Edition: Classic tic-tac-toe on a 3 by 3 grid. Last checked October 25, 2026
Tic-Tac-Toe Rules: How to Play and How to Never Lose
Tic-tac-toe is one of the first games many kids learn, and all you need is paper and a pencil. Here are the rules, and answers to the little things people disagree about.
- Players
- 2
- Age
- 4 and up
- Playing time
- 1 to 2 minutes per game
How to win: The first player to get three of their marks in a row, across, down or diagonally, wins.
Who is right?
The classic arguments at the table when you play Tic-Tac-Toe.
Who goes first, X or O?
There is no fixed rule.
There is no official rule. Most people let X go first, but the main thing is to take turns starting, because going first gives a small advantage.
The loser of the last game goes first in the next one. After a tie, switch.
Does three in a row diagonally count?
Yes.
Three in a row counts across, down and on the two diagonals through the middle.
With very young kids, some play with only across and down, so it is easier to spot.
Can you always win if you go first?
No.
If both players make no mistakes, tic-tac-toe always ends in a tie. You only win if your opponent makes a mistake.
To make it more fun for experienced players, many use a bigger grid, see the FAQ.
What you need
- Paper
- Pencil or pen
Setup
- 1Draw two vertical and two horizontal lines to make 9 squares.
- 2One player is X and the other is O.
- 3Decide who goes first.
How to play
- 1The first player draws their mark in an empty square.
- 2Then you take turns drawing your mark in an empty square.
- 3You may not draw in a square that is already taken.
- 4If a player gets three in a row, across, down or diagonally, that player wins.
- 5If all 9 squares are filled without three in a row, the game is a tie, often called a cat's game.
House rules
Pick the rules you want to play with tonight. Everyone at the table has to agree.
Our Tic-Tac-Toe rules for tonight
Everything else follows the official rules.
Frequently asked questions
How do you never lose at tic-tac-toe?
Always block when your opponent has two in a row. If you go first, take the center or a corner.
What is five in a row?
A variant played on graph paper with no edges, where you need five marks in a row. It is much harder and can take a long time. It is also known as Gomoku.
What is tic-tac-toe called in other countries?
In British English it is called noughts and crosses. In Denmark it is called kryds og bolle, which means cross and circle.
Source: Common American, Danish and international tradition. The rules are written in our own words. Ask the referee if you are unsure.