Pattern Playbook
Minesweeper Pattern Atlas
A pattern is a common arrangement of numbers that has only one solution. Memorize a few and your solve time drops fast.
Equal Count (B1)
If a number touches the same count of hidden cells, every one of those cells is a mine.
This is the fastest way to place guaranteed flags.
Twin Ones
The left 1 sees the two highlighted cells, so they contain exactly one mine.
That means the right 1 already has its mine, and the remaining cell is safe.
Twin Ones Plus
The left 1 confirms exactly one mine in the highlighted pair.
The right 1 is satisfied, so every other adjacent cell is safe.
One-Two Split
The 1 guarantees exactly one mine in the highlighted pair.
The 2 needs one more mine, so the third cell must be a mine.
One-Two Plus
The 1 forces exactly one mine in the highlighted pair.
The 4 still needs three mines, so the remaining cells are all mines.
Classic 1-2
The highlighted pair cannot both be mines, or the 1 would overflow.
So the 2 must place its second mine in the remaining cell.
Classic 1-2 Plus
The highlighted pair can hold at most one mine.
The 4 must place its remaining mines in the other three cells.
Edge 1-2-1
The 1–2–1 pattern has one solution. It is a combination of two 1–2 patterns.
Apply the 1–2 from the left, then from the right to locate the mines.
Edge 1-2-2-1
The 1–2–2–1 pattern has one solution and is also a pair of 1–2 patterns.
Apply the 1–2 from the left and the 2–1 from the right.