Ultimate Tic Tac Toe

Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe Rules

Objective

Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe is played on a 3×3 grid of Tic-Tac-Toe boards (9 total boards). The goal is to win three small boards in a row on the large board.

Setup

• Two players: X and O.
• The game consists of 9 small Tic-Tac-Toe boards arranged in a 3×3 grid.
• X goes first.

How Turns Work

First Move: The first player may place their mark in any square on any small board.

The Key Rule: The square you choose determines which board your opponent must play in next.

For example, if you play in the top-right square of a small board, your opponent must make their next move in the top-right board of the large grid.

Winning a Small Board

A small board is won exactly like regular Tic-Tac-Toe:

• Get 3 of your marks in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
• Once won, that board belongs to you and can no longer be played in.

Free Choice Rule

If you are sent to a board that is already won or completely full, you may play in any open board on your turn.

Winning the Game

Each small board counts as a square on the large board. To win the game, you must win three small boards in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.

Draws

The game is a draw if no player has won three small boards in a row and there are no legal moves remaining.

Quick Example

1. X plays in the center board, top-right square.
2. O must play somewhere in the top-right board.
3. O chooses the bottom-left square.
4. X must now play somewhere in the bottom-left board.
5. Play continues until someone wins three small boards in a row.

Strategy Tip

You're not just deciding where to play—you’re also deciding where your opponent must play next. Sometimes it is worth sacrificing a small board to gain control of the larger board.