How to Use Basic & Advanced Patterns in Minesweeper

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Learn to spot common number patterns in this classic logic puzzle

Co-authored by Brenden Cyr and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: September 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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Basic Patterns

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Advanced Patterns

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Strategy

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Rules

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Video

Minesweeper patterns are sets of revealed numbers that are clues for where the deadly mines are located. While all the numbers may seem a little overwhelming at first, these patterns actually help you solve the puzzle quickly once you’re able to recognize them. Keep reading, and we’ll cover all the basic and advanced patterns you’ll see during your Minesweeper game, plus strategies and exclusive tips from a logic puzzle expert for winning each time you play!

Minesweeper Patterns Visual Guide

An illustration showing the different number patterns in Minesweeper and where mines are located

Minesweeper patterns are sets of numbers that help you deduce which cells are safe and which ones contain mines. Each number tells you how many mines are in the 8 cells surrounding it. Use logic to figure out where the mines are located, and right-click on those boxes to flag them.

Section 1 of 4:

Basic Minesweeper Patterns

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When you have a 3 that’s in a straight line with other numbers and there are only 3 possible boxes in a line above or below, then all of them must contain a mine. You can immediately flag them.^{[1]
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When two 1s are adjacent to each other and they are blocked off by walls, marked mines, or empty squares, then they share a mine in either of the unrevealed orthogonal squares. That means the square diagonal to the second 1 has to be empty, so you can click on it without worrying.^{[2]
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When there’s a 1-2 next to a line of unrevealed squares, one of the mines has to be either below the 2 or below the 1. That means the other mine has to be located in the square diagonal to the 2, so you can mark it with a flag.^{[3]
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When you have 1-2-1 in a straight line and only one row of unrevealed squares, the mines have to be directly adjacent to the 1s. There can’t be a mine in the square adjacent to the 2 because then a 1 would be touching 2 mines.^{[4]
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In a 1-2-2-1 pattern with only one row of unrevealed squares, both of the mines have to be adjacent to the 2s. The 1s on the ends are satisfied because they touch the mines diagonally, and the 2s are satisfied by both mines next to them.^{[5]
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When you have three 1s in a line, there can only be 1 mine shared between all of them. The mine can’t go orthogonally next to the 1s on the ends of the line, so it has to be orthogonal to the 1 in the center.^{[6]
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When you get four 1s in a line together, the mines can’t go next to either of the 1s trapped in the center. That means that the only legal placements for the mines are orthogonal to the 1s on the end.^{[7]
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Section 2 of 4:

Advanced Minesweeper Patterns

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1-3-1 corner If you have a 3 in a corner with two orthogonal 1s and 5 unrevealed squares next to it, then the unrevealed square diagonal to the 3 has to contain a mine. If it didn’t contain a mine, then one of the 1s would see 2 mines and break the logic.^{[8]
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- This splits the unrevealed squares into 2 sets of 2. While you can’t deduce which ones exactly have mines yet, only 1 mine is possible in each of the sets.
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1-1, 2-2, or 3-3 triangle A triangle occurs when you have a pair of revealed boxes with the same number that are surrounded by unrevealed boxes on 3 sides. When you have a 1-1 or 2-2 triangle, the mines can only be in a box that both of the numbers can see, but you don’t know which one. However, that means the 3 unrevealed boxes that only see one number have to be safe.^{[9]
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- When you have a 3-3 triangle, then all 3 mines are in the unrevealed squares that see both of the numbers. The 3 unrevealed boxes seeing one of the numbers are still all safe.
A pyramid occurs when you have 2 numbered boxes stacked on top of each other, and the higher number is on top. One mine is always located in the square above the higher number, and the remaining mines have to be in squares that both numbers see. When there are 3 unrevealed squares underneath the lower number, then they’re all safe.^{[10]
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When you have either of these numbers next to each other, and they’re completely surrounded by unrevealed squares, you can deduce that 3 mines are located in the squares that can only be seen by the higher number. The remaining mines have to be in one of the squares the numbers share, so the 3 unrevealed squares that only the lower number sees have to be safe.^{[11]
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Whenever you see 1-3-2 in a line completely surrounded by unrevealed squares, you can immediately guarantee 8 squares that are safe to click. Two of the mines have to go into the orthogonal squares next to the 2 that the 3 can also see. That means the remaining mine has to go in one of the squares orthogonal to the 1 that can also see the 3. All the other surrounding squares are clear!^{[12]
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Section 3 of 4:

Minesweeper Strategies

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When you reveal the first block of squares, look for any corners with a 1 that only have a single unrevealed square diagonal to them. Logic puzzle expert Brenden Cyr says, “The easiest thing that can happen is you'll end up with a space that's cleared with a 1 on the corner. If a 1 is only touching one cell, then you know that it must be a mine, and you can right-click that.” That square is the only one that the 1 can see, so it has to be a mine.^{[13]
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Double-click on a number after marking its mines to reveal more boxes. When you’ve marked all of the mines for a numbered box, that means all of the other squares surrounding it are clear and safe. Rather than clicking on the squares individually, double-click on the number to reveal all the clear squares around it and reveal new numbered boxes.
- If you have a mine marked incorrectly, double-clicking on the number will reveal the mine’s correct placement and end your game.
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Subtract the number of marked mines from a number to find new patterns. When you’ve already marked some mines around boxes with a higher number, count how many mines that it still sees. That way, you can find one of the recognizable logic patterns mentioned earlier and have an easier time deducing the remaining mines.
- Example: If you have a 2-4-2 pattern and have already marked 2 mines that are adjacent to all the numbers, you can reduce the pattern to 1-2-1 to figure out where the remaining mines are located.
Most times when you play Minesweeper, you can use logic to figure out which boxes are safe and which ones contain mines, but there may be times when there isn’t enough information. Use your intuition and take a lucky guess to reveal a new square, and hopefully you’ll get some new information to work off of!

Section 4 of 4:

Minesweeper Quick Rules

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Cyr explains that Minesweeper starts with a grid of hidden cells that either contain a mine or a number. He says, “When you reveal a number, the number is telling you how many mines are surrounding that cell,” either orthogonally or diagonally.^{[14]
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Cyr notes that each box is surrounded by 8 others, and you have to figure out which ones are the mines and which ones are safe. He continues, “The game allows you to right-click on a box to flag it as a mine,” and as you reveal more numbers, you can find logic patterns to figure out where other mines are.^{[15]
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Cyr says, “The goal of the game is to click every single box that isn't a mine.” If you click on a mine, then you lose the game right away.^{[16]
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