These tic tac toe boards make the quickest game you can set up: print a page, grab two pencils and play. This free set has six PDF sheets, from a classic X and O page to themed boards, cut-out pieces and a score sheet. Want to play on a screen instead? Try our tic tac toe game against the computer. Three pages hold twelve boards each, with the classic X and O, a cat vs dog game and a star vs rocket game. The leaf vs acorn page adds an autumn twist, the cut-out page gives you pieces and one big board, and the tournament sheet keeps score over ten rounds. The tic tac toe boards are free to print.
Quick answer: print one page, give each player a pencil and let them take turns writing their symbol in an empty square. The first player to get three in a row, across, down or diagonally, wins. For a longer game, print the tournament sheet and play ten rounds.
Tic tac toe boards to print (PDF)
Six sheets, each a PDF. Click a picture to open it. The cut-out page has two pages: a big board and four sets of game pieces.
Which tic tac toe template should you print?
| Sheet | How to play | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Classic X and O | One player writes X, the other writes O | Anyone who knows the game, travel and waiting rooms |
| Cat vs dog, star vs rocket, leaf vs acorn | Players draw tiny pictures | Young children who like to draw, and rainy-day play |
| Big board and cut-out pieces | Cut the pieces and move them on the board | Ages 3 to 5, and for a no-mess game |
| Tournament score sheet | Play ten rounds and write the winner | Classrooms, siblings and car rides |
How to play: rules in four steps
Tic tac toe boards are a simple way to practise taking turns.
- Draw the board. A tic tac toe board is a 3 by 3 grid. Use a printed board to save time.
- Choose symbols. One player is X (or cats, or stars) and the other is O (or dogs, or rockets).
- Take turns. Each player puts one symbol in an empty square, and the first to start is the player who lost the last round.
- Get three in a row. Three of the same symbol across, down or diagonally wins. If all nine squares are full and nobody has three in a row, the game is a draw.
Tic tac toe strategy for kids
Practise these moves on the tic tac toe boards until they feel automatic.
- Start in the middle or a corner. These squares are part of more winning lines than the edges.
- Block. If your opponent has two in a row, put your symbol in the third square.
- Make a fork. Try to create two lines at once, so your opponent can only block one.
- Expect draws. If both players play perfectly, the game always ends in a draw, so a draw is a good result between careful players.
Tic tac toe boards: variations to keep the game fresh
Print extra tic tac toe boards so each variation starts on a fresh sheet.
- Opposite day: the player who gets three in a row loses. Children enjoy this twist because it makes them think backward.
- Number version: write numbers 1 to 9 in squares, and the first player to claim a line with a sum of 15 wins.
- Team play: two teams take turns, and each team talks quietly before each move.
- Best of ten: use the tournament sheet and play ten rounds, keeping track of who starts each round.
What children learn from tic tac toe
Playing on tic tac toe boards also helps children plan ahead.
- Turn taking: waiting for a turn is practice for patience.
- Planning ahead: thinking one or two moves ahead while looking at the boards is a first step in logic.
- Pattern spotting: children learn to see rows, columns and diagonals on the grid.
- Handling a loss: a quick game with a rematch makes losing less painful.
How these sheets are made
Every sheet is generated by a program. The boards are drawn with exact grids, the player pictures are checked before each sheet is built and the cut-out pieces are placed in rows of five so they are easy to cut. The pictures are Noto Emoji artwork from Google, used under the Apache License 2.0; the project is on GitHub. A credit line is printed on every page.
Keep a few tic tac toe boards in the car or a bag for waiting rooms and restaurants.
Frequently asked questions
7 quick answers
Are these tic tac toe boards free?
Yes. Print as many pages as you like for your own children or class, with no account or sign-up.
How many boards are on each page?
Each template page has twelve boards. The big-board page has one large board, and the cut-out page has twenty game pieces in four themes.
Can I use the cut-out pieces on the big board?
Yes. Print the page on card stock if you can, cut along the dotted lines and move the pieces between squares. A small piece of reusable adhesive on the back stops them sliding.
What age is tic tac toe good for?
Most children can learn the rules at four or five. Younger children can use the cut-out pieces and play with a grown-up.
Who goes first?
The player who lost the last round starts the next one. In the first round, you can flip a coin or let the youngest start.
Can a game of tic tac toe be won every time?
No. If both players play well, every game ends in a draw. A player can only win if the other player misses a block.
What strategy helps in a tic tac toe game for kids?
Start in the middle or a corner, because those squares are part of more winning lines. Block when the other player has two in a row, and try to make a fork with two lines at once. Between careful players, a draw is a good result.
More games and puzzles to print
- Play tic tac toe online against the computer or a friend.
- Picture bingo for kids for a group game.
- Classroom bingo and road trip bingo.
- Charades for kids.
- Printable mazes and dot to dot pages.
- Memory game printable for matching cards.
- Every puzzle and brain teaser on PrintSheetLab.
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