Tic Tac Toe
Tic Tac Toe — noughts and crosses — is the first strategy game most of us ever learn, and it still rewards a sharp eye. You play X against the computer's O on the classic 3×3 grid. The computer plays a strong game: it takes wins when it sees them and blocks yours, so beating it means thinking two moves ahead and setting traps it cannot answer twice. Scores are kept for the whole session, so you can settle the only question that matters — over ten rounds, who is really better?
How it works: click or tap any empty square to place your X. The computer answers immediately. First side to complete a row, column, or diagonal wins the round; if the grid fills with no line, the round is a draw.
Your move — tap a square.
How to Play
- You are X and always move first in a round.
- Tap any empty square to place your mark; the computer replies at once.
- Complete a line of three — across, down, or diagonally — to win the round.
- Press New Round to play again with scores kept, or Reset Scores to start the session over.
Tips for Beating the Computer
- Open in a corner. Corner openings create the most forks — positions where you threaten two lines at once. The centre is safe but often leads to draws.
- Watch for the fork. If you can move so that two different lines each need only one more X, the computer can block only one of them.
- Block forks, not just lines. If the computer holds two opposite corners, take a side square; taking the remaining corner walks into the trap.
- Forcing moves win rounds. A move that threatens an immediate win forces the computer to defend, giving you time to build your fork elsewhere.
Short games like this are more than a distraction — matching and strategy games give working memory a light workout. Read more in our article on the mental benefits of memory and matching games, or try Memory Match next.