How to Play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe

Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe is played on a large 3x3 grid, where each cell contains a smaller 3x3 Tic-Tac-Toe board.

• Players take turns placing their mark (X or O) in an empty cell of one of the small boards.
• The key rule: The cell you pick in a small board determines which small board the next player must play in. For example, if you play in the top-right cell of a small board, the next player *must* play in the top-right small board of the main grid.
• If the target small board is already won or full, the next player can choose to play in *any* other small board that is not yet won or full.
• To win a small board, you need to get three of your marks in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) on that small board.
• Once a small board is won, it is marked for that player (e.g., with a large X or O overlay), and no more moves can be made in it. If a small board results in a draw, it's marked as a draw.
• To win the game: You must win three small boards in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) on the main 3x3 grid.
• The game ends when a player wins the main grid, or when no more legal moves can be made (resulting in a draw).

Tips & Tricks

• Think ahead! Sending your opponent to a board where they have no good moves can be a powerful strategy.
• Sometimes, sacrificing a small board to send your opponent to a board you can win (or one they must block you in) is a good tactic.
• Don't just focus on winning small boards; consider how each move affects the overall game on the large grid.
• Pay attention to which small boards are "free choice" (when the target board is already decided). These can be critical opportunities.