Tic Tac Toe
The classic game of Xs and Os. Get three in a row to win!
How to Play
🎯 Two players take turns placing X or O on a 3x3 grid
✨ Player 1 is X, Player 2 is O
🎮 Click on an empty square to place your mark
🏆 Get three in a row (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) to win
🤝 If all squares are filled with no winner, it's a draw
How to play Tic Tac Toe
Tic Tac Toe is the first strategy game most people learn and the first one they solve. Three in a row on a 3x3 grid, X against O. The interesting part is that perfect play always ends in a draw — so the real game is spotting the moment your opponent stops playing perfectly. Play a friend locally or against the computer.
X goes first
Players alternate placing their mark on any empty square. X always moves first, which is a genuine advantage: X has more opportunities to create a double threat.
Make three in a row
Win by getting three of your marks in a line — horizontal, vertical or diagonal. There are eight possible winning lines on the grid.
Block your opponent
If your opponent has two in a row with an open third square, you must block it immediately. Most losses at this game come from chasing your own line while ignoring theirs.
A full grid is a draw
If all nine squares fill with no line completed, the game is drawn. Between two players who know what they are doing, this is the normal result.
Tips and strategy
- Take the centre if you can. It sits on four of the eight winning lines, more than any other square.
- If you cannot take the centre, take a corner. Corners sit on three lines each; edges only two.
- Look for forks — a move creating two threats at once. Your opponent can only block one.
- As the second player, your job is not to win but to avoid losing. Block, take the centre if offered, and force the draw.
- Against a perfect opponent the game is always a draw, so play for the mistake rather than the combination.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you always win at Tic Tac Toe?
- No. The game is solved: with perfect play from both sides it always ends in a draw. You can only win if your opponent makes a mistake.
- What is the best first move?
- The centre. It belongs to four of the eight winning lines, giving you the most ways to build a threat. A corner is the next best option.
- Can you play against the computer?
- Yes. Choose the AI opponent to play solo, or the two-player mode to play someone next to you on the same device.
- What is a fork in Tic Tac Toe?
- A move that creates two winning threats simultaneously. Since your opponent can only block one of them, a successful fork wins the game.