Minesweeper rules for beginners: how to read the numbers

Minesweeper asks you to uncover every square that does not contain a mine. A revealed number counts mines in its surrounding squares, including diagonals; use those counts to prove which covered squares are safe and which contain mines.

What the numbers mean

A square can touch up to eight neighbours: above, below, left, right and the four diagonals. Edge squares have fewer neighbours, and corners fewer again. A displayed 1 means exactly one neighbouring square contains a mine. It does not identify a direction or describe the whole row.

The numbered square itself is safe because it has already been revealed. A blank revealed square represents zero adjacent mines. Games often expand an area automatically when you reveal a zero, exposing connected empty squares and the numbered boundary around them.

Symbol in this guide	Meaning
A, B, C	Covered squares whose contents are not yet known
F	A mine already proved by reasoning
A digit	A revealed neighbouring-mine count
Safe	A square proved to contain no mine

A flag is your marker for a mine. Placing one does not make the underlying square a mine, and a clue does not confirm that your flags are correct.

The first deduction: every remaining neighbour is a mine

Suppose a revealed 1 has exactly one covered neighbour, A, and all its other neighbours are revealed safe squares. A must contain a mine. There is nowhere else to satisfy the clue.

The same reasoning works for larger numbers. If a 2 has exactly two covered neighbours and no already-known adjacent mines, both covered squares are mines. Count diagonals before deciding that the covered neighbours are exhausted.

More generally, subtract the adjacent mines you have already proved from the displayed number. If the number still needed equals the number of remaining covered neighbours, all those neighbours are mines.

The second deduction: the clue is already satisfied

Suppose a 1 touches a proved mine F and also covered squares A and B. Its entire mine requirement is already met, so A and B are safe. You may reveal them without guessing.

For a 3 with two proved neighbouring mines, the remaining covered neighbours together contain exactly one mine. They are not all safe yet. “Some flags are nearby” is insufficient; the proved mine count must equal the clue before you clear all remaining neighbours.

These two deductions form the basic solving loop. Mark proved mines, use them to satisfy neighbouring numbers, reveal proved safe squares and repeat on the new boundary.

Flags and opening are different actions

Opening a square reveals its contents. In traditional rules, opening a mine loses the game. Some apps use mistake allowances instead, so check the game you are playing before assuming every wrong action has the same consequence.

Flagging records a conclusion without opening the square. It is useful for keeping counts straight and for checking related clues. You normally win by revealing all non-mine squares; flagging every mine is not a universal additional requirement.

Do not flag a merely suspicious square as if it were proved. One uncertain flag can make several neighbouring clues look satisfied and turn later “safe” openings into mistakes.

A beginner's move checklist

1. Choose a revealed number on the covered boundary.
2. Include all orthogonal and diagonal neighbours in your count.
3. Subtract only mines you have proved.
4. Compare the remaining requirement with the remaining covered squares.
5. Open or flag only when the conclusion is forced.
6. Recheck the neighbouring clues affected by your move.

If neither basic rule works, compare overlapping clues instead of clicking at random. Two numbers can constrain shared and unshared neighbours together. Pattern recognition develops from these relationships; it should not replace counting.

Why a pause does not always mean a mistake

Randomly generated classic boards can reach positions with several mine layouts matching every visible clue. Other boards are designed around logical progress. Before concluding that you must guess, scan the rest of the boundary and check the remaining total mine count.

For your first games, aim to explain each move clearly. A complete sentence such as “this 1 already touches its one proved mine” is more useful than a quick click you cannot justify afterwards.

Where to play

Sweeple provides interactive practice, Dig and Flag controls, and hints that highlight a deduction while you make the move. It is available for iPhone and iPad and is free to download. Regular free play includes three hints per day, useful for learning the reason behind a safe opening.