Efficiency

Efficiency measures how precisely you solve a board. A 100% score means every click contributed to clearing the board - no wasted moves.

Formula

Efficiency = (3BV ÷ clicks used) × 100%
= 100% - solved with minimum clicks (no wasted moves)   > 100% - chording revealed extra cells per click

What is 3BV?

3BV (Bechtel's Board Benchmark Value) is the theoretical minimum number of left-clicks to clear a board without using flags. Boards with a low 3BV don't count for ranked records: Beginner ≥ 5 · Intermediate ≥ 30 · Expert ≥ 100.

How to Increase Efficiency

Chord aggressively. Clicking a number with adjacent flags matching opens multiple cells in one click - the primary way to exceed 100%.

Use NF technique. Avoid placing unnecessary flags. Every flag is a wasted click unless it enables a chord.

Think ahead. A single well-timed chord can open 5+ cells. Plan your next two moves before clicking.

Avoid wasted clicks. Clicking already-revealed cells or empty space wastes moves and drops your efficiency.

Your best efficiency score contributes to your trophy count. Reaching 100%+ efficiency on Expert unlocks the Sniper achievement.

Key Points

  • Efficiency of 100% means zero wasted clicks - every left-click directly revealed a new cell.
  • Chording is the only way to exceed 100% - one click reveals multiple cells simultaneously.
  • Boards with 3BV below the minimum are excluded from ranked records and trophy calculations.
  • The Orange shard in events scores purely on efficiency - a 110% game beats five 80% games.
  • Efficiency is tracked per difficulty - your Expert record and Beginner record are separate.

Techniques Compared

Two main techniques determine your efficiency ceiling. No-Flag (NF) play skips flagging entirely - every click is a reveal. Chord play uses a minimal number of flags placed only to enable chords. A pure chord player on Expert can achieve 130–160% efficiency by opening 3–5 cells per chord across a board. NF players typically land 95–105%.

TechniqueTypical EfficiencyBest For
No-Flag (NF)90 – 105%Speed records, Blue/Green shard days
Chord-heavy105 – 160%Efficiency trophy, Orange shard, Sniper achievement
Hybrid (few flags)100 – 120%Balanced - good for most ranked play
Pro Tips
  • Chord on "1s" near edges. Edge and corner "1" numbers surrounded by a single flag are the easiest chords - fast to spot, always worth taking.
  • Skip flagging in open areas. In a wide open section you can chord-cascade without flags by using double-click (chord on any satisfied number).
  • Review your replay. After each game, check where your efficiency dropped. Usually it's 2–3 accidental blank clicks or missed chord opportunities.