Noughts and crosses (tic-tac-toe in America) is often the very first strategy game a child learns. It only takes a pencil and a scrap of paper, a game lasts less than a minute, and it quietly teaches some big ideas: taking turns, thinking about what the other player might do, and planning one move ahead.
Our young testers (my niece and my business partner’s child) play every game before it goes live, and Tic-Tac-Go’s computer is tuned so they can always beat it, even on hard. A game should stretch children, not beat them every time.
Most children start by placing their piece anywhere. That's fine. But once they know the rules, these three simple tricks will make them a much stronger player, and they're a lovely way to start talking about strategy.
Trick 1: Go for the middle
The centre square is part of four possible lines: the middle row, the middle column and both diagonals. No other square is part of as many. If your child goes first, the middle is the best opening move. If the other player takes it first, a corner is the next best choice.
Try saying: "Which square could make the most lines?" and let them count the lines through each square on the board.
Trick 2: Always check for a block
Before every move, there are two questions to ask, in this order:
- Can I win right now? (Do I have two in a row with the third square empty?)
- Is the other player about to win? If they have two in a row, block the third square.
Most games between children are lost simply because someone forgot to block. Making this a habit is the single biggest improvement a young player can make, and it's a useful thinking skill well beyond the game: stop, look at the whole picture, then act.
Trick 3: Set up a double threat
This is the trick that wins games. A double threat (sometimes called a "fork") is a move that creates two different ways to win at once. The other player can only block one, so you win with the other.
The most common way to make one is with corners. For example, if you have the middle and one corner, taking a second corner can create two lines that both need blocking. Older children enjoy hunting for these on purpose, and once they understand it they'll start spotting them in other games too.
Why games often end in a draw
Here's a fun fact to share: if both players never make a mistake, noughts and crosses always ends in a draw. That's why grown-ups often get bored of it! For children, though, a draw is a great result. It means both players were blocking and thinking carefully. Celebrate draws as well as wins.
How to practise
- Play out loud. Ask "Why did you go there?" now and then. Explaining a move helps the thinking stick.
- Let them win sometimes, but not always. Children learn the blocking habit fastest when an opponent really is trying to win.
- Swap who goes first. The first player has an advantage, so take turns.
- Try a friendly computer opponent. Our free game Tic-Tac-Go lets children play noughts and crosses against a computer that's always beatable, even on hard, or pass the device to play with a friend. Winning unlocks new pieces like dinosaurs and rockets.
Quick recap
- Take the middle square if you can.
- Before every move: can I win? Do I need to block?
- Look for moves that make two ways to win at once.
Once these three ideas click, your child will be ready for bigger strategy games like Connect Four, draughts and eventually chess.
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