Take the center first
The center belongs to four winning lines — more than any other cell. Grab it on move one whenever you can.
Sharpen your game with proven tactics.
The center belongs to four winning lines — more than any other cell. Grab it on move one whenever you can.
If your opponent has two in a row with an empty third, that's a winning threat. Block it before doing anything else.
Try to set up two ways to win at once. If your opponent can only block one, you win on the next move.
A fork is two simultaneous winning threats. Aim for board positions where one of your moves creates two open three-in-a-row threats.
Before placing, ask: 'What will my opponent do next?' Choose moves that limit their best replies, not just yours.
When you can't win, focus on blocking every threat. Perfect defense always leads to a draw — that's how the Hard AI plays.