Minesweeper is a classic puzzle game that requires logic and strategy. Understanding the fundamental rules and features of the game is essential for effective gameplay. This guide explains the key rules of Minesweeper, helping you get started and improve your skills.
Basic Rules
1. Objective of the Game
The main goal of Minesweeper is to uncover all the cells on the board without detonating any mines. The game board is made up of cells, some of which contain hidden mines. Each cell that you open will either reveal a number or a mine.
The number displayed on a cell indicates how many mines are adjacent to that cell. Using this information, you can deduce which cells are safe to open and which might contain mines. Cells suspected of containing mines can be marked with a flag using the right mouse button.
2. Starting a New Game
To start a new game, you can click the happy face icon at the top of the board or press the space bar. This action will reset the game, allowing you to start afresh. The remaining number of mines is displayed in the left corner of the screen, while the game timer is shown in the right corner.
Advanced Features
1. Chording
Chording is a useful technique that can speed up your gameplay. When a number on a cell matches the number of flagged mines around it, you can click on the number to automatically open all the adjacent cells.
This technique, known as a chord, was originally executed by pressing both the left and right mouse buttons simultaneously, though this can now be adjusted in the settings. Using chording effectively reduces unnecessary clicks and is a key part of efficient Minesweeper strategies.
2. No Guessing Mode (NG)
Playing in No Guessing Mode (NG) is a valuable way to practice and improve your skills. In NG mode, you are provided with a starting position, and you do not need to guess to complete the board. If you get stuck, there is a free hint button available at the bottom right of the screen to help you.
NG mode features boards with increasing difficulty levels, including the Evil difficulty, which presents complex logical patterns in every game. This mode is excellent for learning advanced strategies and improving your logical thinking.
3. No Flags (NF)
No Flags (NF) is a gameplay style where you do not use flags to mark mines. Instead, the game is won by revealing all the non-mine cells, regardless of whether the mines are flagged. NF players often adopt this style to reduce the number of clicks required to complete the game.
This approach can lead to faster completion times and is a useful method for players who want to challenge themselves.
4. 3BV (Bechtel’s Board Benchmark Value)
3BV stands for Bechtel’s Board Benchmark Value, a metric used to measure the minimum number of clicks needed to complete a board without using flags. It is an important measure of a board’s difficulty and your playing speed, often expressed as 3BV per second (3BV/s).
To prevent exceptionally lucky games from skewing the rankings, there are 3BV limits for different difficulty levels: 5 for beginner, 30 for intermediate, and 100 for expert. Games with a 3BV lower than these limits are not included in the time rankings.
Additional Tips
1. Starting from Corners
It is often advantageous to start your game from a corner. Corners are more likely to yield larger openings and can give you a significant advantage early in the game. This strategy helps in uncovering more cells quickly and provides a better view of the board.
2. Handling Game Lag
If you experience high game lag, consider using a dedicated Windows desktop application for Minesweeper. These applications generally offer lower latency compared to browser-based games, which can improve your overall gaming experience.
Understanding and applying these rules and features will enhance your Minesweeper gameplay and help you become more proficient at the game. With practice and strategy, you’ll find yourself improving and enjoying Minesweeper even more.
