Every game of Minesweeper begins with a blank grid and a single, crucial decision: where to make your first click. While it's true that modern versions of the game guarantee your first click is always safe, that doesn't mean every starting move is equal. Where you begin can dramatically change the course of the game, setting you up for a quick victory or a frustrating series of guesses.

Why Your First Click is More Than Just a Guess

The goal of the first click isn't just to start the game; it's to gather as much information as possible. A great first move will reveal a large, open area with plenty of numbers, giving you a solid foundation to start making logical deductions. A poor first move might only reveal a single number like a '3' or '4', leaving you surrounded by unopened squares with no clear path forward.

Your objective is to maximize the probability of hitting a blank square (a '0'). A blank square is the most valuable outcome because it automatically clears all its eight neighbors, often creating a chain reaction that opens up a significant portion of the board. More open space means more numbers, and more numbers mean more data to solve the puzzle.

The Common Mistake: Don't Start in the Corners

Many beginners are tempted to click in the corners. The logic seems sound: a corner square only has three neighbors, so it feels safer. However, this is a statistical trap. Because it has fewer neighbors, it also has a lower chance of being a '0'. You are more likely to reveal a single number and gain very little information. The same logic applies to the edges of the board, which have only five neighbors.

The Golden Rule: Always Start Near the Center

The unspoken rule, followed by experienced players worldwide, is to make your first click somewhere in the middle of the board.

A square in the center has the maximum number of neighbors: eight. This gives you the highest possible chance of hitting a blank '0' square and triggering that game-opening chain reaction.

Think of it this way:

  • Corner Click: You're making a small, safe bet with a low potential reward.
  • Center Click: You're making a slightly riskier-feeling (but still 100% safe) bet with a massive potential reward.

By starting in the center, you are playing the odds to your advantage. You give yourself the best opportunity to turn a board of unknowns into a solvable puzzle from the very first move. While it won't guarantee a win every time, it consistently provides a much better starting point than any other strategy. So, next time you start a new game, ignore the tempting safety of the corners and click confidently in the middle.