Advanced Minesweeper Strategies?

Question

I've found myself with a whole lot of freetime at work. Unfortunately, our workstations are pretty locked-down and internet usage is monitored, so I'm stuck doing nothing. And by nothing, I mean minesweeper.

I've got a pretty good rhythm going for clearing the minefield, but I'm having a really hard time improving my time.

Should I be taking more educated guesses? How can I prevent "mine freeze" (i.e., where you just lock up and can't figure out where to click)? Any other tips you've found helpful?

aslum · Accepted Answer

Turn off the Question marks. They only slow you down.
Once you have all the bombs in a square marked you can click both mouse buttons to clear all adjacent squares.
Learn to recognize patterns so you can mark or clear stuff as quick as possible.

JustJeff · Answer

I usually start by trying to click about a dozen widely scattered squares at random. Quite often this hits a mine right away, but once in a while, maybe 1 in 10, you will open a couple of large areas this way. Large open areas are good b/c you have all those 1-mine corners to start working from.

The alternative, trying to work carefully starting from a single non-mine, or just a small open area, takes GOBS of time to get going. In 30 seconds with the multiple random stab approach, you can easily get to a starting position with just 2-3 seconds on the clock, that's as opened up as working carefully with all 30 seconds, or more, on the clock.

Templar · Answer

You shouldn't forget that you don't need to place all flags, you just need to open all squares without the mines.

Jay Bazuzi · Answer

Start in the corners. Working from the middle to the corners is more likely to require a lucky guess, so work from the corners to the middle instead.

ken · Answer

Start in the center sqares, then randomly once you get the easy ones.
Most importantly, '1's are the most excluding indicators. Squares with smaller numbers should be used before higher numbered squares.
Go quickly, watching for patterns, but be alert for exceptions.
Useful patterns:
a "1" diagonal to a square is usually pointing to that square holding a bomb/flower;
three "3"s in row usually indicate three bombs/flowers beside them.
Ken

Advanced Minesweeper Strategies?

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