Microsoft Minesweeper

4 votes. 4.75 / 5

The objective is to uncover all of the vacant squares while avoiding the mines in the shortest amount of time possible. You win if you expose all of the safe squares, and you lose if you accidentally activate a mine field.
Numbers: Each number indicates how many mines have come into contact with that square. Determine which nearby squares are safe to uncover based on the information you have gathered.
Counter-service bar: The mine counter maintains track of how many mines are hidden on the board, while the timer keeps track of how long it takes you to clear the board completely.

Controls:

Uncovering squares: Click on a square uncover it. The first click is always safe

Flags: Right-click a square you suspect contain a mine. This put a flag in the square

Question marks: If you are uncertain about a square, right-click it twice to mark it with a question mark

Chord: If all of the mines touching a number are flagged, you can double click that number, press both mouse buttons, or press the mouse wheel on it to uncover the remaining adjacent squares

Panning: Click and drag the mouse to scroll across the board in any direction

Zooming: Use mouse scroll wheel to zoom in and out

Explore the unexplored: Not sure where to click next? Try uncovering some unexplored territory. You're better off clicking in ther middle of unmarked squares than in an area you suspect its mined

Mark the obvious: If a number 1 touches only one square, it must be a mine. If a 2 touches only two squares, they must both be the mines. And so on

Pattern 1-2-1: You can mark 2 mines with certainty if you see a 1-2-1 pattern in a straight line (they're in the squares beside the 1s)

Pattern 1-2-2-1: You can mark 2 mines with certainty if you see a 1-2-2-1 pattern in a straight line (they're in the squares beside the 2s)