Beginner Minesweeper
Beginner is the smallest standard board: 9 columns, 9 rows and 10 mines. Only about one square in eight hides a mine, so the board opens up fast and you can see the logic behind every number.
Most Beginner games take a minute or two while you are learning. Your first click often opens a large empty area, and from there the numbers along its edge give you most of the answers.
Once the basic patterns click, times drop quickly. It is a good board for practising chording and for getting used to flagging with a right-click before moving up to Intermediate.
Tips for Beginner
- Start in the middle. A central first click is more likely to open a big patch than a corner.
- Look for 1s that touch only one covered square. That square is a mine, every time.
- After you flag a mine, check the numbers around it. Many of them will now be complete, so their other neighbours are safe.
- Watch the mine counter near the end. With 10 mines, the total often settles the last few squares.
Ready for more? Try Intermediate. New to the game? The how to play guide covers the basics.
Other boards
Questions people ask
How many mines are on a Beginner board?
Ten mines on a 9 by 9 board of 81 squares, so 71 squares are safe.
Is Beginner Minesweeper always solvable?
Usually, but not always. Now and then the last two squares could go either way. If you want every board to be solvable by logic, play the No guess mode.
What level should I try after Beginner?
Intermediate. The board is bigger and a little more crowded, so you get longer chains of reasoning.