How to play Minesweeper
- The goal is to open every square that has no mine without setting one off. Tap any square to start: the first click is always safe and usually opens a wide area.
- A number tells you how many mines touch that square, counting all 8 neighbors. A blank square has no mines around it.
- Place a flag on squares you are sure hide a mine: right-click on a computer, long press on a phone, or switch to Flag mode below the board and tap.
- When a number already has that many flags around it, tap the number to open all its other neighbors at once (chording).
- You win when every safe square is open. Tap New game to change the level or set up your own board.
Online Minesweeper with a safe first click
Minesweeper looks like a game of luck, but it is really a logic puzzle. Every number is a clue, and by combining clues you can prove which squares are safe and which hide a mine. In this version the mines are placed only after you open your first square, so that square and its eight neighbors are always clear. You never have to start with a blind guess.
Reading the numbers
A square showing 1 touches exactly one mine. If a 1 has only one hidden neighbor left, that square is the mine. One of the most useful patterns is 1-2-1: along a straight edge, the mines sit opposite the two 1s and the square opposite the 2 is safe. In a 1-2-2-1 run, the mines sit opposite the two 2s. The more patterns you recognize, the faster you clear the board.
Flags, question marks and chording
A flag marks a square you are sure is a mine and protects it from an accidental click. The counter at the top subtracts your flags from the total number of mines. Turn on question marks in Settings if you want to tag squares you are unsure about. Once a number has the right count of flags around it, clicking the number opens all of its remaining neighbors in one move. Pressing the left and right mouse buttons together does the same. If the flag count does not match, nothing opens and the squares give a small shake instead.
Playing on a phone
On a touch screen a short tap opens a square and a long press places a flag, confirmed by a short vibration. You can also switch to Flag mode with the button under the board: every tap then places a flag and a long press opens. The wide Expert board turns upright automatically on narrow screens, so squares stay big enough for your finger.
No-guess boards and hints
In classic Minesweeper you sometimes have to flip a coin between two squares. The No-guess boards option in Settings only deals boards that can be solved from start to finish by logic. If you get stuck, the Hint button points to a square the numbers prove is safe, and if one of your flags is wrong it shows that first. Games where you used a hint, or the “Undo move” button after hitting a mine, are not added to your records.
Time, 3BV and records
The clock starts with your first click. When you win you also see the board’s 3BV, the minimum number of clicks needed to clear it. 3BV/s shows your speed, and efficiency shows how many of your clicks did useful work. Your five best times per level, your win rate and your win streak appear in the side panel, saved only in this browser.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Minesweeper free?
Yes. You can play as much as you like with no sign-up and nothing to install. It runs in the browser on phones, tablets and computers.
Can I hit a mine on my first click?
No. Mines are placed after your first click, and the square you click and its neighbors are always mine-free.
How do I place a flag on a phone?
Long press a square, or switch to Flag mode under the board and tap. You can turn off long press in Settings.
What is a no-guess board?
With this option on, every board can be solved without guessing, using only what the numbers tell you. You never face a pure 50/50 luck situation.
Are my records and game in progress saved?
Yes. Your five best times per level, your statistics and an unfinished game are stored in this browser on this device. Nothing is sent to a server.