Tic Tac Toe 2 player. Your move, then mine.

How to start a 2 player Tic Tac Toe game

1. Open the shared board. Play 2 Player Tic Tac Toe starts Same device mode or resumes its saved board.
2. Choose who plays X. Player 1 uses the ivory crosses and makes the first move.
3. Let O answer. Player 2 places a terracotta ring in another empty square.
4. Keep alternating. Watch for a row, column or diagonal of three matching pieces.

Tap the board on a phone or tablet, or click an empty square with a mouse. On a keyboard, use Tab to focus a square and Enter or Space to place a piece.

Play on one device or from two screens

A shared phone, tablet or computer

Both people can see all nine squares, so there is no hidden information. Pass the device or take turns at the mouse. The highlighted player shows whose move comes next.

A board shared by invitation

For separate devices, follow Tic Tac Toe with a friend. The room creator plays X and the guest plays O. Each person opens the game in their own browser and stays connected while playing.

Use the Tic Tac Toe online overview to compare the browser modes. Both shared-screen and private friend games use the same 3 × 3 board.

Agree on the basics before the first round

X starts every round. Each move fills exactly one empty square. A piece cannot move after it is placed, and an occupied square cannot be used again. Three matching pieces in a straight row, column or diagonal end the round immediately.

If the last empty square is filled without a winning line, the result is a draw. Neither person needs to lose for a round to be complete. Use New round when you want another game; online, both people must agree before the board is cleared.

Read the Tic Tac Toe rules if one player is new. You can take turns being the person who controls X between shared-device rounds, although X remains the starting piece.

Learn to spot more than one line

Check whether you can win with your next move before making a defensive choice. Then check the opponent’s rows, columns and diagonals. Two pieces separated by a gap need attention just as much as two pieces next to each other.

Try explaining a finished round to each other. A corner, the centre or a fork may have changed the choices several turns before the final move. A fork is a position with two different winning threats.

For practice between friendly rounds, play Tic Tac Toe against the computer. Concentrate on recognising threats and keeping a draw when there is no forced win.