Numerical Tic Tac Toe 1.0.1

Numerical tic-tac-toe is an intriguing variant of the traditional game, substituting Xs and Os for odd and even numbers. In this strategic twist, players take turns placing numbers with the objective of forming a line that sums to 15.

The game utilizes a standard 3x3 tic-tac-toe board. The player designated as "odd" begins using the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, while the "even" player uses 2, 4, 6, and 8. The odd player always takes the first turn, after which players alternate placing their chosen numbers in the unoccupied squares of the board.

It is important to note that numbers cannot be reused; thus, each number can only appear once on the board. Victory is declared when a player places a number that completes a row, column, or diagonal totaling 15. It is crucial to emphasize that simply achieving a total of two numbers equating to 15 does not constitute a win; for instance, placing a 6 next to a 9 does not fulfill the requirement.

• Play against an AI opponent
• Compete against a friend
• Choose from three levels of difficulty
• Customize colors for a personalized experience

Historical context enriches the understanding of numerical tic-tac-toe. It was introduced in the late 1950s by American mathematician Ronald Graham, with a similar version concurrently developed by P.H. Nygaard. In 1990, George Markowsky advanced the game further by creating a computer program that solved numerical tic-tac-toe. His research demonstrated that starting with the number 1 in the top middle slot guarantees a victory for the odd player under perfect play conditions. Markowsky's insights were published in The Journal of Recreational Mathematics.