What is the optimal first move in tic-tac-toe?












32












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I have been told that it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie in normal 3x3 tic-tac-toe, but that the first move is very important. What is that important first move?






tic-tac-toe game







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    See related discussion at meta meta.puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/63/…
    $endgroup$
    – James Jenkins
    May 15 '14 at 12:31










  • $begingroup$
    a few years back out of curiosity, I worked this out. but looks like some other people have already nailed it.(stick with a corner)
    $endgroup$
    – Br0therBrigham
    Mar 9 '17 at 16:18
















32












$begingroup$


I have been told that it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie in normal 3x3 tic-tac-toe, but that the first move is very important. What is that important first move?






tic-tac-toe game







share|improve this question











$endgroup$








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    See related discussion at meta meta.puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/63/…
    $endgroup$
    – James Jenkins
    May 15 '14 at 12:31










  • $begingroup$
    a few years back out of curiosity, I worked this out. but looks like some other people have already nailed it.(stick with a corner)
    $endgroup$
    – Br0therBrigham
    Mar 9 '17 at 16:18














32












32








32


2



$begingroup$


I have been told that it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie in normal 3x3 tic-tac-toe, but that the first move is very important. What is that important first move?






tic-tac-toe game







share|improve this question











$endgroup$




I have been told that it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie in normal 3x3 tic-tac-toe, but that the first move is very important. What is that important first move?






tic-tac-toe game




tic-tac-toe game






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Feb 1 '15 at 17:53









Gamow

33.8k9123364




33.8k9123364










asked May 14 '14 at 21:39









XynarizXynariz

2,19522038




2,19522038








  • 1




    $begingroup$
    See related discussion at meta meta.puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/63/…
    $endgroup$
    – James Jenkins
    May 15 '14 at 12:31










  • $begingroup$
    a few years back out of curiosity, I worked this out. but looks like some other people have already nailed it.(stick with a corner)
    $endgroup$
    – Br0therBrigham
    Mar 9 '17 at 16:18














  • 1




    $begingroup$
    See related discussion at meta meta.puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/63/…
    $endgroup$
    – James Jenkins
    May 15 '14 at 12:31










  • $begingroup$
    a few years back out of curiosity, I worked this out. but looks like some other people have already nailed it.(stick with a corner)
    $endgroup$
    – Br0therBrigham
    Mar 9 '17 at 16:18








1




1




$begingroup$
See related discussion at meta meta.puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/63/…
$endgroup$
– James Jenkins
May 15 '14 at 12:31




$begingroup$
See related discussion at meta meta.puzzling.stackexchange.com/questions/63/…
$endgroup$
– James Jenkins
May 15 '14 at 12:31












$begingroup$
a few years back out of curiosity, I worked this out. but looks like some other people have already nailed it.(stick with a corner)
$endgroup$
– Br0therBrigham
Mar 9 '17 at 16:18




$begingroup$
a few years back out of curiosity, I worked this out. but looks like some other people have already nailed it.(stick with a corner)
$endgroup$
– Br0therBrigham
Mar 9 '17 at 16:18










5 Answers
5






active

oldest

votes


















36












$begingroup$

Tic-tac-toe has been solved. The optimal first move is to go in the corner.



As always, there is a relevant xkcd.
xkcd tic tac toe






share|improve this answer











$endgroup$













  • $begingroup$
    This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
    $endgroup$
    – Xynariz
    May 14 '14 at 22:16






  • 1




    $begingroup$
    @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
    $endgroup$
    – blunders
    May 15 '14 at 2:48






  • 4




    $begingroup$
    I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
    $endgroup$
    – SQB
    May 15 '14 at 7:27










  • $begingroup$
    I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
    $endgroup$
    – Xynariz
    May 16 '14 at 2:04










  • $begingroup$
    As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
    $endgroup$
    – Trejkaz
    Nov 20 '17 at 4:48



















29












$begingroup$

The first move can be made anywhere without sacrificing the game. If the opponent plays perfectly, any first move leads to a draw.



However, if the opponent does not play perfectly, then the optimal place to go is the corner, since that leaves only one spot (the center) for the opponent to go to get a draw, increasing their chance of making a mistake.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 1




    $begingroup$
    Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
    $endgroup$
    – durron597
    May 14 '14 at 21:52






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
    $endgroup$
    – ghosts_in_the_code
    Apr 19 '15 at 15:58










  • $begingroup$
    @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
    $endgroup$
    – Ant Kutschera
    Apr 7 '18 at 21:09



















7












$begingroup$

If you're first: Go in a corner.



