Beginner Minesweeper: 9×9, 10 mines

The smallest classic size: 81 cells and 10 mines, so about 12% of the cells hide a mine. A game takes under a minute, and the first click often opens half the board.

This is the size to learn the two basic techniques on. When a number already has all its flags, the rest of its cells are safe; when it has exactly as many hidden cells as mines, they are all mines. Seven Beginner boards in ten are solved with these two alone, without ever comparing two numbers.

How to play Minesweeper

Mines are hidden under the cells of the board. The goal is to open every cell without a mine. Each number shows how many mines are in the eight cells around it, and from these numbers you can tell exactly where a mine is and where it is safe. In detail: rules and techniques with examples →