How to play
- Choose to play the computer or a friend, then tap Start game.
- Players take turns placing X and O in the empty squares. X always goes first.
- Get three of your marks in a row, across, down or diagonally, to win.
- If all nine squares fill up with no row of three, the game is a draw.
Play Tic Tac Toe free online against the computer on easy, medium or hard, or with a friend on the same phone. Get three in a row to win. No download.
About Tic Tac Toe
Tic Tac Toe is a two-player game on a grid of three rows and three columns. One player uses X, the other uses O, and they take turns marking an empty square. The first player to get three marks in a straight line, across, down or corner to corner, wins. If the nine squares fill up first, the game is a draw.
Games of three in a row are very old and have been played in many countries. The paper-and-pencil version became a favourite in schools because it needs nothing but a scrap of paper. In Britain it is called noughts and crosses, and many Indian children know it as zero kata. It is also one of the first games ever played on a computer, and it is still used to teach how a computer can look ahead at every possible move.
Tic Tac Toe on Gamesupa
You can play against the computer or against a friend on the same device. Against the computer, choose a level and whether you want to be X, who goes first, or O.
- Easy plays loosely and often misses a win or a block. Good for children and for learning.
- Medium plays sensibly and blocks most threats, but leaves the door open now and then.
- Hard looks at every possible move and very rarely slips. A draw against Hard is a good result, and a win is something to share.
Tap a square to place your mark, or press the keys 1 to 9 on a keyboard. The score bar keeps count of wins and draws for this session, and Undo takes back a move if you tapped the wrong square. The board is saved after every move, so a refresh won't lose your game.
How to win
With perfect play from both sides, Tic Tac Toe always ends in a draw. That means you win by setting traps and waiting for a mistake. The most important trap is the fork: a move that creates two lines of two at once. Your opponent can block only one, so you win with the other.
Quick tips
- Start in a corner when you are X. A corner opening gives O the most chances to go wrong.
- As O, take the centre if X starts in a corner. Any other reply loses against good play.
- Always check for a win first, then a block. Before every move, ask: can I win now? Must I stop a win?
- Look for forks. Two open lines at once is how most games are won.
- Don't relax after blocking. A block that creates your own line of two forces your opponent to respond.
Learn more in How to win at Tic Tac Toe.
Tic Tac Toe questions
Can I play Tic Tac Toe against the computer?
Yes. Pick Easy, Medium or Hard on the start screen. Easy often misses wins and blocks, Medium plays well but slips sometimes, and Hard almost never makes a mistake.
Can two people play on one phone?
Yes. Choose "A friend" and pass the phone. Player 1 is X and goes first, Player 2 is O. The score at the top counts wins and draws for both of you.
Is it possible to always win Tic Tac Toe?
No. If both players make the best moves, every game ends in a draw. You win by spotting a mistake, such as a missed block or a corner left open for a fork.
Is it better to go first?
Yes. The first player (X) has more chances to set up a fork, which is two ways to win at once. Starting in a corner gives your opponent the most ways to go wrong.
Can I undo a move?
Yes. Tap Undo below the board. Against the computer, Undo takes back your last move and the computer's reply together.
Is my game saved if I close the page?
Yes. The board is saved on your device after every move, so you can carry on where you stopped. The win count on the home page is saved too.