How to never lose at tic tac toe — the complete strategy
Tic tac toe is solved — two players who both play correctly always draw. As X, open in a corner; it creates the most winning threats and beats every reply except the centre. As O, if X opens in a corner or the centre you must take the opposite key square immediately or you lose. The order of priorities is always the same, win, block, fork, block fork, centre, opposite corner, empty corner, empty side.
Tic tac toe is a solved game. Every position has been analysed, and the conclusion is unambiguous: if both players play correctly, every game is a draw. You can never be forced to lose — only to draw — and you can only win if your opponent errs.
That makes the strategy short enough to memorise completely.
The priority list
On every turn, work down this list and play the first one that applies. This is the whole strategy.
- Win. If you have two in a row with the third square empty, take it.
- Block. If your opponent has two in a row with the third empty, take it.
- Fork. Create a position with two winning threats at once. Your opponent can only block one.
- Block a fork. Stop them doing the same — see below, it is the hard part.
- Centre. Take it if free.
- Opposite corner. If your opponent is in a corner, take the diagonally opposite one.
- Empty corner.
- Empty side.
Follow that faithfully and you will never lose a game of tic tac toe again.
Playing as X
X moves first and has the only real winning chances.
Open in a corner. This is the strongest first move — not the centre, which many people assume. A corner opening gives your opponent only one non-losing reply: the centre. Every other response loses against correct play.
A centre opening is also sound, but leaves your opponent more saving replies: any corner draws.
An edge opening is the weakest. It gives away most of your advantage immediately.
After a corner opening, if your opponent replies anywhere except the centre, work down the priority list and you will usually reach a fork within two moves.
Playing as O
O cannot force a win. O's entire job is to avoid losing, and there are two positions where a single wrong move loses on the spot.
If X opens in the centre, you must take a corner. Any edge loses.
If X opens in a corner, you must take the centre. Anything else loses.
Those two rules cover the great majority of games. After that, follow the priority list.
Forks — where games are actually won
A fork is a move creating two winning threats at once. Your opponent blocks one; you take the other. Almost every tic tac toe loss between competent players comes from allowing a fork rather than missing a block.
The classic trap: X takes two opposite corners with the centre free. If O has been careless, X takes the centre and now threatens two lines simultaneously.
Blocking a fork is where most people go wrong. The instinct is to occupy the forking square. Often the better move is to create a threat of your own that forces your opponent to respond defensively — you take the initiative away from them rather than chasing their plan. Blocking directly sometimes just sets up a second fork.
Concretely: when X holds two opposite corners, O should take an edge, not a corner. Taking a corner walks into the fork.
Why the game is always a draw
The board has only 9 squares and 8 winning lines. Counting symmetry there are just 765 essentially distinct positions and 26,830 possible games — small enough that the game was fully solved long before computers were needed.
The first player has an advantage, but not a decisive one. With correct play from both sides the result is always a draw, which is exactly why Google's own tic tac toe has an "Impossible" difficulty that can never be beaten — only drawn.
This is also why the game gets boring quickly once you know it, and why almost every enduring version adds something. Moving pieces, larger boards, or a changed win condition all reopen the game. The variants guide covers the main ones.
Practising it
The strategy is short, but recognising forks quickly takes repetition against an opponent who punishes mistakes. Playing a person is the best test — playing tic tac toe online with a friend covers doing that remotely.
Frequently asked questions
How do you always win at tic tac toe?
You cannot always win — the game is solved, and a correct opponent always draws. You can guarantee never losing by following the priority order: win, block, fork, block fork, centre, opposite corner, empty corner, empty side.
Is tic tac toe always a draw?
Between two players who both play correctly, yes, always. Wins only happen when someone makes a mistake, which is why the game is considered solved.
What is the best first move in tic tac toe?
A corner. It leaves your opponent only one non-losing reply — the centre — whereas opening in the centre gives them four saving replies, any corner. An edge opening is weakest.
What should I do if my opponent goes first in the centre?
Take a corner immediately. Any edge move loses against correct play. This is one of only two positions in the whole game where a single wrong reply loses outright.
What is a fork in tic tac toe?
A move creating two winning threats at once, so your opponent can only block one. Forks are how nearly every competitive game is decided — losses come from allowing one far more often than from missing a simple block.
Does the first player always win at tic tac toe?
No. The first player has an advantage and more chances to win, but cannot force a win against correct defence. The game is a draw with best play from both sides.
Why is tic tac toe so easy to draw?
The board is tiny — 9 squares, 8 winning lines, and only 765 meaningfully different positions. There is not enough space for either player to build an advantage the other cannot neutralise.