Minesweeper Patterns: 1-2-1, 1-2-2-1 and the Shapes Experts Spot Instantly

There's a moment when Minesweeper changes. You stop counting. You look at a row of numbers along a wall and you just know where the mines are, the way you know a word without spelling it out.

That moment comes from patterns. Here are the ones worth learning first.

The 1-2-1

Along a straight edge of opened squares, you see 1, 2, 1 in a row, with covered squares on the other side.

The mines are under the two 1s. The square under the 2 is safe.

It's the most common pattern in the game. Once you see it, you'll see it everywhere.

The 1-2-2-1

Along a straight edge: 1, 2, 2, 1.

The mines are under the two 2s. The squares under the 1s are safe.

The 1-1 from a wall

A 1 at the very end of a line, against a wall, followed by another 1. The third covered square along — past the first two — is safe, because the mine must be in one of the first two squares both 1s share.

The 1-2 from a wall

A 1 then a 2 next to each other. The 2 needs one more mine than the 1 can give it, so the covered square that only the 2 touches must be a mine.

Reduce the numbers

The biggest trick of all: when a number already has flags next to it, mentally subtract them. A 3 with two flags beside it acts like a 1. Suddenly a scary-looking board turns into simple patterns again.

Practise until it's automatic

The only way these patterns become instinct is by seeing them over and over. Open Minesweeper on Intermediate and hunt for them.

Once you're spotting them, speed up with chording. New to the numbers? Start with how to play Minesweeper, or go back to the complete guide.