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Three in a row on a 3×3 grid

Tic Tac Toe online

Play Tic Tac Toe online with a friend or against a bot. Classic 3×3 noughts and crosses, right in your browser — no download, no sign-up needed.

Tic Tac Toe is the most played board game on earth because it takes ten seconds to learn and still has a precise theory behind it. With perfect play it always ends in a draw, so winning means waiting for a single mistake.

Players2 players
Game length1 minute
H
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Bot difficulty
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How to play

  1. Players take turns marking an empty square on the 3×3 grid.
  2. Crosses move first.
  3. The first player to line up three of their marks — across, down, or diagonally — wins.
  4. If all nine squares fill up with no line, the game is a draw.

Strategy

  • The centre is the strongest square: it belongs to four winning lines, a corner to three, an edge to only two.
  • Answer a centre opening with a corner. Taking an edge loses.
  • Look for forks — a move that creates two threats at once. Your opponent can only block one.
  • Before attacking, check whether your opponent already has two in a row. Blocking comes first.

Frequently asked

Can you always win at Tic Tac Toe?

No. The game is solved: two players who never blunder will always draw. Wins only come from mistakes, which is why fast, pressing play pays off.

Does X or O have the advantage?

X moves first and gets more chances to build a fork, but with correct defence that is not enough to win.

Can I play without an account?

Yes. Hit Play, share the link, and you are in. An account only matters once you want a rating and stats.

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