Tic Tac Toe isn’t exactly the most sophisticated game, but that just makes it harder to win. While kids sometimes get lucky and stumble upon a win, as an adult, the game tends to descend into inevitable gridlock. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way to win at Tic Tac Toe. Here are some tips for how to trounce your next opponent, regardless of who it is you’re playing:
If you get the first move:
- Start in the corner.
When you have an X in the corner, it opens up three possible routes towards victory: the route up a column, the route across a row, and the route diagonally across the board. When you play your first X in a corner, your opponent must play their O in the middle square to stop you. If they don’t, then the game is already won, WikiHow points out: there is no way for you to lose.
- No matter what, block any string of your opponents with two markers in it!
This may seem obvious, but if you get too caught up in strategy you might forget it. No matter what strategy you are using or how you are trying to achieve a win, if you see your opponent has successfully placed two markers in a string, make sure you block them! If you don’t, it doesn’t matter how smart of a play you were preparing. Even if they don’t place their marker in the center, you’ll be out of luck. On the other hand, if they do, you can make sure to bring them to a tie.
If you don’t get the first move:
- Understand it’s much harder to win as the second player.
Unfortunately, the best strategy for Tic Tac Toe is really to make sure you go first, per Reader’s Digest. Whoever plays the first move has a real advantage in this game. If you’re the second player, you’ll be stuck constantly playing catch up. However, if you can manage to establish a draw in this game, it’s possible that you convince your opponent to let you start the game next time, in a show of fairness. That game you could still win. So when playing Tic Tac Toe for a prize, be sure to either start the game yourself or do a best-of-three strategy where you alternate who starts.
- If your opponent starts in the center, place your first marker in the corner.
Unfortunately, if your opponent starts in the center, you’re in a bit of a rough spot. To ensure at least a tie, make sure to play your first O in a corner, Reader’s Digest suggests. This will block off the initial path for diagonals from the center. As long as you watch the board carefully, keep blocking your opponent, and don’t act rashly, you’ll be able to obtain a draw.
- If your opponent starts in the corner, place your marker in the center.
Likewise, you can ensure a tie even if your opponent pursues the optimal strategy and starts in a corner. By placing your marker in the center, you’ll block off one of the three routes that your opponent has created for themselves. After placing your marker in a corner, place your second marker on an edge square, not a corner square. It doesn’t matter what edge square you use. As long as you pay attention to the board thereafter, and block your opponent whenever they get two in a row, you can force the game to a tie.
