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Quick answer
Minesweeper is a free logic puzzle game that plays instantly in your browser on phones, tablets and computers, with no download, sign-up or ads. Open every cell that is not a mine; numbers show how many of the eight neighbours hide a mine.
Minesweeper at a glance
What it is
Logic puzzle game
This page
Expert: 30 × 16 with 99 mines
Goal
Open every cell that is not a mine; numbers show how many of the eight neighbours hide a mine
Modes
Beginner 9×9 with 10 mines, Intermediate 16×16 with 40, Expert 30×16 with 99
Controls
Tap or click to open; long-press, right-click or Flag mode to flag; double-tap, double-click or two-finger tap to chord; keyboard
Players
1
Price
Free, no ads, no sign-up, no download
Works on
Phones, tablets and computers, in any modern browser
Expert is the board speed-runners compete on: 99 mines on a field 30 cells wide and 16 tall. About one cell in five is a mine, so openings are small and every number counts.
Expert strategy
Play the edges systematically. Work along the border of the opened area, solving each section with the standard patterns (1-1, 1-2, 1-2-1, 1-2-2-1) before moving on.
Use reduction. Subtract the flags already placed around a number from its value. A 3 with two flags next to it behaves like a 1, and the familiar patterns appear again.
Look for shared cells. When two numbers share hidden neighbours, compare them: if a 2 and a 1 share all but one cell of the 2, that extra cell must be a mine.
Use the mine counter at the end. When only a few hidden cells remain, the number of mines left often decides the last cells without a guess.
Guess smart when you must. Some positions have no logical answer. Guess early rather than late, and choose a cell that would open new information if it is safe, such as a corner or a cell far from high numbers.
Speed tips
Chord constantly. Flag only the mines that let you chord, and open everything else with a double-click.
Keep your eyes ahead of your mouse. Find the next safe cell while the current area opens.
Use Flag mode on touch screens if long-press feels slow; switch it off to open cells again.
How to play Minesweeper
1
Open the board
Click or tap anywhere to start. The first click is always safe and opens an area with no mines around it.
2
Solve the edges
Work along the border between open and hidden cells, using patterns such as 1-2 and 1-2-1 to find safe cells and mines.
3
Flag and chord
Flag certain mines with a right-click or long-press, then double-click a satisfied number to open its other neighbours.
4
Count the mines
Near the end, compare the mine counter with the hidden cells left. The total often settles the last few cells.
The classic 16×16 board with 40 mines. Longer games where the 1-2 patterns really matter.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Expert Minesweeper?
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It has 99 mines on 480 cells, so about one cell in five is a mine. Openings are small, games take several minutes, and a guess is sometimes unavoidable.
Is the first click safe on Expert too?
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Yes. The clicked cell and its eight neighbours are always mine-free, so the first click opens an area on every level.
Why does the board turn sideways on my phone?
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Expert is 30 cells wide and 16 tall. On a tall, narrow screen the board is drawn turned so each cell can be larger. The game is exactly the same.
What is a good Expert time?
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Many players are happy to finish at all. Clearing Expert in under five minutes is solid, and practised players with heavy use of chording go well under two.
Why did I lose with a correct flag?
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When you chord, every unflagged neighbour of the number opens. If a flag nearby is wrong, a real mine is left unflagged and gets opened. Wrong flags are crossed out on the final board.
Prefer a puzzle with no luck at all?
Every Sudoku here has exactly one solution and can be solved by logic alone, from Easy to Expert.