How to Play Tic Tac Toe

How to Begin

When the game loads, choose a Mode from the first dropdown: Human vs Human, Human vs AI, or AI vs AI. In Human vs AI mode, pick which side you play (X moves first) and the AI difficulty. In AI vs AI mode, set a difficulty for each AI and watch the match run automatically. Press New Game at any time to restart. Changing any setting also starts a fresh game.

Controls

Everything is played with the mouse or a touch screen. Click or tap an empty square to place your mark. Use the dropdown menus to change mode, side, and difficulty, and the New Game button to restart.

Turn Order

X always moves first. Players then alternate turns. The status line above the board always shows whose turn it is; when it is the computer's turn, the AI "thinks" briefly before moving.

Movement

A move places your mark in any empty square of the 3x3 grid. Marks are never moved or removed once placed. Occupied squares cannot be selected.

Scoring

The scoreboard above the board counts X wins, O wins, and draws for the current session. It keeps counting across rounds until you close the game.

Winning Conditions

The first player to line up three of their marks in a row wins — across any row, column, or either diagonal. The winning three squares are highlighted in gold.

Losing Conditions

You lose when your opponent completes a line of three first. If all nine squares fill with no line completed, the round is a draw.

Difficulty Guide

LevelBehavior
EasyRandom moves. Wins only by accident.
MediumTakes winning moves, blocks yours, prefers center and corners — but occasionally slips.
HardPerfect play (minimax). It cannot be beaten; aim for a draw.

Saving and Restarting

There is nothing to save — each round is under a minute. The session scoreboard resets when the game is closed. Press New Game to restart the current round at any time.