Wild Tic-Tac-Toe
This game is the same as ordinary tic-tac-toe, except that on
each turn a player can choose to play an X or an O. You win if you get three
X’s in a row, or three O’s in a row.
What move or moves
should the first player make so they always win? Show and explain your work to validate your answer.
Related Game:
Same as the above game except that, after the first move, all
placements must be made to a space beside the last space occupied. (If no such
space exists, the game is a tie.) Example: the second player wins here:
Is there a sure way
for the first or second player to win? Show and explain your work to validate your answer.
The Math in This
Problem: This variation of Tic-Tac-Toe allows the players to
place either an X or an O onto the 3×3 grid. The winner is the first player to
complete three X’s or three O’s in a row. This twist to the game really forces you
to analyze the grid and your opponent’s potential moves, encouraging you to
strategize more than you would have in the original version.
