How to Play Tic Tac Toe

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Tic-Tac-Toe is a quick two-player strategy game. Players take turns marking spaces on a 3×3 grid. The first player to get three in a row wins.

What you’ll need

  • A 3×3 Tic-Tac-Toe board
  • Two sets of markers (for example: X and O, or any two themed pieces)
  • 2 players

Set up

  • Choose which player will use the first set of markers (for example, “X”).
  • The other player uses the second set of markers (for example, “O”).
  • Start with an empty board.

Objective

Be the first player to place three of your markers in a row:

  • Horizontally
  • Vertically
  • Diagonally

How to play

  • The first player places one marker in any empty space.
  • Players alternate turns, placing one marker per turn.
  • Once a marker is placed, it stays in that space.

Winning the game

A player wins immediately when they create a line of three in a row.

If nobody wins

If all nine spaces are filled and neither player has three in a row, the game is a draw (also called a cat’s game).

Quick tip

If you’re new to the game, try to take the center early — it usually gives you more chances to make three in a row.