If you're second, and the first person went in a corner: Go in the middle.



From both of these positions, it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie.






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$









  • 3




    $begingroup$
    It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
    $endgroup$
    – IQAndreas
    May 14 '14 at 21:45






  • 2




    $begingroup$
    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
    $endgroup$
    – Xynariz
    May 14 '14 at 21:57






  • 3




    $begingroup$
    To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
    $endgroup$
    – Michael Myers
    May 21 '14 at 5:14










  • $begingroup$
    Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
    $endgroup$
    – Ant Kutschera
    Apr 7 '18 at 21:10



















0












$begingroup$

One way to answer this is to consider all 255,168 possible games of tic-tac-toe and record if they result in a win, draw or loss for the starting player and analysing where the first move was for each of those games. According to such an analysis, opening in the centre is best, in this case.



Taking it a step further, about 90% of those games are "stupid" because they include moves where players either miss the chance to win immediately or they miss blocking the opponent who can win in their next move. If you disregard those games, then the best opening move becomes a question of how you define "best". If you consider the number of winning games that there are after opening, then an edge opening is best. If you want to avoid drawing or losing, then the center is best. You can combine those results, say weighting winning with a factor of one hundred, drawing with a factor of 10 and losing with a factor of -1. This results in the center again being the best place to start.



In contradiction to most of the answers here, starting in the corner is hence not the best move, when using the number of games that can be played from an opening move as an indicator of what is "best".






share|improve this answer









$endgroup$





















    0












    $begingroup$

    There is a nice article analyzing the Tic Tac Toe first move strategy at https://paperandpencilgames.com/2019/01/tic-tac-toe-strategy-tutorial.html





    share








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    user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

      votes








      5 Answers
      5






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      36












      $begingroup$

      Tic-tac-toe has been solved. The optimal first move is to go in the corner.



      As always, there is a relevant xkcd.
      xkcd tic tac toe






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 22:16






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
        $endgroup$
        – blunders
        May 15 '14 at 2:48






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
        $endgroup$
        – SQB
        May 15 '14 at 7:27










      • $begingroup$
        I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 16 '14 at 2:04










      • $begingroup$
        As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
        $endgroup$
        – Trejkaz
        Nov 20 '17 at 4:48
















      36












      $begingroup$

      Tic-tac-toe has been solved. The optimal first move is to go in the corner.



      As always, there is a relevant xkcd.
      xkcd tic tac toe






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$













      • $begingroup$
        This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 22:16






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
        $endgroup$
        – blunders
        May 15 '14 at 2:48






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
        $endgroup$
        – SQB
        May 15 '14 at 7:27










      • $begingroup$
        I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 16 '14 at 2:04










      • $begingroup$
        As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
        $endgroup$
        – Trejkaz
        Nov 20 '17 at 4:48














      36












      36








      36





      $begingroup$

      Tic-tac-toe has been solved. The optimal first move is to go in the corner.



      As always, there is a relevant xkcd.
      xkcd tic tac toe






      share|improve this answer











      $endgroup$



      Tic-tac-toe has been solved. The optimal first move is to go in the corner.



      As always, there is a relevant xkcd.
      xkcd tic tac toe







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Mar 9 '17 at 18:58

























      answered May 14 '14 at 22:15









      SQBSQB

      3,7262153




      3,7262153












      • $begingroup$
        This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 22:16






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
        $endgroup$
        – blunders
        May 15 '14 at 2:48






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
        $endgroup$
        – SQB
        May 15 '14 at 7:27










      • $begingroup$
        I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 16 '14 at 2:04










      • $begingroup$
        As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
        $endgroup$
        – Trejkaz
        Nov 20 '17 at 4:48


















      • $begingroup$
        This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 22:16






      • 1




        $begingroup$
        @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
        $endgroup$
        – blunders
        May 15 '14 at 2:48






      • 4




        $begingroup$
        I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
        $endgroup$
        – SQB
        May 15 '14 at 7:27










      • $begingroup$
        I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 16 '14 at 2:04










