If that surgeon can't force a cat's game then I don't want him operating on me
this post was submitted on 18 Jan 2025
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Both surgeons are bad it seems. Assuming X went first and played in the middle (the most optimal and common move), He could have won a turn early because O would have had to miss a block on O's previous turn.
Edit: The only case where this isn't true is if X's most recent move was the X in the center which would mean that the center was open for every previous turn. That still doesn't bode well for either of their abilities.
The corner, where he played is actually more optimal because it is easier to force a fork from that position, though as you said the middle is the most common
100%. The only way to never lose when you go first is to always start in the corner.
That's not true, you can force a tie at worst from a middle start. The issue is, if you start middle, you can only force a win if they take a side, not a corner. If you start corner you can force a win as long as they don't take the middle.
You can also force either a tie or a win every time from the corner. You have less control and garentees if you start from the middle, as counter intuitive as this is you gain more control over the board by taking the corner.
And your second move has to be another corner whose line hasn't been blocked.
While it is true that will always result in a winning line, it's not true that it is the only way to force a win. Half of their moves will allow you to play adjacent to you starting corner towards an open corner and still force a win, as long as their first play isn't the opposite corner or any of its 3 adjacent spaces. In fact, if they start in one of the adjacent sides or non-opposite corners, you have 3 winning moves. If they start on a side, you can take either the open, non-opposite corner, the side leading to that corner, or the middle. If they start in a non-opposite corner, you can take the first two moves above, or the opposite corner.
This is the order of play that makes most sense for that outcome. X starting in the corner or in the center is pretty much the same thing (can't lose if playing optimal moves, can only win if O plays the side). O played wrong by not taking the center.
X | |
| |
| |
X | |
O | |
| |
X | | X
O | |
| |
X | O | X
O | |
| |
X | O | X
O | X |
| |
Came to say this exactly. This should've be the order of play.
We got a tictactoeologist over here
Just noticed the smirk on Dr Rosenberg.
Never go middle side if they have the center. That's amateur hour.
The Far Side would be proud
Simon Bramhall would love this...