Mines: how many bombs is too many

Mines is a sequence of independent survival checks. Each gem revealed bumps the multiplier, each click tempts one more pull of the lever.

The math

With n bombs on a 25-tile grid, the chance of surviving k picks is C(25-n, k) / C(25, k). The fair multiplier at k gems is 0.99 / that probability. FreeStake uses exactly this formula.

Pick count vs. bomb count

3 bombs is the "classic" baseline — multiplier climbs smoothly, bust probability stays below 50% through 9 gems. 10 bombs is a short-squeeze setup: early gems pay big, but survival past 4 picks is a coin flip.

The optimal stop does not exist on a 99% RTP game. Any cashout has the same expected value. Pick a stop that matches your nerves.

A simple plan

Set a target gem count before the round starts (e.g. 4 gems at 3 bombs, ~1.68×). Cash out when hit. Resist “just one more.”