      • $begingroup$
        As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
        $endgroup$
        – Trejkaz
        Nov 20 '17 at 4:48
















      $begingroup$
      This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
      $endgroup$
      – Xynariz
      May 14 '14 at 22:16




      $begingroup$
      This is actually the most comprehensive answer yet. Wish I'd thought of it.
      $endgroup$
      – Xynariz
      May 14 '14 at 22:16




      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
      $endgroup$
      – blunders
      May 15 '14 at 2:48




      $begingroup$
      @Xynariz: Oddly, you did think of it first according to the timestamp on this comment; that diagram is in the link you provided.
      $endgroup$
      – blunders
      May 15 '14 at 2:48




      4




      4




      $begingroup$
      I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
      $endgroup$
      – SQB
      May 15 '14 at 7:27




      $begingroup$
      I'm a bit sorry for 'stealing' the accepted answer like this. Using xkcd is a surefire way to get a high scoring answer.
      $endgroup$
      – SQB
      May 15 '14 at 7:27












      $begingroup$
      I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
      $endgroup$
      – Xynariz
      May 16 '14 at 2:04




      $begingroup$
      I didn't accept the answer because it was from XKCD, I accepted it because it is the most complete answer, followed (currently) by Kendall's.
      $endgroup$
      – Xynariz
      May 16 '14 at 2:04












      $begingroup$
      As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
      $endgroup$
      – Trejkaz
      Nov 20 '17 at 4:48




      $begingroup$
      As much as I like everything xkcd does, this particular visualisation is actually a bit hard to read, if you were going to try to use it for strategising.
      $endgroup$
      – Trejkaz
      Nov 20 '17 at 4:48











      29












      $begingroup$

      The first move can be made anywhere without sacrificing the game. If the opponent plays perfectly, any first move leads to a draw.



      However, if the opponent does not play perfectly, then the optimal place to go is the corner, since that leaves only one spot (the center) for the opponent to go to get a draw, increasing their chance of making a mistake.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
        $endgroup$
        – durron597
        May 14 '14 at 21:52






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
        $endgroup$
        – ghosts_in_the_code
        Apr 19 '15 at 15:58










      • $begingroup$
        @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:09
















      29












      $begingroup$

      The first move can be made anywhere without sacrificing the game. If the opponent plays perfectly, any first move leads to a draw.



      However, if the opponent does not play perfectly, then the optimal place to go is the corner, since that leaves only one spot (the center) for the opponent to go to get a draw, increasing their chance of making a mistake.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
        $endgroup$
        – durron597
        May 14 '14 at 21:52






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
        $endgroup$
        – ghosts_in_the_code
        Apr 19 '15 at 15:58










      • $begingroup$
        @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:09














      29












      29








      29





      $begingroup$

      The first move can be made anywhere without sacrificing the game. If the opponent plays perfectly, any first move leads to a draw.



      However, if the opponent does not play perfectly, then the optimal place to go is the corner, since that leaves only one spot (the center) for the opponent to go to get a draw, increasing their chance of making a mistake.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$



      The first move can be made anywhere without sacrificing the game. If the opponent plays perfectly, any first move leads to a draw.



      However, if the opponent does not play perfectly, then the optimal place to go is the corner, since that leaves only one spot (the center) for the opponent to go to get a draw, increasing their chance of making a mistake.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered May 14 '14 at 21:44









      Kendall FreyKendall Frey

      2,6631727




      2,6631727








      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
        $endgroup$
        – durron597
        May 14 '14 at 21:52






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
        $endgroup$
        – ghosts_in_the_code
        Apr 19 '15 at 15:58










      • $begingroup$
        @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:09














      • 1




        $begingroup$
        Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
        $endgroup$
        – durron597
        May 14 '14 at 21:52






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
        $endgroup$
        – ghosts_in_the_code
        Apr 19 '15 at 15:58










      • $begingroup$
        @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:09








      1




      1




      $begingroup$
      Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
      $endgroup$
      – durron597
      May 14 '14 at 21:52




      $begingroup$
      Also, even if they do go in the center, you can go in the opposite corner and if they play in a third corner you win, also.
      $endgroup$
      – durron597
      May 14 '14 at 21:52




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
      $endgroup$
      – ghosts_in_the_code
      Apr 19 '15 at 15:58




      $begingroup$
      You could also add that, since you are obviously playing against a human, you should keep changing your starting position (not going for the corner every time) so that the opponent takes more time to learn the perfect strategy.
      $endgroup$
      – ghosts_in_the_code
      Apr 19 '15 at 15:58












      $begingroup$
      @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
      $endgroup$
      – Ant Kutschera
      Apr 7 '18 at 21:09




      $begingroup$
      @kendall frey Why the corner - do you have any references?
      $endgroup$
      – Ant Kutschera
      Apr 7 '18 at 21:09











      7












      $begingroup$

      If you're first: Go in a corner.



