Moving Beyond Guesswork
Many beginners think Minesweeper is purely a game of luck. While you occasionally have to guess, 95% of a typical board can be solved using pure logic.
1. Memorize the 1-2-1 Pattern
When you see a 1-2-1 sequence of numbers standing against a straight wall of hidden tiles, the mines are always located directly touching the two '1's. The tile touching the '2' is completely safe to click!
2. The 1-2 Pattern (Corner Case)
Similar to the 1-2-1, if you encounter a 1-2 against a wall, the mine is always adjacent to the 2, and the space next to the 1 is safe. Recognizing this early on can save you a lot of time.
3. Start in the Corners
If you play a version of Minesweeper that isn't guaranteed to open a large area on the first click, always start in the corners. Corners have fewer adjacencies, meaning numbers there give you more precise information.
4. Don't Over-Flag
Placing flags is helpful for keeping track of your thoughts, but doing it for every single mine can slow down your speedrun times. Many top players only use flags when absolutely necessary (a technique called 'chording').
5. Use Chording
Chording is clicking both the left and right mouse buttons simultaneously on a numbered tile after you have flagged the correct number of adjacent mines. It immediately opens all other unflagged adjacent tiles. It's the most essential technique for improving your speed.