what do the numbers mean in minesweeper

In Minesweeper, the numbers on the board represent the number of bombs adjacent to a square. For example, if a square has a "3" on it, then there are three bombs next to that square. The bombs could be above, below, right, left, or diagonal to the square. Players use this information to carefully discover mines so that they can clean the region surrounding the mine and eventually get rid of it. If a square has a "1" on it and there is only one unopened square adjacent to it, then that unopened square must be a mine. If a square has a "2" on it and there are two unopened squares adjacent to it, then both of those unopened squares must be mines. Players can also use a "chord" technique by pressing both buttons on a number to depress (but not open) the squares it touches. This shows how many squares are touching the number.