      If you're second, and the first person went in a corner: Go in the middle.



      From both of these positions, it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 3




        $begingroup$
        It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
        $endgroup$
        – IQAndreas
        May 14 '14 at 21:45






      • 2




        $begingroup$
        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 21:57






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
        $endgroup$
        – Michael Myers
        May 21 '14 at 5:14










      • $begingroup$
        Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:10
















      7












      $begingroup$

      If you're first: Go in a corner.



      If you're second, and the first person went in a corner: Go in the middle.



      From both of these positions, it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$









      • 3




        $begingroup$
        It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
        $endgroup$
        – IQAndreas
        May 14 '14 at 21:45






      • 2




        $begingroup$
        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 21:57






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
        $endgroup$
        – Michael Myers
        May 21 '14 at 5:14










      • $begingroup$
        Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:10














      7












      7








      7





      $begingroup$

      If you're first: Go in a corner.



      If you're second, and the first person went in a corner: Go in the middle.



      From both of these positions, it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie.






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$



      If you're first: Go in a corner.



      If you're second, and the first person went in a corner: Go in the middle.



      From both of these positions, it is possible to guarantee no worse than a tie.







      share|improve this answer












      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer










      answered May 14 '14 at 21:39









      XynarizXynariz

      2,19522038




      2,19522038








      • 3




        $begingroup$
        It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
        $endgroup$
        – IQAndreas
        May 14 '14 at 21:45






      • 2




        $begingroup$
        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 21:57






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
        $endgroup$
        – Michael Myers
        May 21 '14 at 5:14










      • $begingroup$
        Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:10














      • 3




        $begingroup$
        It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
        $endgroup$
        – IQAndreas
        May 14 '14 at 21:45






      • 2




        $begingroup$
        en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
        $endgroup$
        – Xynariz
        May 14 '14 at 21:57






      • 3




        $begingroup$
        To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
        $endgroup$
        – Michael Myers
        May 21 '14 at 5:14










      • $begingroup$
        Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
        $endgroup$
        – Ant Kutschera
        Apr 7 '18 at 21:10








      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
      $endgroup$
      – IQAndreas
      May 14 '14 at 21:45




      $begingroup$
      It would be nice seeing the data to back this up.
      $endgroup$
      – IQAndreas
      May 14 '14 at 21:45




      2




      2




      $begingroup$
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
      $endgroup$
      – Xynariz
      May 14 '14 at 21:57




      $begingroup$
      en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tic-tac-toe#Strategy
      $endgroup$
      – Xynariz
      May 14 '14 at 21:57




      3




      3




      $begingroup$
      To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
      $endgroup$
      – Michael Myers
      May 21 '14 at 5:14




      $begingroup$
      To guarantee no worse than a tie, the first move makes no difference. It's the second move that's important.
      $endgroup$
      – Michael Myers
      May 21 '14 at 5:14












      $begingroup$
      Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
      $endgroup$
      – Ant Kutschera
      Apr 7 '18 at 21:10




      $begingroup$
      Wikipedia does not say that starting in the corner is best.
      $endgroup$
      – Ant Kutschera
      Apr 7 '18 at 21:10











      0












      $begingroup$

      One way to answer this is to consider all 255,168 possible games of tic-tac-toe and record if they result in a win, draw or loss for the starting player and analysing where the first move was for each of those games. According to such an analysis, opening in the centre is best, in this case.



      Taking it a step further, about 90% of those games are "stupid" because they include moves where players either miss the chance to win immediately or they miss blocking the opponent who can win in their next move. If you disregard those games, then the best opening move becomes a question of how you define "best". If you consider the number of winning games that there are after opening, then an edge opening is best. If you want to avoid drawing or losing, then the center is best. You can combine those results, say weighting winning with a factor of one hundred, drawing with a factor of 10 and losing with a factor of -1. This results in the center again being the best place to start.



