top of page

Official Tic-Tac-Toe Rules

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.

Tic-tac-toe is a simple game played on a 3x3 grid. It's simple to setup and play which has made it one of the most popular games in the world. Here's how to play:

Objective:

Be the first player to get three of your marks (either X or O) in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally).

How to Play:

  1. Players: Two players take turns.

  2. Marking the Grid: Players alternate marking empty spaces in the grid with their assigned mark (X or O).

  3. Winning: The first player to get three of their marks in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) wins the game.

  4. Tie: If all nine spaces are filled and no player has three in a row, the game ends in a tie. Here are a few ways to make a classic game of Tic-Tac-Toe more exciting:


    Misère Tic-Tac-Toe: The first player to get three in a row loses.

    Multiple Wins: The first player to get a certain number of wins (e.g., three) wins the game.

    Swap Pieces: Players can swap their pieces with an opponent's piece once per game.

    Add a Third Piece: Introduce a third piece, like a "wild card," that can be any symbol.

    Larger Grids: Increase the size of the grid to 4x4 or even 5x5.

    Different Shapes: Experiment with hexagonal or triangular grids.

    3D Tic-Tac-Toe: Play on a 3D grid.

    Adding Elements of Chance

    Dice Rolls: Players roll a die to determine how many spaces they can move their piece.

    Card-Based Moves: Use cards with special abilities like "block opponent's move" or "steal a piece."

    Tic-Tac-Toe Bingo: Combine Tic-Tac-Toe with Bingo by calling out numbers and having players mark them on a grid.

    Tic-Tac-Toe Trivia: Players answer trivia questions to earn the right to place their mark on the board.

It's a classic game that's easy to learn but can be surprisingly strategic!

Browse Related Games!

bottom of page