How to Play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe

Ordinary tic-tac-toe is a draw with correct play. Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe, nine boards in one, is a real game.

The board

A 3×3 grid of small tic-tac-toe boards. Winning a small board puts your mark on the big board in that position.

Play

X moves first and may play in any cell of any board.
Your move sends your opponent: the cell you play in (say, the top-right cell of a board) decides which small board they must play on next (the top-right board).
If that board is already won or full, they may play on any open board.
Win a small board with three in a row. A full small board with no line is drawn and counts for nobody.
Win the game with three won boards in a row on the big board. If every board is finished without a line, the game is a draw.

Playing on kawu

The board you must play on is highlighted; cells you can use are the only ones that react.
Three computer levels (the computer searches thousands of random games per move), two players on one device, or online with a friend.
Hints and undo against the computer.

Next, read the strategy guide. The small version is here too: Tic-Tac-Toe.

Frequently asked questions

What if I'm sent to a board that's already won?

You may play on any board that's still open. The same applies to a full board. This is the moment the game opens up, so avoid giving your opponent that freedom.

Can I keep playing on a board that's already won?

No. A won or full board is finished; its cells are closed for the rest of the game.

Does the centre board matter most?

The centre board is part of four winning lines on the big board, just like the centre cell in ordinary tic-tac-toe, so it's the most valuable to win.

Last updated 2026-10-20