Two expert and jaded tic-tac-toe players, after drawing for the n-th time, decided to add some randomness to their favorite game.

First, they used a coin to decide who would start. Then, that player would pick his initial move randomly. Next, the other player would also pick his answer randomly. Finally, from then on the game went on as usual, with each player playing in the best possible way.

For each player, what are the odds of winning, losing, or drawing?

(In reply to re(4): Solution by Penny)

Some points... "X should only go for a corner square if that really is the first move of a game". If O played first in the center, then X would have to answer in a corner. Also, if O played in an edge (not in a corner), X can play any of the adjacent corners, but not the other two. And, in the first move, X can actually play anywhere, and never lose.

Posted by e.g. on 2004-10-05 21:22:41