TruthScape.com - Recognizing and Exploiting Zero Space Field Patterns

One way that Vinesweeper is different from Minesweeper is that when you open up an area in the older game, it always shows you numbers next to any unclicked squares. That is to say: you cannot have a zero (empty) square touching an unknown box.

Well, Vinesweeper doesn’t work that way: it is very possible to have empty spaces next to holes. Most players then click the holes adjacent to these zeroes to see what they are before figuring out where to flag. As we’ll see, though, that’s often not necessary: many patterns allow you to save time by flagging holes instantly even when it seems to others that you can’t possibly know where the seeds are. In some cases, these are really the same as the patterns described in the previous two topics, but with some of the numbers still hidden, yet made obvious because they are next to zeroes.

Note that all of these patterns work only if surrounded by empty space (zeroes). Also, in the descriptions, a “?” represents a hole that has an unknown value but cannot be a seed (since, again, it touches a zero).

This pattern often shows up after opening up a fresh part of the field. It is basically the simple Corner 1-1-1 pattern, but with one of the “1”s concealed. You don’t need to open up that “1”—just flag the seed (Figure 320).

**Figure 320: Corner ?-1-1 Pattern**
The “X”ed hole touches a zero (empty space) and thus can never have a seed. This reduces the pattern to a simple corner.

This is one of the less intuitive patterns, but definitely one of the most useful, so it’s worth learning to recognize. It’s basically the same as the Corner ?-1-1 mentioned just above, but with both of the outside numbers unrevealed. The two holes that touch the central “1” at right angles abut empty spaces so they can’t be holes, thus it has to be the one diagonally opposite.

If you think you see this pattern but aren’t sure, double-check it by “mentally digging” in the holes on either side of the “1”, to see where the flag should go (Figure 321).

**Figure 321: Corner ?-1-? Pattern**
This very common pattern features a “1” that seems to protrude into the open space. It has three neighboring holes, but two of them touch the open area, so the last one must be the seed.

This is an extremely common pattern after digging up part of the field. If you analyze the pattern, you see that the middle “1” has two holes touching it, but one of those holes also touches the “0”. Thus, the other hole, opposite the second “1”, must have the seed (Figure 322)

**Figure 322: Linear 0-1-1 Pattern**
It doesn’t seem like three “1”s is enough to tell you where a seed is, but in fact that is the case. The “1” south of me touches only two holes, but one of those is adjacent to a zero, so the circled hole must have a seed.

As you’ll see, it is the basis for several other patterns below; it’s very common and so worth learning to recognize.

This is just two 0-1-1 patterns back to back: the flag goes next to the middle “1” (Figure 323).

**Figure 323: Linear 1-1-0-1-1 Pattern**
Basically two 0-1-1 patterns back to back, the seed is always in the middle here. Note that the presence of the fence is not relevant to the pattern; it’s just where I was.

And this is two 0-1-1 patterns back to back the other way! Flag the holes opposite each of the “1”s at the ends, as shown in Figure 324.

**Figure 324: Linear 0-1-1-1-0 Pattern**
This is the same basic idea as in Figure 323, but in reverse.

This is a somewhat less common pattern, and a bit unintuitive. There is one hole next to the empty space on the corner, so it cannot have a seed; if you were to dig that, you’d be left with two “1”s that have only one seed next to each. Thus, there must be a seed in each of the other holes touching the middle two “1”s (Figure 325).

**Figure 325: Corner 1-1-0-1-1 Pattern**
A bit more complicated, and not as common as the others, but a nice bonus if you find one and can recognize it.

I also just realized that this is, effectively, two 0-1-1 patterns overlaid at right angles!

This pattern is the same as the Corner 1-1-2-2 pattern, but with the first “1” undug. Put the flags next to the “2”s as before (Figure 326).

**Figure 326: Linear 0-1-2-2 Pattern**
Basically the same as a Corner 1-1-2-2 and should be treated identically.

This is the Corner 1-1-2-X pattern with the last number still hidden. The “2” is next to four holes, but two touch empty space, so the other two holes have seeds (Figure 327).

**Figure 327: Corner 1-1-2-? Pattern**
This is like a Corner 1-1-2-X pattern but more tricky to recognize.

Recognizing and Exploiting Less Obvious Field Patterns

TruthScape Minigame Secrets - Vinesweeper - Strategies for Success

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