Play Tic-Tac-Toe (Noughts and Crosses) Online
Three in a row on a three-by-three grid. · 2 players
About Tic-Tac-Toe
Tic-Tac-Toe, called Noughts and Crosses in the UK and X's and O's in plenty of homes, is played on a three-by-three grid. One player is X, the other is O, and you take turns marking an empty square. Get three of your marks in a row, across, down or diagonally, and you win. If all nine squares fill up without a line, the game is a draw.
There are three ways to play here, all free in your browser. Against the computer you choose Easy, where it sometimes plays a random square, or Unbeatable, which checks every possible move. Two people can also share one screen, taking turns. Play with friends gives you an invite link to send to someone so you can play from different devices.
Because the game is so small, it has been completely solved: with perfect play from both sides it always ends in a draw. That makes Hard mode a good teacher. Take the center when you can, look for forks that threaten two lines at once, and always block a line of two. Once you can hold Hard to a draw every time, you know the whole game.
Also known as Noughts and Crosses, X's and O's, Xs and Os, Tic Tac Toe.
How to play
- 1Choose Play the computer (Easy or Unbeatable), a friend on this device, or Play with friends.
- 2X moves first; after each game the other player starts.
- 3Take turns placing your mark in any empty square.
- 4Get three marks in a row horizontally, vertically or diagonally to win.
- 5If all nine squares are filled without a line, the game is a draw.
- 6To play online, start a table and send the invite link, or enter a friend's table code to join.
Questions
- Is Tic-Tac-Toe the same as Noughts and Crosses?
- Yes. Noughts and Crosses is the British name and X's and O's is another common one. The grid and the rules are the same.
- Can you beat the unbeatable computer?
- No. It looks ahead through every possible move, so the best you can do is a draw. On Easy it sometimes plays a random square, so it can be beaten.
- Can two people play on the same device?
- Yes. Under Play the computer, set the opponent to Friend on this device and take turns on one screen.
- How do I play Tic-Tac-Toe online with a friend?
- Choose Play with friends, enter your name and start a table, then send your friend the invite link or table code. When the game ends you can both play again.
- Is Tic-Tac-Toe always a draw?
- With perfect play from both players, yes. Games are won when one player misses a block or falls for a fork, which is two winning threats at once.