Tic Tac Toe (XO)
Your turn
- You (X)
- 0
- Computer (O)
- 0
- Draws
- 0
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About this Tic Tac Toe game
Tic tac toe, also known as XO or noughts and crosses, is a two-player game on a three by three grid. One player is X and the other is O. You take turns placing your mark in an empty square, and the first to get three in a row, across, down or diagonally, wins. If all nine squares are filled with no winner, the game is a draw.
How to play
- Choose a mode: You vs computer or Two players.
- Against the computer, choose Easy or Hard, and whether you or the computer starts.
- Click or tap an empty square to place your mark.
- Watch the status line and the scoreboard, then press Play again for the next round.
The computer player
Easy picks a random free square, so it makes plenty of mistakes and is good for beginners and children. Hard is unbeatable: it uses the minimax method to look at every way the game can continue, preferring quick wins and slow losses. If you start against it and play well, you can force a draw, but never a win.
Winning tips
- Start in the centre or a corner.
- Always block when your opponent has two in a row.
- Try to create a fork, two threats at once, so that the opponent can only block one.
- If you play second and the opponent takes a corner, take the centre.
The score is kept until you leave the page or press Reset scores. The game needs no sign-up and runs entirely in your browser.
Frequently asked questions
Can the hard computer be beaten?
No. On Hard the computer looks at every possible continuation of the game and always picks the best move, so the best result you can get against it is a draw.
Who wins with perfect play?
Nobody. If both players never make a mistake, tic tac toe always ends in a draw.
How do I play with a friend?
Choose Two players. You take turns on the same screen, X first and then O, and the scoreboard counts each player's wins and the draws.
What is the best first move?
The centre or a corner. A corner gives the opponent the most chances to go wrong, and the centre is part of the most winning lines.