Minesweeper guide: how to read the numbers and win

1. What each number means

A number counts the mines in the eight squares around it (above, below, the sides and the diagonals). A 1 has exactly one mine nearby; a 3, three.

The key is to compare the number with the hidden squares it touches. If a 2 touches exactly two hidden squares, both are mines. If a 1 already has its mine flagged, all its other neighbors are safe.

2. The patterns you’ll see again and again

With practice you’ll recognize shapes that always resolve the same way. Learning them is what speeds up your games the most.

• 1-1 against an edge: the square touched only by the second 1 is safe.
• 1-2-1 along a wall: mines face the two 1s and the middle is safe.
• 1-2-2-1: the mines face the two 2s.
• A number equal to its hidden squares: all of them are mines.

3. Opening neighbors in one click

When a number already has all its flags placed, clicking it opens every unflagged neighbor at once. It’s the trick that saves the most time.

Only use it with flags you trust: if a flag is wrong, the click opens a mine. On Vexply, when you lose, wrong flags are crossed out so you can learn from each mistake.

4. When you have to guess

Sometimes no deduction is enough: for example, two squares equally likely to hold the last mine. Before taking the risk, finish everything you can solve elsewhere on the board; new information sometimes breaks the tie.

If there’s no other way, pick the square that gives you the most information if it’s safe (an open corner usually gives little; a square surrounded by hidden ones, more).

5. From Easy to Hard

On Easy (9×9, 10 mines) practice reading numbers without flags: it’s the fastest way to learn. On Medium (16×16, 40 mines) start using flags and opening neighbors. On Hard (30×16, 99 mines) mines are denser and you’ll have to guess now and then: patience beats speed.