❌⭕ Tic Tac Toe

Tic Tac Toe is the classic 3×3 strategy duel. Players place X or O in empty squares, taking turns. Get three in a row—horizontally, vertically, or diagonally—to win; if the grid fills with no line, it’s a draw.

🎯 Objective

Make a line of three of your marks before your opponent does.

Rules & Gameplay

• The board is 3×3. X usually goes first.
• Players alternate placing one mark in any empty cell.
• First to complete three in a row wins; otherwise the game ends in a draw.

Strategy Tips

• Start center when you can; it creates the most winning lines.
• Take a corner if center is taken; aim for a fork (two threats at once).
• Always block your opponent’s immediate line of two.
• Think in rows/columns/diagonals—count how many ways your next move creates two-in-a-row.

Why Play Tic Tac Toe

Instant to learn, perfect for quick brain breaks, and a great intro to logic, prediction, and optimal play.

Background & History

Known as Noughts and Crosses in the UK, Tic Tac Toe belongs to an ancient family of three-in-a-row games. Related grid games appear in antiquity, and the Roman pastime Terni Lapilli used three counters on a similar 3×3 board. The write-in version with Xs and Os became widespread in the 19th century, and the name “tic-tac-toe” took hold in American English. Its simplicity made it a staple of early computer demonstrations in the mid-20th century and a timeless classroom and travel favorite ever since.