Help
zsweep :help pages, reference guide for controls and strategies.
Key Bindings
Vim Motions
Use standard Vim keys to navigate efficiently. Motions support counts (e.g., 4j moves down 4 times).
Advanced Operators
In Zsweep, Space acts as an Operator (like d in Vim). It allows you
to flag or chord multiple cells at once by combining it with motions.
To act on multiple cells, place the count before the operator (e.g., 4 Space l). This prevents latency issues and ensures the
action is applied to the full range immediately.
Mine Patterns
Basic Patterns
The 1-2-1 Pattern
When you see a 1-2-1 sequence against a straight wall, the cells touching the 1s are always mines.
The 1-2-2-1 Pattern
A 1-2-2-1 sequence indicates that the two mines are located between the 2s.
Intermediate Patterns
The Wall of 3s
If a 3 is touching exactly 3 hidden squares (flagged or not), all of them must be mines.
The 2-3-2 Pattern
The 3 touches exactly 3 hidden squares. Mines can be deduced from surrounding numbers.
Advanced Patterns
Corner L Pattern
Numbers forming an L in the corner often indicate mines along the edges and at the corner itself.
T-Junction Pattern
A T-shaped number formation usually allows you to deduce mine locations at the ends of the top bar and base of the T.
1-2-1 Staircase
A repeating 1-2-1 sequence along a diagonal or edge indicates a predictable arrangement of mines.
Technical Minesweeper Terms
3BV (Bechtel’s Board Benchmark Value)
3BV measures how complex a Minesweeper board is. It counts the minimum number of logical actions needed to solve the board without guessing.
Each action that uncovers a safe area or resolves a pattern adds to the board’s 3BV. Boards with higher 3BV are more challenging because they require more planning and careful thinking. Players use 3BV to compare performance across different boards and track improvement over time.
3BV per second (3BV/s)
3BV/s measures how efficiently you solve a board. It divides the board’s 3BV by the time it took to finish.
This helps you see not just how fast you are, but also how efficiently you are clearing the board. Higher 3BV/s means fewer unnecessary clicks and smarter moves. It’s a simple way to track progress and compare your skills across boards.
Chording
Chording lets you reveal multiple safe cells at once. When a revealed number has the correct number of mines flagged around it, activating that number opens all the remaining safe cells nearby.
Chording can save time and clicks, but it only works if your flags are placed correctly. Learning when and how to chord makes your play smoother and more consistent, and it’s essential for improving efficiency on harder boards.
The Origin of Minesweeper
Minesweeper started as a logic puzzle game and became widely known through Microsoft Windows in the early 1990s. The original version, Mined-Out, was created by Ian Andrew for the ZX Spectrum in 1983. Andrew notes that Microsoft Minesweeper followed the same basic design.
The game encourages careful thinking and pattern recognition. Players uncover cells using numerical clues to locate hidden mines, aiming to solve boards without guessing. Over time, Minesweeper evolved into a game of skill and efficiency, where players track speed, accuracy, and board complexity.
Modern variants, including zsweep, build on these classic mechanics while exploring new interfaces. Keyboard-focused controls and Vim-style navigation make the game faster and more consistent for players who want a streamlined experience.