How to Play Minesweeper

THE PLAYBOOK · FEINA365

How to play Minesweeper

Open Minesweeper, check the instructions and begin a round. Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. Choose a clear next step rather than rushing through the instructions. Use the opening round to become familiar with the layout. Look at what changes after your first action.

Review a difficult moment

When a decision goes wrong, compare it with the common mistake described below. Start again only when you intend to leave the current round. Use the example to check your reasoning.

Your goal

Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. The feedback beside the game helps you follow the round. Review the board or playing area as it changes.

Step by step

1. Open a covered square to reveal it.
2. A number counts mines in the surrounding eight positions.
3. Right-click to flag on a computer, or enable Flag mode on a phone.
4. Use safe deductions to open the remaining cells.

Controls

Click/tap to open. Right-click to flag, or use the Flag mode toggle for touch devices. On a smaller screen, keep the active part of the board within view. Read the example below alongside these instructions.

A useful example

A revealed 1 means exactly one neighbouring square contains a mine. The clue counts diagonal neighbours as well as the squares directly beside it. Your next round may have a different position, so inspect it before acting. Keep the controls nearby.

Watch out for this

A flag is your own note, not a confirmation from the game. Remove a mistaken flag before opening that square. Check the rule before repeating the action. Before your first action, say what you are trying to achieve. Then compare the result with the goal.

Common questions