Tic Tac Toe, known in Indonesia as "Catur Jawa", is a game that can be solved. This means there is a mathematically proven strategy capable of winning the game. In Javanese Chess, two players who follow the correct strategy will always tie. However, you can still win against players who don't master this strategy, especially when they make mistakes. If your friends already know the strategy, try a more difficult version of the rules. If you don't know how to play, learn it here.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Win or Draw on First Turn
Step 1. Play your first X in a corner
Most experienced Javanese Chess players put their first "X" in a corner when they have their first turn. In this way, the opponent is most likely to make mistakes. If your opponent responds with an O anywhere other than in the middle, you are sure to win the game.
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In this example, you take the first turn and use X as the symbol. The opponent takes a second turn and uses O.
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Step 2. Try to win if your opponent plays his first O in the middle
If your opponent does this, wait for him to make a mistake before you can win. If he continues to play right, he will make sure the result will be a draw. Here are two options for your second turn, followed by instructions on how to win if your opponent takes a certain move (otherwise keep blocking his move and the game will end in a draw):
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Place the second X on the opposite corner of your first X, so that there is a diagonal "X O X" line on the board. If your opponent responds with an O in any of the other corners, you can win! Put your third X in the last empty corner and your opponent won't be able to block the win that can be achieved with your fourth X.
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Or, put the second X in the box next to the edge (not the corner), without touching the first X. If your opponent puts an O in the wrong corner next to your X, use the third X to block his move and win automatically with the fourth X.
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Step 3. You will win automatically if your opponent plays the first O in any square other than the middle one
If your opponent does this, you can win. Respond by placing a second X in any corner, with an empty space between the two X's.
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For example, if your first X is in the top left corner box, and your opponent puts an O in the top center square, place the second X in the bottom left or right corner. Don't put it in the top right corner, because then there will be an O between the two X's instead of an empty space.
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Step 4. Place a third X so you have two possible wins
Usually, your opponent will see that you have two consecutive X's and try to block them. Otherwise, you can win straight away with three X's. However, if your opponent blocks, he will leave an empty square that is parallel to your first and second X, unhindered by the Onya. Put the third X in this box.
For example, take a piece of paper and draw a Javanese Chessboard with the top row containing "X O _", the second row containing "O _ _," and the bottom row containing "X _ _." If you put the third X in the lower right corner, it will align with your other X
Step 5. Win the game with the fourth X
After the third X, there will be two empty squares where you can win if one of them is filled with X. Since your opponent can only take one move, he can only block one of the squares. Write the fourth X in the box he doesn't block and you'll win!
Method 2 of 3: Never Lose in Second Turn
Step 1. Force a draw if the opponent starts at a corner
If your opponent starts with an O in a corner box, always place your first X in the center. The second X should be on the side, not the corner, unless you need to block your opponent. With this strategy, every game will end in a draw. In theory, you could win from this position, but your opponent would have to make a big mistake, like not seeing that you have two X's in a row.
In this section, the opponent still plays O, only he gets the first turn
Step 2. Force a draw when your opponent starts in the middle
When he starts by placing an O in the middle, put your first X in a corner. After that, keep blocking your opponent and the game will end in a draw. You will never win from this position, unless your opponent stops trying to win!
Step 3. Try to win the game if your opponent starts on the edge
Often times, your opponent will start with one of the moves above. However, if he puts his first O on the side, not the corner or center, you have a small chance of winning. Put your first X in the middle. If he puts a second O on the opposite edge, so there's a row or column of O-X-Os, put your second X in a corner. Then, if he puts a third O on the edge perpendicular to your X, line up an O-X-O and set up a third X in the empty square to block your opponent's two O's. From here, you can always win with a fourth X.
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If your opponent doesn't take the right move as described above, accept a draw. Just start blocking all his moves so no one wins.
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Method 3 of 3: Variations of Javanese Chess
Step 1. Try these things if the game always ends in a draw
Unbeaten at Javanese Chess may be fun, but even without this article, you might be able to find a way to prevent you from winning. After that happens, every game of Javanese Chess will end in a draw - uh. However, you can still use the standard Javanese Chess rules to play more complex games. Try.
Step 2. Play memory Javanese Chess
The rules are exactly the same as regular Javanese Chess, but there are no boards! Each player must say the steps aloud and visualize the board in their mind. You can still use all of the strategy suggestions in this article, but you may find it difficult to concentrate while trying to remember where all the X's and O's are.
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Agree on a system to explain the steps. For example, the first word indicates the row position (top, middle, or bottom), and the second word indicates the column position (left, middle, or right).
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Step 3. Play 3D Javanese Chess
Draw three Javanese Chess boards on separate paper. Label each board with "top," "middle," and "bottom." You can play it anywhere, and it works as if they were stacked on top of each other to create a cube. For example, mastering the center of all the boards will win you over, because it results in a vertical line running through the cube. Mastering three squares in a row also results in a win. Try to figure out how to win diagonally across all three boards.
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For a more exciting challenge, combine with the last variation and try 3D memory Javanese Chess. The first word describes the board (top, middle, or bottom), the second word describes the row (top, middle, or bottom), and the third word describes the column (left, middle, right).
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Step 4. Play the five-piece version of Javanese Chess
Play this game, sometimes called Gomoku, on a piece of graph paper so you don't have to draw the board. Instead of marking X and O in each box, write them at the point where the paper lines intersect. You can select a step anywhere on the paper. The first player to score five consecutive points (instead of six or more) is the winner. The game is very complex although similar to Javanese Chess, and even has its own world championship tournaments.
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In tournaments, players use a 15x15 or 19x19 board, but you can use graph paper of any size. You can even play it on an unlimited number of boards, adding more paper if needed.
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Tips
- Try this challenge against a rookie: take the first turn and play the first X on the side. You can only win if your opponent's first O is in a corner that doesn't touch your X, or on an edge that is diagonal to it. Can you figure out how to win in these two situations?
- For an even more complicated challenge, try to win after your first turn and place the X in the middle. If your opponent puts his first O on the side (which rarely happens), you're sure to win. Can you figure out how?
- There are other games that enable one of the players to always win, even if all the participants play optimally (correctly). For example, in Connect Four, the first player can always win if he follows the right strategy.
- Be careful and think about the steps you want to take ahead of time.
