What is the trick to Minesweeper?

The core trick is logic deduction. The numbers tell you how many mines are touching that square. Use right-click to flag potential mines and 'Chording' (clicking both buttons) to clear safe areas fast.

Is Minesweeper based on luck?

Mostly logic, but sometimes luck is involved. In authentic versions like this one, you might encounter a 50/50 guess situation at the very end of the game.

Minesweeper.exe

Readme.txt - Notepad

Minesweeper.exe: The Game of Logic and Nerves

You are entering the minefield. MinesweeperExe.com brings back the tension and triumph of the original Windows 3.0 puzzle game. It's not just about clicking randomly; it's about pure deduction.

Classic Minesweeper Expert Mode gameplay on Windows 3.0 — The classic grey grid. One wrong click and it's Game Over.

1. The Origin Story (1990)

Included in the Microsoft Entertainment Pack 1 in 1990 and later standard in Windows 3.1 (1992), Minesweeper (filename: winmine.exe) had a secret purpose. Just as Solitaire taught "Drag and Drop," Minesweeper was designed to teach users the precision of the mouse and the difference between Left-Click and Right-Click.

2. How To Play (The Rules)

The goal is simple: Uncover all squares that do NOT contain mines.

Left Click: Reveal a square. If it's a mine, you lose.
Right Click: Place a Flag (🚩) on a square you suspect is a mine.
The Numbers: A number indicates exactly how many mines are touching that square (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).
Esc Key: Press the Esc button on your keyboard to exit Fullscreen mode immediately.

Minesweeper smiley face reactions: cool, worried, and dead — The iconic Smiley Face: It worries when you click, puts on sunglasses when you win, and dies when you fail.

3. STRATEGY_GUIDE.DOC

Stop guessing and start deducing. Here are the pro techniques:

>> TIP #1: THE 1-2-1 PATTERN
If you see a 1-2-1 pattern against a wall of undug blocks, the two 1s always have mines next to them, and the 2 is safe.

>> TIP #2: THE "CHORDING" MOVE
(Advanced) If a number already has the correct amount of flags around it, you can click on the number (or press both mouse buttons) to instantly reveal all surrounding safe squares. This is the secret to speed runs.

>> TIP #3: START IN THE CORNERS
Corners often have fewer variables than the center, making them statistically safer places to start your first click.

4. Frequently Asked Questions

Is the first click always safe?

In the original Windows version? No! You could die on the first click. However, most modern web versions (including ours) ensure your first click opens a safe area.

What is the world record?

For Expert difficulty (99 mines), the world record is incredibly fast - often under 30 seconds by top players using the "Chording" technique.

Can I play full screen?

Yes. Just click the Fullscreen option in the menu bar to focus entirely on the grid.

"XYZZY - The cheat code everyone forgot."