidden neighbors; subtracting known information can expose a safe square.
  • Revisit the frontier after every reveal because a new clue can resolve an earlier uncertainty.
  • On mobile, verify whether Flag mode is on before touching a square.

Common mistakes

  • Ignoring diagonal neighbors when counting around a clue.
  • Treating all flags as confirmed facts, or assuming the safe opening guarantees a guess-free board.

Try this next

Play Easy and pause before each flag to identify the clue that proves it. Aim for reliable reasoning before faster completion.

Play Minesweeper ↗
Keep exploring

Another puzzle, another perspective.

Explore a related game, or return to the library to choose your next challenge.

Review the Minesweeper wiki ↗Browse all guides articles