📘 How to Play Tic Tac Toe

Tic Tac Toe (also known as "XOX") is the classic game where you take turns placing ❌ and ⭕ on a 3×3 grid, trying to be the first to complete a line. This version has two REAL modes: Vs Computer, where the opponent is an AI that genuinely gets harder as your win streak grows, and 2 Players, where two real people take turns on the same device.

1. Pick a mode (Vs Computer / 2 Players) and a board size (Classic 3×3 / Big Tic Tac Toe 4×4 once unlocked) from the buttons above the board.
2. Tap an empty square to place your mark — in Vs Computer mode you are always ❌.
3. Against the computer, the opponent’s behavior is NOT fixed: Easy plays randomly, Spotting sees its own winning move but won’t block you, Careful both wins and blocks but can’t set traps, and Master plays almost flawlessly.
4. Win and you move up a level; draw and your streak stays exactly the same — only a loss resets it.
5. A 5-win streak permanently unlocks the 4×4 "Big Tic Tac Toe" mode, which needs four in a row to win.

👶 What to expect at ages 5-12

A 5-6 year old will win often at the Easy and Spotting levels, and that early winning streak is what keeps them engaged. Kids around 7-9 learn to block at the Careful level but may still miss a "fork" (a move that threatens two winning lines at once). A child who reaches the Master level around age 10-12 runs into real tic-tac-toe theory: against a flawless opponent, the best you can usually do is draw — and pulling that off is a genuine achievement.

🏠 At home and in class

Following the win streak together with an adult gives a child a natural reason to ask "why did the computer play differently this time?" — a good opening to talk about how the AI is adjusting to their skill level. In 2-player mode, two kids (or a child and an adult) get the classic tabletop experience, taking turns on one shared screen.

💡 Tips

• Taking the center square first gives you the most possible winning lines at once.
• Beating the Master level is nearly impossible — the real goal is holding a long draw until it slips up.
• Once Big Tic Tac Toe (4×4) unlocks, controlling the corners and center leaves you more options for four in a row.