So, you understand the rules and the meaning of the numbers. Now it's time to move beyond the realm of guessing and start finding mines with 100% confidence. Just remember these three foolproof patterns that never lie. Mastering them will dramatically increase your survival rate.
Pattern 1: The Lonely '1'
This is the most fundamental and common pattern you will encounter. Imagine you clear an area and see a '1'. Now, look at the eight squares surrounding it. If seven of those squares are already open and only one remains unopened, what does that tell you? The answer is set in stone. The number '1' guarantees that there is exactly one mine nearby. Therefore, that last remaining square must be the mine, with 100% certainty. Don't hesitate—right-click and plant a flag (🚩) on it immediately.
Pattern 2: The "Satisfied" Number
This is an extension of the first pattern, and it applies to all numbers, not just '1'.
"If a square has the number X, and it is touching exactly X unopened squares, then all of those unopened squares are mines."
For example, imagine a '3' on the board. If you look at its eight neighbors and find that exactly three of them are unopened (and the other five are already cleared), you have another 100% certain situation. All three of those unopened squares are guaranteed to be mines. Likewise, if a '2' is touching only two unopened squares, both are mines. Spotting this pattern allows you to safely secure multiple mines at once.
Pattern 3: Using Flags to Find Safe Zones
Placing a flag isn't the end of the move. That flag now becomes a critical clue that provides new information. Let's combine the first two patterns. Say you've identified a mine using the "Lonely '1'" pattern and have placed a flag on it.
Now, look at the other numbers touching that newly placed flag. For instance, there might be another '1' right next to your flag. This '1' is telling you, "There is exactly one mine next to me." Since you have already flagged that one mine, what does this mean for the other unopened squares around this '1'?
It means they are all 100% safe! You can now confidently left-click those surrounding squares to open them up and gather new clues.
These three basic patterns are the beginning and the end of Minesweeper logic. The gameplay loop is simple: (1) Find a certain mine and flag it → (2) Use that flag as new information → (3) Clear the certain safe zones around it. If you just repeat this process, you'll find yourself reaching an intermediate skill level in no time.