Free to play, no sign up
Play Notakto tic tac toe free
There is no your mark and their mark here, just Xs. Whoever is forced to complete three in a row loses. It looks like nothing and turns out to be one of the sharpest games on this site, because every move you make helps your opponent exactly as much as it helps you.
- Board
- 3x3
- Board
- Goal
- Avoid 3 in a row
- Goal
- Typical game
- 1 min
- Typical game
- Difficulty
- Light
- Difficulty
Move 0
Loading the board
Game review
How to play
How to play Notakto
- 1
Both players place an X. There are no O marks anywhere in this game.
- 2
The player who completes three Xs in a row loses immediately.
- 3
Because both players use the same mark, draws are impossible. Somebody always runs out of safe squares.
Strategy
What actually wins games
Stop hunting for lines and start counting safe squares. The only question is who runs out first.
Opening in the centre is the strongest first move on a single board.
Remember that every X you place is an X your opponent gets to use too.
Can you win it?
Notakto was analysed with combinatorial game theory in 2013. On a single board it is a first player win.
Try another board
All twelve gamesClassic
The 3x3 game everyone knows. Free, no sign up.
- Board
- 3x3
- Objective
- 3 in a row
- Typical length
- 1 min
Ultimate
Nine boards in one. Your move decides where they play next.
- Board
- 9x9
- Objective
- Win 3 boards
- Typical length
- 10 to 20 min
5x5
Twenty five squares, four in a row to win.
- Board
- 5x5
- Objective
- 4 in a row
- Typical length
- 3 to 5 min