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Minesweeper Endgame: Counting Mines

Near the end of the game, check the total mine count. Subtract the mines you already know across the whole board. The result is the number still to find.

See the pattern step by step

The whole 3 by 3 board has two mines. Known mines are flagged at the top-left and bottom-right corners. The other seven squares are covered. The board total is 2, and both mines are known. Subtracting 2 − 2 leaves 0 mines in the seven other covered squares. Flags remain at the top-left and bottom-right corners. Seven squares are open: the center shows 2; four side squares show 1. The other two corners are empty.
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Board example

This whole 3 × 3 board has 2 mines. Both are known mines, marked with flags in opposite corners. With no mines left to find, the other seven squares are safe.

Before

The whole 3 by 3 board has two mines. Known mines are flagged at the top-left and bottom-right corners. The other seven squares are covered.

After

Flags remain at the top-left and bottom-right corners. Seven squares are open: the center shows 2; four side squares show 1. The other two corners are empty.

Why it works

A third mine would exceed the total of 2. Open the seven safe squares to win. Winning means opening every safe square. Flags are optional.

The board total is 2, and both mines are known. Subtracting 2 − 2 leaves 0 mines in the seven other covered squares.

The rule

Subtract known mines from the total mine count. If none remain, every other covered square is safe. If 3 mines remain and only 3 squares are unknown, all 3 have mines. The same rule works for other counts.

What to check

Use the total for the whole board. Count every unknown square, even those far away. The display subtracts flags from the total. Check each flagged mine with the numbers before using that display to find a safe square.

Count what remains, then check for a real 50/50

Use the whole board: total mines − proved mines = mines still to find. With zero left, all other covered squares are safe. If the number left equals the number of unknown squares, each unknown square has a mine. One mine in two squares can still leave both unknown. First look elsewhere on the board for a number that separates the two possibilities. A true 50/50 has two symmetric possibilities, with the mine in either square and no clue to distinguish them. Some randomly generated boards need a guess. The mine total alone does not assign an exact chance to other unresolved groups.

Read the board, then choose

This example shows the whole board still to solve. All mines are known and flagged. With zero mines left to find, every other covered square is safe.

Total mines on this board: 1

This whole board has one row of three squares and a stated total of one mine. The left square is a known mine with a flag. A and B to its right are covered. No numbered clues appear. The flag already accounts for the entire mine total, leaving zero mines among the two covered squares. Both can therefore be proved safe, although neither is shown open.

Choose a covered square. Then decide whether it is safe, has a mine, or needs more information.

A
B
Why this answer is correct

A: Safe · B: Safe

The shown covered squares are the only unknown squares around these numbers. Gaps stand for open squares or the board edge. Check every nearby square before you apply the result. Flags in these examples mark known mines.

Read the board, then choose

This example shows the whole board still to solve. Two mines remain, and only two squares are unknown. Both squares have mines.

Total mines on this board: 2

This whole board has one row and two covered squares, A and B. The stated total is two mines. There are no flags, open numbers or other squares in the drawing. Two mines must fit into exactly these two positions, so each covered square must contain a mine. The conclusion comes from the whole-board total. Both squares remain covered; no flags have been placed in this image.

Choose a covered square. Then decide whether it is safe, has a mine, or needs more information.

A
B
Why this answer is correct

A: Mine · B: Mine

The shown covered squares are the only unknown squares around these numbers. Gaps stand for open squares or the board edge. Check every nearby square before you apply the result. Flags in these examples mark known mines.

Read the board, then choose

This example shows the whole board still to solve. One mine remains in two covered squares, with no other useful number. Either square could hold the mine. The total leaves both squares unknown.

Total mines on this board: 1

This whole board has one row and two covered squares, A and B, with a stated total of one mine. Neither square has a flag, and there are no visible numbered clues. The mine can be in A with B safe, or in B with A safe. These two possibilities fit the same information. The total determines one mine in the pair but leaves each individual square unresolved.

Choose a covered square. Then decide whether it is safe, has a mine, or needs more information.

A
B
Why this answer is correct

A: Not enough information · B: Not enough information

The shown covered squares are the only unknown squares around these numbers. Gaps stand for open squares or the board edge. Check every nearby square before you apply the result. Flags in these examples mark known mines.

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