      In contradiction to most of the answers here, starting in the corner is hence not the best move, when using the number of games that can be played from an opening move as an indicator of what is "best".






      share|improve this answer









      $endgroup$


















        0












        $begingroup$

        One way to answer this is to consider all 255,168 possible games of tic-tac-toe and record if they result in a win, draw or loss for the starting player and analysing where the first move was for each of those games. According to such an analysis, opening in the centre is best, in this case.



        Taking it a step further, about 90% of those games are "stupid" because they include moves where players either miss the chance to win immediately or they miss blocking the opponent who can win in their next move. If you disregard those games, then the best opening move becomes a question of how you define "best". If you consider the number of winning games that there are after opening, then an edge opening is best. If you want to avoid drawing or losing, then the center is best. You can combine those results, say weighting winning with a factor of one hundred, drawing with a factor of 10 and losing with a factor of -1. This results in the center again being the best place to start.



        In contradiction to most of the answers here, starting in the corner is hence not the best move, when using the number of games that can be played from an opening move as an indicator of what is "best".






        share|improve this answer









        $endgroup$
















          0












          0








          0





          $begingroup$

          One way to answer this is to consider all 255,168 possible games of tic-tac-toe and record if they result in a win, draw or loss for the starting player and analysing where the first move was for each of those games. According to such an analysis, opening in the centre is best, in this case.



          Taking it a step further, about 90% of those games are "stupid" because they include moves where players either miss the chance to win immediately or they miss blocking the opponent who can win in their next move. If you disregard those games, then the best opening move becomes a question of how you define "best". If you consider the number of winning games that there are after opening, then an edge opening is best. If you want to avoid drawing or losing, then the center is best. You can combine those results, say weighting winning with a factor of one hundred, drawing with a factor of 10 and losing with a factor of -1. This results in the center again being the best place to start.



          In contradiction to most of the answers here, starting in the corner is hence not the best move, when using the number of games that can be played from an opening move as an indicator of what is "best".






          share|improve this answer









          $endgroup$



          One way to answer this is to consider all 255,168 possible games of tic-tac-toe and record if they result in a win, draw or loss for the starting player and analysing where the first move was for each of those games. According to such an analysis, opening in the centre is best, in this case.



          Taking it a step further, about 90% of those games are "stupid" because they include moves where players either miss the chance to win immediately or they miss blocking the opponent who can win in their next move. If you disregard those games, then the best opening move becomes a question of how you define "best". If you consider the number of winning games that there are after opening, then an edge opening is best. If you want to avoid drawing or losing, then the center is best. You can combine those results, say weighting winning with a factor of one hundred, drawing with a factor of 10 and losing with a factor of -1. This results in the center again being the best place to start.



          In contradiction to most of the answers here, starting in the corner is hence not the best move, when using the number of games that can be played from an opening move as an indicator of what is "best".







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Apr 7 '18 at 21:32









          Ant KutscheraAnt Kutschera

          1012




          1012























              0












              $begingroup$

              There is a nice article analyzing the Tic Tac Toe first move strategy at https://paperandpencilgames.com/2019/01/tic-tac-toe-strategy-tutorial.html





              share








              New contributor




              user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
              Check out our Code of Conduct.






              $endgroup$


















                0












                $begingroup$

                There is a nice article analyzing the Tic Tac Toe first move strategy at https://paperandpencilgames.com/2019/01/tic-tac-toe-strategy-tutorial.html





                share








                New contributor




                user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                $endgroup$
















                  0












                  0








                  0





                  $begingroup$

                  There is a nice article analyzing the Tic Tac Toe first move strategy at https://paperandpencilgames.com/2019/01/tic-tac-toe-strategy-tutorial.html





                  share








                  New contributor




                  user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  $endgroup$



                  There is a nice article analyzing the Tic Tac Toe first move strategy at https://paperandpencilgames.com/2019/01/tic-tac-toe-strategy-tutorial.html






                  share








                  New contributor




                  user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.








                  share


                  share






                  New contributor




                  user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.









                  answered 3 mins ago









                  user57020user57020

                  1




                  1




                  New contributor




                  user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.





                  New contributor





                  user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






                  user57020 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                  Check out our Code of Conduct.






























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