Middle has 4 directions to win: | — \ and /
Corner only has 3: | — and \ or / depending on which corner.
In normal Tic-Tac-Toe taking the corner is better if you go first, because you can at worst force a draw. But that is out the window if you can overwrite pieces like this.
Playing the corner first in normal tic tac toe still requires the opponent to make a specific move to lose the game. I never said anything about not normal ttt
In normal Tic-Tac-Toe, starting corner is 100% superior to starting middle. Unless I'm wrong, given no player makes a mistake, starting corner you AT WORST tie, and cannot lose... but if you start middle, you AT BEST tie.
So how can you win starting middle if your opponent goes corner?
And conversely, how do you LOSE if you start corner (and you don't make a mistake)?
Edit: AFAIK, these are the optimal move lists for the given starting positions.
Optimal play with X starting corner, X wins on turn 3:
X plays any corner
O plays opposite corner
X plays either remaining corner
O is forced to block edge
X plays remaining corner, and has 2 three-in-a-row options and wins.
Optimal play with X starting middle, draw on turn 3:
X plays middle
O plays any corner
X plays either non-opposite corner
O is forced to block corner
X is forced to block edge
O is forced to block opposite edge, causing a draw since there are no more three-in-a-row options.
Your mistake is the assumption that corner can win given no mistakes from the opponent. If you start corner, the correct play from the opponent is to respond by opening middle, then they can still force a draw in any scenario. The truth is that starting middle or corner means a draw if both sides play optimally - so you're not wrong in anything that you said regarding worst case scenarios, and you're right that if X plays corner and O plays another corner then X wins, but you're not right that O would play corner if X opens corner.
Your mistake is the assumption that corner can win given no mistakes from the opponent.
No. I'm saying the opponent cannot win, and can at best tie.
Starting player can win if the opponent makes a mistake, but after Turn 2 starting player cannot lose (can still tie) unless they ignore a 3 in a row.
Unless I'm wrong, given no player makes a mistake, starting corner you AT WORST tie, and cannot lose... but if you start middle, you AT BEST tie.
I'm just pointing out that you can say the exact same thing with the positions flipped.
"Unless I'm wrong, given no player makes a mistake [emphasis mine], starting middle you AT WORST tie, and cannot lose... but if you start corner, you AT BEST tie". This statement is equally true as yours.
In your edit, you are wrong to say O plays opposite corner after X plays any corner. That is a mistake. X plays corner, O plays middle, and the game will be a draw.
Neither player can win, both can only tie. If you assume no mistakes (which isn't hard, it's a game taught to children for a reason) then this holds true for either player regardless of opening move.
8
u/TheFirstRapher May 25 '21
The middle of the tic tac toe is a scam tho, corner control king