How to Play Minesweeper
Minesweeper is the classic logic puzzle. Some cells hide mines; open every other cell to win.
The board
| Board | Size | Mines |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 9 × 9 | 10 |
| Intermediate | 16 × 16 | 40 |
| Expert | 30 × 16 | 99 |
How to play
- Open a cell by clicking it. Your first click is always safe and opens an area.
- An open cell shows a number: how many of its eight neighbours are mines. A blank cell has none, and its neighbours open automatically.
- Flag a cell you're sure hides a mine: right-click, long-press on a phone, or switch to Flag mode. Flags are only reminders.
- Chord: when a number has exactly that many flags around it, click the number to open the rest of its neighbours.
- Open every safe cell to win. Open a mine and the game is over.
The counter shows mines left (mines minus flags), and the timer starts with your first click.
Playing on kawu
- Keyboard: arrow keys move, Enter opens, F flags.
- Hint shows a cell that is certainly safe when one can be worked out; otherwise the least risky cell.
- Daily board: everyone gets the same intermediate board each day, with the same area already open. Compare times with friends.
Play Minesweeper now, try today's board, or read the strategy guide.
Frequently asked questions
What do the numbers mean?
A number tells you how many of the eight cells around it hide a mine. An open cell with no number has no mines around it.
Can the first click be a mine?
Not on kawu. The mines are placed after your first click, never on that cell or next to it, so it always opens an area.
What is chording?
When a number already has that many flags around it, click the number to open all its other neighbours at once.
Last updated 2026-10-18