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How to win Tic Tac Toe every time going second

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Tic Tac Toe may seem like a simple game, but that’s not the case. Strategic planning and creative thinking are required to win or force a tie in each game.

The player who goes first in Tic Tac Toe always has the advantage of winning the game over their opponent, unless they make major mistakes. Playing second, a player should focus on forcing a draw because you may only rely upon the opponent’s mistakes to win.

How do you win tic tac toe every time going second? The second player should focus on placing their mark on either the center grid if the first player doesn’t play it, or put their symbol on any corner if the first player starts with the center grid as their first move. 

If either player plays on a center edge in the first move, their chances of losing are maximized. The action typically forces a draw and not win unless the first player makes a major mistake of starting with an edge grid that is not a corner or center.

When playing second in Tic Tac Toe, it’s hard to win, but it’s achievable under minimal circumstances. In general, the second player tries to force a tie and not lose. 

When the opponent player who goes first plays an edge that is not at the corner or center grid, the second player can apply the same science and overturn the outcomes.

The first move should be either at a corner or the center grid, regardless of whether one is going first or second. Answered below are requfnelty asked questions about going second and winning in Tic Tac Toe, so stick around to find out more about these strategies.

Is there a way to win Tic Tac Toe if you go second?

Yes, there is one possible way a second player can win Tic Tac Toe and that is by playing their first move at the center, and their opponent puts their first symbol to an edge that is not at the corner. 

However, if the first player took a grid at the center or any of the corners, the best the second player can do is to force a tie. Therefore, winning when one goes second in Tic Tac Toe is almost impossible unless the opponent commits major mistakes. 

It’s advisable for the second player to always start with the center grid if the first player didn’t play the spot. Otherwise, start with a corner space if the first player took the center grid in their first move.

Can the first player always win Tic Tac Toe? 

Yes, the first player has higher odds of winning if they take the middle spot or a corner grid as their first move. If their opponent takes an edge that is not a corner or center grid, it will be a sure win.

The first player only stands a chance to lose the game if they make a major mistake by taking an edge grid that is neither at the corner nor the center. Therefore, the likely result will always end as a tie when playing against a strategic Tic Tac Toe player. 

How do you win every time in Tic Tac Toe?

It’s hard to win Tic Tac Toe every time because there is no such winning strategy that guarantees a sure win. The reason is that the board is too small, so the number of moves is limited. 

The guarantee of whether you win or not depends on the opponent’s placement of their symbols. 

The following are some of the strategies a player can apply to improve the odds of winning or forcing a draw in a Tic Tac Toe game:

  • When playing first, the 1st move a player should take is any of the corner spots to open up the second player to make mistakes. If the second player takes the middle spot, the player should place the second symbol in the opposite corner to open up the middle spot for the third symbol if the opponent doesn’t block.
  • When playing second, the 1st move should be at the center spot if the opponent didn’t take it, or any of the corner grid if the middle spot is already taken. The spot will guarantee the player a draw, but if the opponent makes two moves on the edges, not the corner or center, the player can win the game.
  • No player should make their moves on the edges, always play a corner or middle spot.
How to win Tic Tac Toe every time going second

Go Second in Tic Tac Toe: Conclusion 

In a game of Tic Tac Toe, the second player is forced to play for a draw, or rely on their opponent to make a couple mistakes that will allow a chance for victory. There is no winning strategy that the second player can apply to always win the game over their opponent. 

A win in Tic Tac Toe depends on the interaction of the two players. The second player can only win depending on the opponent’s placement of their symbols.

The only way to claim a victory in Tic Tac Toe as a second player is by placing symbols on the corner or center grid as the first move. Taking either of the edges increases the chances of losing.

Tic Tac Toe is a strategic game, and not a game of luck. However, the challenge is that these strategies are so clear to the opponent that they will always block any move that may result in a win.

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