Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe

Nine boards inside one. Your move tells your opponent which board to play in next. Win three small boards in a row to win the game.

How Ultimate works

1. The board is 9 small boards. Each small board is 3×3 tic-tac-toe.
2. Win a small board → claim its big-board cell. Three small boards in a row wins the whole game.
3. Your move sends your opponent. The cell position you play (top-left, center, etc.) becomes the small board your opponent must play in next.
4. If sent to a finished board, your opponent can play in any open board.

The active small board is highlighted with an orange outline. Cells you can't play in are dimmed.

Strategy basics

• Think two moves ahead. Every move is also "where am I sending them?"
• Avoid sending to the center board. The center is part of 4 winning lines on the big board.
• Sometimes lose a small board on purpose to send the opponent somewhere disastrous.
• "Free move" cells (sending to a finished board) are gold. Use them to make moves you couldn't otherwise.