Mines with 3 mines: the odds of every click
Mines
In a 5x5 Mines grid with 3 mines, the first click is safe 88.0% of the time. Each subsequent safe click lowers the odds of surviving the next step while raising the potential payout.
The first three clicks
The grid holds 25 tiles. Three contain mines. The first click succeeds 88.0% of the time. If you survive, the second click succeeds 77.0% of the time. The third succeeds 67.0% of the time. These figures represent the cumulative chance that all clicks so far have been safe. They are not independent events. The risk concentrates as you clear tiles.
A 97% RTP game pays 1.10 for one safe click. It pays 1.26 for two. It pays 1.45 for three. The multiplier rises because the remaining tiles are fewer. The game must balance the increased risk with a higher reward to maintain the stated return.
| tiles opened | chance all are safe | multiplier at 97% RTP |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88.0% | 1.10x |
| 2 | 77.0% | 1.26x |
| 3 | 67.0% | 1.45x |
| 4 | 57.8% | 1.68x |
| 5 | 49.6% | 1.96x |
| 6 | 42.1% | 2.30x |
| 7 | 35.5% | 2.73x |
| 8 | 29.6% | 3.28x |
| 9 | 24.3% | 3.98x |
| 10 | 19.8% | 4.90x |
Mid-game risk profile
By the fourth click, the cumulative safety chance drops to 57.8%. The fair multiplier is 1.68. At five clicks, safety is 49.6% and the multiplier is 1.96. At six clicks, safety is 42.1% and the multiplier is 2.30. The table below lists these values for every stage.
Each step requires you to avoid a mine in a shrinking pool. The probability of hitting a mine increases with every safe tile you remove. The game does not compensate for this by changing the mine count. It only adjusts the payout multiplier.
Late-game probabilities
Surviving seven clicks happens 35.5% of the time. The multiplier is 2.73. Eight safe clicks occur 29.6% of the time, paying 3.28. Nine safe clicks occur 24.3% of the time, paying 3.98. Ten safe clicks occur 19.8% of the time, paying 4.90.
These low probabilities explain why high multipliers are rare. Most rounds end early. The few rounds that reach high multipliers are statistically exceptional. They do not offset the frequent small losses in other rounds. The distribution of outcomes is heavily skewed toward early exits.
Why no tile is safer
Every tile has the same chance of containing a mine at the start. The game does not place mines in a pattern you can predict. Past clicks do not influence the location of remaining mines. This is a random distribution. You cannot improve your odds by choosing specific tiles.
Some players believe certain positions are safer. The math does not support this. The probability of a mine is uniform across all unopened tiles. Your only choice is when to stop. Stopping early locks in a lower multiplier. Stopping late risks losing the entire stake.
The constant 3% cost
The average result of every bet is a loss of 3% of the stake. This holds true whether you stop after one click or ten. The 97% return to player means the game returns 97% of all money staked over time.
You cannot beat this edge by choosing a specific stopping point. The expected value remains negative. Strategies that claim to exploit patterns fail because the underlying probability is fixed. See why predictors and signals are scams for more on this. For budget management, see safer play.
Questions
What is the chance of surviving 5 clicks?
The chance that all five clicks are safe is 49.6%. This is the cumulative probability. It accounts for the risk at each of the five steps. The fair multiplier for this outcome is 1.96.
Does the multiplier change if I pick different tiles?
No. The multiplier depends only on the number of safe clicks. It does not depend on which tiles you chose. The game assumes all tiles are equally likely to contain mines.
Why is the RTP 97%?
The operator sets the return to player at 97%. This means the house keeps 3% of the stake on average. This edge applies to every bet, regardless of strategy or timing.
Is it better to stop early or late?
Neither strategy beats the house edge. The average loss is 3% of the stake in both cases. Early stops have higher win rates but lower payouts. Late stops have lower win rates but higher payouts.
Every figure on this page is computed by code from the standard crash-game model and checked by an independent simulation. See the methodology.