Minesweeper Strategy Guide: From Beginner to Expert

1️⃣ Understanding Numbers

Each revealed number tells you exactly how many mines surround it in the 8 adjacent cells:

• '0' = No adjacent mines (clears a large area automatically)
• '1' = Exactly one adjacent mine
• '2' = Exactly two adjacent mines

A zero is especially valuable because it automatically reveals all surrounding cells.

2️⃣ The Opening Move

Your first move is pure luck. Click near the center of the board for the highest probability of revealing a large area. Corners and edges are less likely to produce a zero.

3️⃣ Identifying Certain Mines

If a number equals the count of unrevealed cells around it, all those unrevealed cells must be mines. For example:

• A '1' with exactly 1 unrevealed neighbor → that neighbor is a mine
• A '2' with exactly 2 unrevealed neighbors → both are mines

Strategy 1: Identifying Safe Cells

When a number's mine count is satisfied by flagged mines, all other unrevealed neighbors are safe:

• A '2' with 2 flagged neighbors = all other neighbors are safe
• A '1' with 1 flagged neighbor = all other neighbors are safe

This is just as valuable as finding mines—you expand the board safely.

Strategy 2: Border Analysis

The border—the line between revealed and unrevealed cells—contains the most information. Analyze numbers along the border to deduce mine locations systematically.

Example: Two adjacent '1's sharing one unrevealed cell might tell you that the shared cell is NOT a mine (if both have other flagged neighbors).

Strategy 3: Constraint Satisfaction

Think of each number as a constraint. Multiple overlapping constraints can force certain cells to be mines or safe:

• If multiple constraints point to the same unrevealed cells, you can often deduce their status definitively

1️⃣ Probability Calculations

When logic alone doesn't determine a move, calculate probabilities:

• Count unrevealed cells and remaining mines
• Determine if certain areas are mine-heavy or mine-free
• Click cells in areas with the lowest mine probability

2️⃣ Pattern Recognition

With experience, you'll recognize common patterns:

• The '1-2-1' pattern and its implications
• Corner patterns (2×2, 2×3 sub-grids)
• Edge interactions and their constraints

3️⃣ Global Board Awareness

Expert players consider:

• Total mines remaining vs. unrevealed cells
• Which regions are mine-concentrated
• How different board sections interact