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Play noughts and crosses against a friend or an unbeatable computer opponent.

Options
Opponent
You / X
0
Computer / O
0
Draws
0
 
How to play
  • Take turns placing your mark in an empty square. You are X, the computer is O.
  • Line up three of your marks in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — to win.
  • Switch to “2 players” to play against a friend on the same device.

The computer plays a perfect game — the best you can do is a draw.


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About Tic-Tac-Toe

Tic-Tac-Toe — known as noughts and crosses in Britain — is one of the oldest pen-and-paper games in the world, with roots stretching back to ancient Rome. Two players alternate marking a 3×3 grid, racing to place three of their symbols in a row.

This version offers two ways to play: challenge a computer that plays a mathematically perfect game, or switch to two-player mode and share the screen with a friend. Because perfect play from both sides always ends in a draw, holding the unbeatable computer to a tie is itself the victory. A running scoreboard counts wins, losses and draws, and the game is free in any browser.

How to use Tic-Tac-Toe

  1. Choose your opponent: vs Computer, or 2 players to share the device with a friend.
  2. You play X and move first — click or tap any empty square to place your mark.
  3. Take turns; the computer answers as O in solo mode.
  4. Line up three of your marks in a row — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — to win.
  5. Watch the scoreboard tally wins and draws, then start a new round to keep the series going.

Frequently asked questions

No — it plays a perfect game using every optimal response, so the best possible result against it is a draw. Forcing that draw every time means you have mastered the game.

Take the center: it belongs to four winning lines, more than any other square. If the center is taken, a corner is the next strongest choice; edges are the weakest openings.

The game is small enough to be fully solved: with only 765 essentially distinct positions, both players can always block every threat. Wins only happen when someone misses a fork or an open line.

A fork creates two winning threats at once, so the opponent can only block one. Setting up forks — often via a corner-center-corner pattern — is the only way to beat an imperfect opponent.

Yes. Pick the 2-players mode and pass the device back and forth — X and O alternate automatically. The game is free and needs no install.


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