Here is a quick tutorial, that if you follow, you will never lose at Tic-Tac-Toe again!
Note that this doesn't guarantee a win every time, draws will occur.
Test your existing and newly learned knowledge at the bottom of the page!
If you start:
1. Make sure to always start in a corner. Unexperienced players usually go in the middle, because they think it will give them an avantage, but that is not true and will most likely force a draw.
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2a. If your opponent goes in the middle square, it is a forced draw unless someone makes a mistake.
Just block all of your opponents attacks, don't even try to accomplish anything. If you see your opponent make a clear mistake, try to get a win, but don't risk anything, then it will result in a forced draw anyways.
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2b. If your opponent goes into one of the highlighted squares below, it is a forced win, unless you make a mistake.
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3a. If they go into one of the squares right next to your move, place your move into the corner on the other side.
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Then, they will have to block that, so then you can play your move to the middle square and get yourself that win.
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Now, depending on your opponents move, play your move into one of the corners and win.
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(I do not have the ability to cross out diagonally, but you get the point)
3b. If your opponent plays their move into one of the highlighted squares not next to your move, play your move into the one corner the furthest away from your opponents move.
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They have to block that, and once they do, place your move into the center square, securing yourself the win.
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Now, again, depending on your opponents move, put your move in one of the corners and win.
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(Again, I do not have the ability to cross out diagonally, but I hope you get the point)
2c. If your opponent goes in any of the other squares, again, you basically won the game, unless you make a mistake.
3a. If they go in the oppisite corner of where you did, put your move in any of the two other corners.
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They will block that, so then you can play your move into the last free corner, and guarantee yourself this win.
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Now, depending on where your opponent places their move, you can either play into the left middle square, or the center square, and win this game.
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3b. If they go in any of the other corners, go into the opposite corner of where you started.
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Now they have to block your attack, by putting their move into the center tile, if they don't want to lose.
Then you have to block their attack, because they would win otherwise, and that at the same time guarantees you the win.
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Now, depending on your opponents move, you can either play in the middle left square, or the middle bottom one, and win the game.
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If your opponent starts:
You have low chances of winning, if your opponent starts, actually probably none, if your opponent is good enough. Anyways, here is a quick guide on how to not mess up, and potentially even win. (rare)
1. If your opponent starts in any of the highlighted squares below, it will be a forced draw unless a mistake happens.
2a. If they place it anywhere in there, again:
Just block all of your opponents attacks, don't even try to accomplish anything. If you see your opponent make a clear mistake, try to get a win, but don't risk anything, then it will result in a forced draw anyways.
2b. If they play in one of the corners:
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Just block it off, by placing your move in the middle tile, forcing a draw (unless any mistakes occur).
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Then, AGAIN, for the third time: Just block all of your opponents attacks, don't even try to accomplish anything. If you see your opponent make a clear mistake, try to get a win, but don't risk anything, then it will result in a forced draw anyways.
Test your knowledge here:
Ironically, the AI is not programmed by the rules specified above