Tic Tac Toe
Play tic-tac-toe (noughts and crosses).
The classic three-in-a-row
Tic-tac-toe is the simple game where two players take turns marking a three-by-three grid, trying to get three of their marks in a row. This lets you play the timeless game, quick and familiar to almost everyone.
Take turns to get three in a row.
Simple, and solved
Tic-tac-toe is famous as a first game for children, and it holds a special place in game theory as a solved game — meaning the perfect strategy is completely known, and if both players play optimally, the game always ends in a draw. This is worth understanding, because it explains the experience many people have that once you know what you are doing, you can never lose, only win against a mistake or draw against good play. The key strategic points are taking the centre when you can, watching for and blocking your opponent's two-in-a-row threats, and creating a fork where you threaten two ways to win at once, which cannot both be blocked. Because it is solved and small, it is a wonderful introduction to strategic thinking and planning ahead for children, teaching the idea of anticipating an opponent's moves. Simple as it is, tic-tac-toe is a genuine tiny lesson in strategy, and a quick, familiar game that almost everyone knows how to play.
Common questions
Can you always win at tic-tac-toe?
No — it is a solved game, so 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 opening strategy?
Take the centre when you can, block your opponent's two-in-a-row threats, and try to create a fork that threatens two wins at once.
Is anything uploaded?
No. It runs entirely in your browser.