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How to Logically Play Minesweeper

"Minesweeper" is a popular computer and Internet game that involves attempting to navigate a mine field without accidentally clicking on a mine. More specifically, the object of the game is to clear the minefield as fast as possible by clicking on the empty spaces without detonating any of the mines. Players often resort to guessing to navigate their way through the mine field, but more successful players use logic to play the game and navigate through the mine field.

Instructions

- 1
  Click on random squares in the minefield until you get several cleared squares.
- 2
  Click until you have cleared squares containing numbers. These numbers serve as the focal point to playing "Minesweeper" logically. Squares with numbers in them mean there are that many mines directly adjacent to the square. A square can have between zero and eight mines adjacent to it; above, below, to the right, to the left and in all four directions diagonally.
- 3
  Look for squares containing the number one. Since they present the lowest chance of detonating a mine of all squares that have a mine adjacent to it, you will more easily be able to deduce where the mine is based on process of elimination as well as other squares in the region. In particular, look for corner squares, that is, those with two of four sides cleared. You know that that square must have a mine.
- 4
  Right-click on squares that you know contain mines. A flag will appear over the square. This will help you avoid mistakenly clicking on them.
- 5
  Continue using the clues offered by the numbers in the squares, along with the help of right-clicking to flag squares that contain mines, until you have logically cleared the entire minefield. For example, if two adjacent squares both show they are next to two mines, you know those two mines are in the adjacent squares themselves. If the next square on either side shows a "1," you know that square has no mine.

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