How to Win at Tic Tac Toe

The timeless game of tic-tac-toe will never lose its appeal. You may not know this, but there is a strategy for the game that, if followed correctly, would result in either a win for you or a draw every time.

After reading this tutorial, you won't again find yourself in a position where you can't win a game of Tic Tac Toe again. Continue reading if you are interested in learning a strategy that will guarantee your victory in every game of Tic Tac Toe.

Tic Tac Toe Rules

Tic tac toe's guidelines are easy to grasp. Detailed noughts and cross instructions are provided below.

• Both "X" and "O", a pair of players, are needed to play.

• The playing field consists of a predetermined grid into which players will insert their tokens to win control of individual cells.

• Players take turns going first, with "X" being the norm.

• The objective is to win by controlling three adjacent cells in a row, which might be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.

• The grid cannot expand to accommodate more sides.

• The game is done when the grid is full, or one player gets three in a row.

For a game with such simple rules, there are 26,830 possible permutations if you count all the permutations of each board's rotation and mirror image. When those occurrences are taken out of the equation, 765 unique permutations of the grid remain.

Winning or Drawing When Playing First

To win a game of Tic Tac Toe, your strategy will depend on who will play first, you or your opponent. Follow the steps given below to win or draw a game when you are playing first.

Step 1: "X" in a Corner

Tic Tac Toe veterans typically place their initial "X" in a corner. Because of this, the chances of an opponent making a mistake are maximized. When responding, if your opponent places an "O" anywhere but in the middle, you will win every time.

Step 2: "O" in a Center

If your opponent plays their first "O" in the middle, there is only one possibility for you to win the game: if they make a mistake. They can guarantee a draw if they continue to play at the same level as they have been. You will win the game if they continue to play as follows; if not, you can continue to block their plays, and the game will end in a draw.

Following the presentation of your two options for your second move, you will find advice on how to win the game if the other player plays as follows −

You can create a diagonal line that reads "X O X" by positioning your second "X" in the corner opposite the first "X". They need to come up with an answer that has an "O" in one of the other four corners to win.

If you place your third "X" in the final open square, your opponent won't be able to stop you from winning with a fourth "X" because there won't be any more squares accessible.

If you want to avoid having your second "X" overlap with your first "X", you should place the second "X" along an edge of the square rather than in a corner. Because of the automatic nature of the game, even if your opponent places an "O" in a corner that is not near to your "X", you will still be able to win the game with your fourth "X" even if you block the "O" with your third "X" and place it next to your "X".

Step 3: "O" in Any Square Beside the Center

To win, your opponent must place his first O in a not-the-center field. Leave a blank space between your two Xs as a response.

Let's pretend you placed an "X" in the top left square, and your opponent placed an "O" in the top middle square, for example. Your second "X" can go in the lower left or lower right corner. Avoid the top right corner at all costs, as doing so would result in an "O" replacing the blank space between your two Xs.

Place Your Third X − If your opponent spots two Xs in succession, they will likely block your attack. (In any case, a victory is assured by drawing three Xs in a row.) Assuming no opponent Os is in the way, you should have a free square between your first and second "X". This square should include your third "X".

Step 4: Win with Your 4th Step

If you place an "X" in any remaining spaces after your third "X", you win the game. Considering he can only move once, your opponent can only prevent you from reaching one of those spaces. You win the game if you place your fourth "X" in the square he didn't cover.

Never Lose at Tic Tac Toe

You can apply the following strategies to ensure that you never lose a game of Tic Tac Toe −

• When you're playing first, forcing a tie is easy. They only require the player to prevent the opponent wins. Playing first is a winning strategy, and losing is impossible with the right tactics.

• The second player must tie. It takes a lot of work and opponent errors to win second place. The second player should occupy the middle of the first and starts in a corner. After the first player's second move, the second should grab an edge. Use a corner piece to stop your opponent from getting three in a row. If used, a draw is assured.

• Move to a corner if you're second and the first player has the center. The second player's sole job is to block the first.

Conclusion

The strategy to win Tic Tac Toe depends on various combinations of steps that are played. Since the game is of 2 players, it all depends on who will play the first chance and where that first step is played. The rest all depends on the above tactics that we have presented. Remember, the above steps may help you win or draw a game of Tic Tac Toe.