Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Playing Tic-Tac-Toe
• Part 2 of 2: Going to the Expert Level
• Tips
• What do you need

Tic-tac-toe is an entertaining game that can be played anytime, anywhere, with a piece of paper, a pencil and an opponent. Tic-tac-toe is a zero-sum game, which means that if both opponents are at their best, neither of them will win. However, if you learn how to play tic-tac-toe and master a few simple strategic moves, you should be able to win almost every game. To start learning the rules of the game, go to Step 1 of this article.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Playing Tic-Tac-Toe

1. 1 Draw out the grid. First, you need to draw the game board, which is a 3 x 3 grid of squares. This means that it has three rows of three squares. Some people play on a field with a grid of four rows of four squares, but this option is suitable for more advanced players, and in this article we will concentrate on the game with three rows of three squares.
2. 2 The first player moves first. Although the first move is usually made "crosses", the first player can also move "zero" if he wants. They must be placed on the playing field in such a way that three identical symbols stand in a row. If you are the first to move, the most advantageous is to put the symbol in the central square. This will increase your chances of winning by making it possible to build a row of crosses or zeroes in four directions (more than any other move).
3. 3 Then the second player makes a move. After a move is made, the second player must place his own symbol, which is different from that of the first player. The second player can either try to prevent the first player from placing three symbols in a row, or focus on building his own row of three symbols. Ideally, the player should do both.
4. 4 Continue exchanging moves until one of the players draws three symbols in one row or until a tie occurs. The first to place three symbols in a row in any direction, be it vertical, horizontal or diagonal, will be the winner. However, if both opponents use the optimal strategy in the game, there is a high probability of a draw due to the fact that they successfully blocked each other's opportunities to put three symbols in a row.
5. 5 Keep practicing. Despite the popular belief that tic-tac-toe is a game of luck, this is not entirely true. There are several strategic tricks that can help you improve your skill and become an advanced tic-tac-toe player. If you keep practicing, you will soon learn all the tricks and win every game with confidence, or at least never lose.

Part 2 of 2: Going to the Expert Level

1. 1 Choose the winning first move. If you are the first to move, the center square is the best choice. There are no other options that give you the same chance of winning.And if your opponent makes this move, you have a great chance of losing. You don't want that, do you?
   • If you do not make a move to the center of the field, you can place your symbol in one of the corner squares. In this case, if your opponent does not make a move to the central square (and if he is a beginner, then it is quite possible), your chances of winning are very high.
   • Avoid the outermost squares as your first move. These are squares that are neither center nor corner. The first move to one of these squares will give you the least chance of winning.
2. 2 If another player makes the first move, react accordingly. If the enemy makes the first move not to the central square of the field, you should put your symbol there. But, if the enemy moves to the center, your best option would be to move to one of the corner squares.
3. 3 Follow the right, left, top and bottom strategy. This is another strategic move that will help you win. When your opponent makes a move, place your symbol to the right of his symbol. If this is not possible, place it on the left. If this move is also impossible, place your symbol on top. And finally, as a last resort, put your symbol at the bottom. This strategy will ensure you successfully optimize your position on the playing field and thwart your opponent.
4. 4 Apply the three corners strategy. Another option for a successful strategy in the game of tic-tac-toe is the placement of symbols in the three corner squares of the field. This will increase your chances of success, as it gives you the opportunity to line up your three symbols both diagonally and on both sides of the grid. Naturally, this will only work if your opponent doesn't ruin your plans.
5. 5 Play against artificial intelligence. If you really want to develop your strategy and never lose, you should play as much as possible instead of memorizing your strategy trick variations. On the net you will find many programs with artificial intelligence that involve playing tic-tac-toe against the computer, and soon you will learn to never lose (even if you cannot win).
6. 6 Go to the next level. If the 3 x 3 board is starting to bother you, it might be time to try playing a 4 x 4 or even 5 x 5 board. The larger the board, the more symbols you have to build in a row; playing on a 4 x 4 grid, you will have to line up 4 symbols, and in the case of a 5 x 5 grid, you will have to line up 5 symbols, and so on.

Tips

• A 3x3 playing field can be easily constructed by drawing two vertical and two horizontal lines. The lines must intersect and form a hash (#).

What do you need

• Paper
• Pencil or pen