THE PLAYBOOK · SCBLUELAW
How to play Minesweeper
Bring your attention to one round of Minesweeper. Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells. Keep the game area visible while you use its controls. Keep the instructions close while learning this activity. Look at what changes after your first action.
A useful comparison
Compare the worked example with your own position. Use the reasoning, not an answer copied from a different board. Notice the feedback after each input.
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. Read that aim before choosing your first action. Follow this game’s rules rather than another version’s.
Step by step
- Open a covered square to reveal it.
- A number counts mines in the surrounding eight positions.
- Right-click to flag on a computer, or enable Flag mode on a phone.
- 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. Keep the playing area visible while using these controls. Return to the rules if the result is unexpected.
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. Apply the same reasoning to the position in your own round. 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. A different version of the game may use a different rule. Compare the worked example with your own position. Use the reasoning, not an answer copied from a different board.
Common questions
For this browser game, what is the goal of Minesweeper?
For clarity: Open all 71 safe cells. Opening a mine ends the round. Flags help you mark suspected mines but do not replace opening safe cells.
Before I begin, how do I control Minesweeper?
Click/tap to open. Right-click to flag, or use the Flag mode toggle for touch devices.
As a new player, what example helps explain Minesweeper?
For clarity: A revealed 1 means exactly one neighbouring square contains a mine. The clue counts diagonal neighbours as well as the squares directly beside it.
As a new player, what should I watch out for in Minesweeper?
Here is the relevant explanation: A flag is your own note, not a confirmation from the game. Remove a mistaken flag before opening that square.
While reading the Guide, what format does Minesweeper offer?
Here is the relevant explanation: Play using the solo mode shown on this page. Read the controls before starting a new round.
Before I begin, which play mode does Minesweeper use?
Here is the relevant explanation: The mode on this page is Solo. Same-device play uses one screen; this game library does not provide internet matchmaking.
