free printable
Giant Tic-Tac-Toe Rules Card
A one-page giant tic-tac-toe rules card: how to play, how to score, and how to set it up. Hit print, fold it, and keep it with your set. Want the full walkthrough? See the Giant Tic-Tac-Toe rules.
LAWNLEAGUES.COM
rules card Giant Tic-Tac-Toe
Players2 (or teams)
Ages3+
Setup2 min
SpaceAbout 3 by 3 ft for the grid
What you need
- A giant tic-tac-toe grid: a wooden frame, roll-out mat, or rope grid with nine squares (3 by 3)
- Ten game pieces, five marked X and five O, or two sets of rings or bean bags in two colors
- A flat spot of lawn, patio, or deck to lay the grid
- Two players, or two teams taking turns
- A throwing line marked a few feet back if you play the toss-to-place version
Scoring
- There is no running point total in a single round; you win a round by getting three of your marks in a row
- A winning line can be horizontal, vertical, or diagonal
- Filling all nine squares with no three-in-a-row is a draw (a cat's game)
- For a match, play multiple rounds and count one point per round won, first to a set number of wins
- Alternate who goes first each round, since the opening player has a small advantage
How to play
- Lay out the grid. Set the 3 by 3 grid on a flat patch of ground so all nine squares sit open and level. Split the pieces so one player takes the five X markers and the other takes the five O markers, or two ring colors.
- Decide who goes first. Pick who plays X to start, since the first player has a slight edge. A quick coin flip or rock-paper-scissors works. Alternate who goes first between rounds so it stays fair over a series.
- Take turns placing a piece. Players alternate turns, placing one of their pieces in any empty square. In the standard version you simply set it where you want. In the toss version you throw a ring or bean bag from behind a line and claim whichever open square it lands in.
- Build toward three in a row. Try to get three of your marks in a line while blocking your opponent from doing the same. A line counts across a row, down a column, or along either diagonal. Most of the game is watching for your opponent's two-in-a-row and blocking it.
- Win or draw. The first player to place three of their marks in a straight line wins the round immediately. If all nine squares fill with no three in a row, the round is a draw, often called a cat's game, and you reset and play again.
Set it up
The standard placing game has no throwing distance, you just reach in and set your piece. If you play the toss-to-place version with rings or bean bags, mark a throwing line a comfortable few feet back, around 4 to 6 ft for adults and closer for little kids. The grid itself only needs about 3 by 3 ft of flat ground, so it fits on a small patio, a deck, or a tight corner of the yard.