How To Master Mine Sweeper, Understand it, Get it, and Play it. Complete With Easy Visuals, Pictures, Language and Diagrams.

1. MASTERED
www.minesweeper2.com

2. Strategy
• Minesweeper strategy is the art of solving
games.
• Techniques include learning patterns a
where to click first, using guessing tactics and
developing efficient clicking and mouse
movement.

3. Patterns
A pattern is a common arrangement of numbers
that has only one solution. If you memorize a
pattern it will reduce the amount of time you
waste thinking.
Here are a few…

4. Patterns

5. More About Patterns
There are two basic patterns which combine to
make all other patterns. The first is 1-1 and
the second is 1-2.
Whenever you see a 1-1 pattern starting from
an edge the 3rd square over is empty.
Whenever you see a 1-2 pattern the 3rd
square over is always a mine.
Here are some examples:

6. Basics of Identifying Mines

7. Patterns That Build on Patterns
The two most famous patterns are 1-2-1 and 1-
2-2-1. These are so common new players
should memorize them immediately.
If you look carefully they are just combinations
of the 1-2 pattern.
And here we are…

8. Here Is What They Look Like

9. Complication Reduces to Basics
At first it seems like there are many patterns. If
you study them, they are actually 1-2-1 and 1-
2-2-1 patterns or combinations.
These in turn are variations of the basic 1-2
pattern. Each set of numbers reduces when
you subtract known mines.
Here are some final examples:

10. Inherently Basic Combinations

11. Guessing V.s. Density
• Sometimes in Mine Sweeper You have to
Guess
• The Key is to Solve Around… and Guess as
little as possible.
• If you insist on guessing, think about the mine
density of the level you are playing. Still keep
in mind the density of each level is pretty
low, so less dense solutions are more common
overall.

12. Mine Density

13. More About Guessing
A second strategy is to click a random square that
does not touch any numbers.
A third strategy is to determine the number of
mines remaining by flagging the rest of the board.
A fourth strategy is to guess in the most useful
place. Clicking square I has the potential to
eliminate all the other guesses!
A final strategy would be to guess the most likely solution
mine is more likely in L than K and more likely in H
than D.

14. Guessing Revisited
The guessing strategy you choose depends on whether you want
to win more games or only fast games. Some strategies
improve your chance of winning but are time consuming.
Others are fast but risky.

15. Time Management
• The fewer taps you make, the sooner you’ll
finish the game, right?

16. Efficient Flagging & Chording

17. Efficient NF

18. Flagging in a Complicated Situation

19. Thinking Moves Ahead
As you get experience, you will begin to “see”
the board as though it were solved.
The more you see the board that way, the faster
you play and the less mouse movements you
make, which saves you time.

20. Eyes for Mines, Only
In 'Example A' you can flag the red square and
chord instantly. This is if you have solved the
adjacent squares in your head.
A new player would have to move elsewhere
and come back later. The red square in
'Example B' can be similarly solved. Less
movement equals better scores.
Let’s take a look:

21. Solving Ahead Saves Time

22. Final Notes
The best way to improve efficiency is to play
slowly.
Find the most efficient solution and path to each
problem before pressing any buttons.
You will soon see improvements while playing at
full speed.

23. Closing Remarks
• Special Thanks to Jim Loy, Brian Chu and Frank
Wester for their insightful guides.
• Thank you to Sean Barrett for the basics and
Frank Kostka for the “First Click” section.
• For more information about the app Mine
Sweeper II featured in all pictures, please
visithttp://www.minesweeper2.com or get the
game here.