#$+KMinesweeper Help Index
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The Index lists all Minesweeper Help topics.

To learn how to use Help, choose Using Help from the Help menu, or press F1.

How to Play
Overview
Playing the Game
Rules of the Game
Scoring
Strategy and Hints

Commands
Game Menu Commands

#$+K Overview
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Minesweeper is a challenging game of strategy and luck.  You are presented with a mine field, and your objective is to locate all the mines as quickly as possible.  To accomplish this task, you have two tools:  one is a mine detector, the other is your foot.

In order to locate the mines using these limited tools, use the following approach:  
1	Step on a square with your foot.
2	If the square is a mine, you're dead.
3	If the square isn't a mine, your mine detector informs you of the number of mines in the surrounding eight squares.  
Continue to step on squares until you either uncover all the squares without mines and win or step on a mine and die.

You can use the counters at the top of the playing area to keep track of your progress.

The counter in the upper-left corner of the playing area initially indicates the number of mines hidden in the mine field.  Every time you mark a square, this number decreases by one.

The counter in the upper-right corner of the playing area is a timer, which displays your playing time in seconds.  The faster you find all the mines, the better your score.

Related Topics
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{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Playing the Game
{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Rules of the Game
{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Scoring

#$+K Playing the Game
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The object of Minesweeper is to clear the board of mines as quickly as possible without stepping on a mine.  The following section explains how to play the game.

To Choose a Skill Level:
{bmc blkarow.bmp}	From the Game menu, choose Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert.  The higher the skill level, the larger the mine field.
To Start a New Game:
{bmc blkarow.bmp}	From the Game menu, choose New, or press F2.
To Step on a Square:
{bmc blkarow.bmp}	Point to the square, and click the left mouse button.
To Clear Around a Square:
{bmc blkarow.bmp}	Point to the square, and click both the left and right mouse buttons.
Note:  You can only clear around an uncovered square.  See "Rules of the Game" for more information. 
To Mark a Square:
{bmc blkarow.bmp}	Point to the square, and click the right mouse button.
Note:  To remove a mark, point to the square and click the right mouse button again.
Related Topics
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{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Rules of the Game
{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Overview

#$+K Rules of the Game
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Minesweeper Rules:
{bmc bull.bmp}	The playing area is a mine field, simulated by a grid of squares.  Initially, all the squares are covered.
{bml covered.bmp}A covered square
{bmc bull.bmp}	To uncover a square, you step on it.  You continue to uncover squares until only the squares containing mines are covered.
{bmc bull.bmp}	If you step on a square that contains a mine, the game is over and all the mines are displayed.
{bml mine.bmp}A mine square
{bmc bull.bmp}	If you step on a square that does not contain a mine, it is replaced by either a number or a blank.  If the square is replaced by a number, N, then there are N mines in the surrounding eight squares.  If the square is replaced by a blank, there are no mines in the surrounding eight squares.
{bml blank.bmp}A blank square
{bml num.bmp}A number square
{bml number.bmp}Here, there are three mines in the surrounding eight squares.
{bmc bull.bmp}	If you step on a square, and it is replaced by a blank, the surrounding eight squares are uncovered automatically because there cannot be any mines under them.
{bmc bull.bmp}	If you know a square is a mine, you can mark the square.  You cannot step on a marked square.
{bml marked.bmp}A marked square
{bmc bull.bmp}	You can also clear around an uncovered number square.  Clearing around an uncovered number square uncovers any of the surrounding eight squares which are unmarked. 
Note:  You are not allowed to clear around a square if you have not marked enough mines in the surrounding eight squares, or if the square is covered.  For example, if you try to clear around a square labeled 3, and you have marked only two squares with mines, nothing will happen.  Or, if you try to clear around an uncovered square, nothing will happen.  
{bml befbs.bmp}If you clear around the center square . . . 
{bml aftbs.bmp} . . . the surrounding unmarked squares are uncovered.
{bmc bull.bmp}	If you clear around an uncovered number square, and there is an unmarked mine in the surrounding eight squares, it is uncovered and the game is over.
{bml befbsm.bmp}Here, if you clear around the center square . . .
{bml aftbsm.bmp} . . . a mine is uncovered and the game is over.
{bmc bull.bmp}	Play continues until you either uncover all squares without mines or until you uncover a mine and die.
Related Topics
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{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Playing the Game
{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Strategy and Hints

#$+K Scoring
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Minesweeper scoring is simple.  The counter in the upper-right corner of the playing area indicates your playing time.  The faster you find all the mines, the better your score. 
{bmc blkarow.bmp}	From the Game menu, choose Best Times to see the best times for each skill level.

#$+K How to Play
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This section contains information about how to play Minesweeper.

Overview
Playing the Game
Rules of the Game
Scoring
Strategy and Hints

#$+KCommands
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This section contains information about the Game menu commands in Minesweeper.

New
Starts a new game of Minesweeper.
You can start a new game at any time, even in the middle of a game.
Beginner, Intermediate, or Expert
Sets the difficulty level of a new game.  The higher the skill level, the larger the mine field.
Custom
Customizes board size and number of mines.
Marks
Allows you to mark squares with a second type of mark, the question mark.  A check mark beside the command indicates it is active.
Color
Turns color on or off.
Note:  You should turn on color only if you have a color monitor.
Best Times
Displays best times for all skill levels.
Exit
Exits Minesweeper.
You can exit at any time, even in the middle of a game.

#$+K Strategy and Hints
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This section contains helpful hints for playing Minesweeper successfully.

{bmc bull.bmp}	Use the number squares wisely.  If a square contains a 2, and there are only two squares in the surrounding eight which are still uncovered, they must be mines.
{bml knowmine.bmp}It's clear that the two uncovered squares are mines.

{bmc bull.bmp}	Don't guess.  If you can't figure out how to move, try approaching the area from a different direction.
Related Topics
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{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Playing the Game
{bmc blkdiam.bmp}	Rules of the Game

#$ Marking a Square

Use a mine symbol to mark a square when you know it contains a mine.

{bmc blkarow.bmp}	Point to the square, and click the right mouse button.
	A mine symbol is displayed.
An optional mark is the question mark.  You can use this option to mark a square when you think it contains a mine, but are not sure:

1	From the Game menu, choose Marks to display question marks.
	A check mark beside the command name indicates it is active.
2	Point to a square, and click the right mouse button twice.
	A question mark is displayed.
Note:  To remove a mark or change the type of mark on a square, point to the square and click the right mouse button.