Tic Tac Toe

Rules and help

How to play Tic Tac Toe

You and Alden share a grid of three by three. You play the cross. He plays the ring. Take turns placing one mark in an empty square. The first to line up three — across, down, or on a diagonal — wins. If every square is full and neither side has a line, the game is a draw. You go first, unless you ask Alden to open.

Your move

Click or tap an empty square. With a keyboard, the keys 1 through 9 match the grid, left to right and top to bottom. 1 is the top left, 5 is the center, and 9 is the bottom right. Those keys stay quiet while a button, the menu, or the First list has focus.

Alden

Alden follows one short rule, in this order:

• If he can complete a line on this move, he does.
• If you could complete a line on your next move, he takes that square.
• Otherwise he takes the center.
• If the center is taken, he takes the first free corner: top left, top right, bottom left, then bottom right.
• A side square is used only when the center and every corner are full.

He answers the board as it is. A pair of threats that are still one move away can beat him, because he does not look ahead.

Who goes first

First is You or Alden. Change it before you start, or during a game if you are willing to clear the grid. When he opens, he takes the center.

The count

You, Alden, and Draws count finished games on this device. A game adds one when the grid is settled. New game before that does not add to the count.

Using this game

Press New game to clear the grid and start again with the same First setting. If you leave this tab while Alden is about to play, he waits, and plays when you come back. The count stays on this device.

Tips

• Center and opposite corners carry the most forks; sides are often replies, not openers.
• Always block an immediate two-in-a-row from Alden before chasing your own shape.
• If both play perfectly, many games draw—use that to practice forcing mistakes.
• Switch who starts when you want a different opening fight.

Playing on a phone or tablet

Tap an empty square. You play the cross and Alden plays the ring. New game and who goes first stay above the board.

Frequently asked questions

What is Tic Tac Toe?

A folk game, also called noughts and crosses. Two marks share a 3×3 grid. Three in a line wins. A full grid with no line is a draw.

Does Alden play perfectly?

No. He takes a win, blocks a loss, and otherwise takes the center, then a corner. He does not look a move ahead, so two threats at once can beat him.

Can Alden go first?

Yes. Set First to Alden. He opens in the center.

Where is the count kept?

In this browser, on this device. Clearing site data for Play Solo removes it. Nothing is sent to a server.