Tic Tac Toe
Your turn
Tap a square to play your mark. X goes first. Your record: 0 wins · 0 losses · 0 draws
How to play Tic Tac Toe
Tic tac toe, also called noughts and crosses or Xs and Os, is played on a grid of three by three squares. One player is X and the other is O.
- X goes first. Players take turns placing their mark in any empty square.
- Get three in a row across, down or diagonally to win.
- A full grid with no line of three is a draw, often called a cat’s game.
Here, players take turns going first from one game to the next. Against the computer you can choose You play: X (you always start), O (the computer always starts) or Alternate. Tap a square to play, or press 1 to 9 on a keyboard, counting from the top left.
Three ways to play
- Against the computer: Easy makes plenty of mistakes, Medium blocks your obvious lines, and Hard plays perfectly: it never loses, so a draw is a good result.
- Two players on one device: choose 2 players and pass the phone or share the screen.
- Online with a friend: tap Create a game link and send it. Your friend opens it on their own device and you play the same grid together.
How to win at tic tac toe
- Start in a corner. As X, a corner gives your opponent the most chances to go wrong. If they don’t answer in the centre, you can usually force a win.
- Take the centre if they start in a corner. As O, the centre is the only safe reply to a corner opening.
- Make a fork. A fork is a move that creates two lines of two at once. Your opponent can block only one, so you win with the other.
- Block forks before they happen. When your opponent has two corners, play an edge square to force them to block you instead of building a fork.
Can you beat a perfect player?
No. Tic tac toe is a solved game: if both players make the best move every time, it always ends in a draw. That’s why the Hard computer never loses. The real game is spotting your opponent’s mistakes and setting traps, which is exactly what Easy and Medium let you practise.
Want to learn forks, how to block them and the best first move?
Read the Tic Tac Toe guideTic Tac Toe FAQ
Is this tic tac toe game free?
Yes. Play as many games as you like against the computer or friends, free in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer. No download and no account needed.
Can I take back a move?
Yes. Undo takes back your last move, and against the computer its reply too. Undo isn’t available in online games.
How do I play tic tac toe with a friend online?
Tap Create a game link and send the link to your friend. When they open it, the game starts on both devices. To play side by side instead, choose 2 players.
Is it possible to beat the Hard computer?
No. Hard plays perfectly, so the best you can do is draw. Try Medium to practise forks and traps.
Who goes first?
X always moves first. Players take turns being X from one game to the next, unless you choose X or O under You play against the computer.
What’s the difference between tic tac toe and noughts and crosses?
Nothing but the name. Noughts and crosses is what it’s usually called in the UK, Ireland and Australia; tic tac toe is the American name.
How many different games of tic tac toe are there?
There are 255,168 different ways a game can play out, counting every order of moves until someone wins or the grid fills up.