Minesweeper looks like a guessing game the first time you play: a grid of grey squares, some hiding mines, and no obvious place to start. It's actually a logic puzzle. Once you know what the numbers are telling you, and a handful of patterns that come up again and again, you can clear most boards without a single guess. This guide takes you from the basic rules to the patterns experienced players use.
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The goal
Uncover every square that doesn't hide a mine. That's it. You don't have to flag mines to win. Flags are only a memory aid. If you uncover a mine, the game ends.
What the numbers mean
When you uncover a safe square, it shows a number from 1 to 8. That number is how many mines are in the eight squares touching it: above, below, left, right and the four diagonals. A blank square means zero mines around it, so the game opens all its neighbours automatically. That's why your first click often opens a big area.
Basic controls
| Action | Computer | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Uncover a square | Left-click | Tap |
| Flag a suspected mine | Right-click | Long-press, or switch on flag mode |
| Chord (open all neighbours of a satisfied number) | Click the number | Tap the number |
The two basic rules of deduction
Almost every move in Minesweeper comes from one of these two ideas:
- If a number equals its hidden neighbours, they're all mines. A 2 that touches exactly two unopened squares has a mine in both. Flag them.
- If a number already has enough flags, its other neighbours are safe. A 1 that already touches one flagged mine can't have another, so every other hidden square around it is safe to open.
Use these two rules over and over and the board starts to open up. When they stop working, it's time for patterns.
The patterns that make you fast
Patterns are shortcuts for combinations of numbers that always mean the same thing. In the diagrams below, the top row is unopened squares (■) and the bottom row is the numbers along the edge of the opened area. ✹ = mine, ✓ = safe.
1. The 1-1 pattern (starting from a wall)
│ ■ ■ ✓
│ 1 1
When a 1 sits against a wall or corner and has another 1 beside it, the first 1's mine must be in one of the two squares they share. So the third square along is safe. Open it.
2. The 1-2 pattern
✓ ■ ■ ✹
1 2
The 2 touches one square the 1 can't see (on the far right). The 1 allows at most one mine in the squares they share, so the 2 must get its second mine from that far square: it's a mine. And because the shared squares hold the 1's only mine, the square on the 1's far side is safe.
3. The 1-2-1 pattern
✓ ✹ ✓ ✹ ✓
1 2 1
This is the most famous pattern in Minesweeper. Read it as 1-2 from the left and 2-1 from the right: the mines are directly opposite the two 1s, and the square opposite the 2 is safe.
4. The 1-2-2-1 pattern
✓ ✓ ✹ ✹ ✓ ✓
1 2 2 1
Same logic, one square wider: the two mines are directly opposite the two 2s, and everything else in that row is safe.
A step-by-step routine for every board
- Open near the centre. Your first click is always safe on FunZon, and the centre usually opens the biggest area.
- Work along the border. Look only at numbers on the edge between opened and unopened squares. The rest of the board doesn't matter yet.
- Apply the two basic rules until nothing new appears.
- Look for patterns along straight edges.
- Count mines near the end. The mine counter tells you how many are left. When only a few squares remain, that total often settles the last decisions.
- Guess only when forced, and pick the square that will tell you the most if it's safe.
Common beginner mistakes
- Clicking corners at random when stuck. Look for a pattern first. There almost always is one.
- Forgetting diagonals. Each number counts all eight surrounding squares, not just four.
- Chording with a wrong flag. Chording opens every unflagged neighbour, so one misplaced flag ends the game. Double-check before chording.
- Rushing Expert. Mine density on Expert is about one square in five, compared with about one in eight on Beginner. Master Beginner and Intermediate first.
Board sizes
| Level | Grid | Mines |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 9 × 9 | 10 |
| Intermediate | 16 × 16 | 40 |
| Expert | 16 × 30 | 99 |
A little history
Grid-based mine-finding games existed before it, but Minesweeper became famous when Microsoft included it with Windows in the early 1990s. Millions of office PCs came with it, and for many people it was their first logic puzzle on a computer. The rules have hardly changed since.
Frequently asked questions
Is Minesweeper just luck?
No. Most moves can be worked out logically. Occasionally a board leaves a true 50/50 where no number can decide it, usually near the end. Good players reduce how often that happens by solving everything else first.
Do I need to flag every mine?
No. You win by opening every safe square. Flags only help you keep track.
What's a good time on Beginner?
When you're starting out, finishing without hitting a mine matters more than speed. Once the patterns become automatic, your times drop quickly. Track your best time on our game and try to beat it.
Conclusion
Minesweeper rewards patience more than speed. Learn what the numbers mean, apply the two basic rules, and memorise the 1-1, 1-2 and 1-2-1 patterns, and you'll clear Beginner boards consistently within a few sessions. Then move up to Intermediate.
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