Good Minesweeper players don't guess. They find the one square that must be safe, open it, and let the new number tell them the next move. Every board on PuzzleMint can be cleared this way.
Look for a number that touches exactly as many hidden squares as its value. A 2 with two hidden neighbours means both are mines. Flag them.
Then look for numbers that are satisfied: a 1 that already has one flag next to it. Every other hidden square around it is safe. Chord it.
When single numbers run dry, look at two numbers side by side. If one number's hidden squares are all inside the other's, the difference between them tells you about the leftover squares. This "subset" idea is behind every pattern in our patterns guide.
In the pictures: green = still hidden, red with 💣 = must be a mine, green with a dark ring = proven safe.
Squares along the border have fewer neighbours, so their numbers are easier to pin down. When the middle of a board stalls, go back to an edge.
The flag counter shows how many mines are still unflagged. In the last corner, that count often decides which squares are safe.
Once you trust your flags, stop clicking squares one by one. Tap the number instead and open everything around it in one go.
Mostly skill. Classic boards sometimes force a 50/50 guess, but our boards are checked so that logic alone always works.
Under 5 minutes is very good for most players. The best speedrunners clear Expert in well under a minute.
Beginners should: flags prevent mistakes. Fast players flag only what they need for chording.