How to play
Two games, one idea: line up your marks before your opponent does. Here is everything you need to know.
3 × 3 tic-tac-toe
- The board has nine squares. X moves first, then players alternate.
- Three of your marks in a row, column or diagonal wins.
- If all nine squares fill up with no line, the game is a draw. With perfect play it is always a draw, so the fun is catching a mistake.
Caro (five in a row)
- Caro, known internationally as gomoku, is played on a grid with no edges. Pan and zoom the board as far as you like.
- X moves first. Players alternate placing one mark on any empty square.
- Five or more of your marks in an unbroken row, column or diagonal wins.
- Because the board never ends, there is no draw by running out of space; games are decided by threats such as open threes and fours.
Tips for caro
- An open three (three in a row with both ends free) must be answered, or it becomes an unstoppable open four.
- Look for forks: a move that creates two threats at once usually wins.
- Block early. It is cheaper to stop a two than a four.
Clocks, resigning and rematches
- Each turn has a clock: 20 seconds in 3 × 3 and 30 seconds in caro. If it runs out, you forfeit the game. A player who disconnects or closes the app has 30 seconds to come back, otherwise the player who stayed wins.
- You can resign at any time. After a game either player can ask for a rematch; marks swap so the other player starts.
The computer opponent
- Easy plays loosely and sometimes misses a block. Medium plays solid tactics with the occasional slip. Hard never loses at 3 × 3 and searches several moves ahead in caro.
Your record
- Wins, losses and draws are counted on your account, with games against people and games against the computer kept separate.
- Guests get a record too. Create an account and it moves with you.