Henry Ernest Dudeney/Modern Puzzles/202 - Noughts and Crosses

by : $202$

 * Noughts and Crosses
 * Every child knows how to play this ancient game.
 * You make a square of nine cells, and each of the two players, playing alternately, puts his mark
 * (a nought or a cross, as the case may be) in a cell with the object of getting three in a line.
 * Whichever player gets three in a line wins.


 * In this game, cross has won:


 * $\begin {array} {|c|c|c|}

\hline \text X & \text O & \text O \\ \hline \text X & \text X & \text O \\ \hline \text O &        & \text X \\ \hline \end{array}$


 * I have said in my book, ,
 * that between two players who thoroughly understand the play every game should be drawn,
 * for neither party could ever win except through the blundering of his opponent.
 * Can you prove this?
 * Can you be sure of not losing a game against an expert opponent?