Board and setup
The board is a 3×3 grid. The first player uses crosses (X), the second uses noughts (O), and play starts with all nine squares empty.
Abstract strategy / TICTACTOE
Tic-tac-toe
Be the first to make a line of three on a nine-square board.
Also known as: Noughts and Crosses, Tic Tac Toe, Xs and Os
Nine squares and two marks turn initiative, blocking, and forks into a complete strategy game.
—online now · 0 matching
Supports ranked matches, friend invites, AI opponents, spectating.
Play instantly in your browser · guests welcome
TICTACTOEABOUT THE GAME
About the game
Tic-tac-toe, also known as noughts and crosses, is a two-player game in which two different marks compete to form a line of three. Its nine squares and brief games have made it a widespread pencil-and-paper pastime.
The tiny board still demonstrates initiative, key-square control, blocking, and forks. Perfect play by both sides always produces a draw, making the game a clear introduction to perfect-information strategy.
Reference：www.britannica.com ↗
Rules
Tic-tac-toe — How to play
Youzai Board Game Club — The server implementation governs play here; tournament and other site rules may differ.
Making a move
Players alternate placing one mark in any empty square. An occupied square cannot be chosen again, and marks never move after they are placed.
Winning and draws
The first player to align three marks horizontally, vertically, or diagonally wins. If all nine squares fill without a line, the game is a draw.
Rules on this site
The server validates every move and checks the eight possible winning lines immediately after placement. No further marks may be placed after the result.
Helpful examples
- There are exactly eight winning lines: three rows, three columns, and two diagonals. Filling any one ends the game immediately.
- A corner belongs to three winning lines, the centre to four, and an edge square to two, so the centre is usually the most valuable opening square.
- A fork leaves two different winning squares for the next turn. The opponent can block only one of them.
Complete beginner guide
From setup to the end of the game
Read these steps in order to complete your first game. This guide combines public rules with this site’s server implementation; where versions differ, this site’s ruling applies.
Goal and marks
Two players use X and O. X moves first. Win by filling one row, column, or diagonal with three of your marks before the opponent does.
Board and turns
Play begins on an empty 3×3 grid. Place exactly one mark each turn, alternating X and O; turns cannot be skipped.
A legal move
Choose any empty square. An occupied square cannot be selected, and a mark never moves, changes owner, or gets captured.
Winning the game
There are eight winning lines: three rows, three columns, and two diagonals. Completing any one ends the game immediately.
Draw and ending
If all nine squares are occupied without a winning line, the result is a draw. No mark can be placed after the result.
Beginner strategy
Check in order: can you win now, must you block an immediate loss, and can you create a fork with two winning squares? Perfect play by both sides draws.
General rules reference：www.britannica.com ↗