How to play Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe: nine boards in one

Ordinary tic-tac-toe always ends in a draw once you know it. Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe fixes that with one rule: where you play decides where your opponent plays next. On ComCom Games it is a friendly against ComCom or a friend, from Friendlies.

What are the rules?

• The board is nine small tic-tac-toe boards arranged in a 3 by 3. X moves first and can play anywhere.
• The square you play in a small board sends your opponent to the small board in the same position. Play the top right square, and they must play in the top right board.
• If they are sent to a board that is already won or full, they can play in any open board instead.
• Get three in a row in a small board to win it. Win three small boards in a row, across, down or diagonally, to win the game. If every board is decided with no such row, it is a draw.
• Each player has 5 minutes in total.

The boards you are allowed to play in glow on the screen, so you always know where you can go.

How do you win more often?

• Every move is two decisions: the square that helps you, and the board it sends your opponent to. Check the second one before you play.
• Avoid sending your opponent to a board they are about to win.
• Be careful sending them to a board that is already decided. That lets them play anywhere, which is a gift.
• The centre board touches the most rows of boards, so winning it is worth more than winning an edge.

Does it pay ComCom Coins?

Yes. Every win earns ComCom Coins, up to a daily limit, like every friendly, and counts on the Friendlies tab of the Leaderboard.