Tic-Tac-Toe: rules for kids
Tic-tac-toe is a quick classic for two: the first player to get three marks in a row wins. All you need is paper and a pencil.
👥 2 players🎂 Ages 4+⏱️ 1-3 minutes
How to play Tic-Tac-Toe
What you need
A 3x3 grid, which you can draw on any piece of paper. One player is X and the other is O.
How to play
Players take turns writing their mark in an empty square. X usually goes first.
How to win
The first player to get three marks in a row, across, down or diagonally, wins. If all nine squares fill up with no row of three, it is a draw (often called a "cat's game").
Simple strategy
Take the center if it is free. If not, grab a corner.
If you have two in a row, finish the line. If your opponent has two in a row, block them.
Look for a move that makes two lines of two at once, so your opponent can't block both.
More board games
- ♟️ ChessThe king of games, learned one piece at a time
- 🔴 Connect FourDrop your discs and line up four in a row
- ⚫ ReversiFlip your opponent's discs to your color
- 🟤 MancalaSow stones in the pits and collect them in your store
- ⬜ Dots and BoxesDraw lines and close the boxes
- 🥢 NimA math game with matchsticks: who takes the last one?
- 🐍 Snakes and LaddersRoll the die, climb the ladders, slide down the snakes
- ⚫ CheckersPlay online, learn and print the rules
- 🎲 BackgammonPlay online, learn and print the rules
Frequently asked questions
Can you always win at tic-tac-toe?
No. When both players make no mistakes, every game ends in a draw. You win only when your opponent slips up.
What is the best first move?
The center or a corner. Both give you the most ways to make three in a row.