The Origins of Tic-Tac-Toe

Did you know that tic-tac-toe is a very, VERY, old game? Traces of it could be found in ancient Egypt, although the most concrete evidence points towards the ancient Romans, where it was known as terni lapini, or "three pebbles at a time". 🪨🪨🪨



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The rules of terni lapini differ from modern tic-tac-toe. Each player only has three pieces to move around the grid. Although how terni lapini ended up in its modern incarnation is still a mystery, it is believed that the game made its way to British and other international shores due to migration and colonisation. The first print reference to it was the name "Noughts and Crosses" in Britain in 1864 before it was renamed as "tic-tac-toe" in the 20th century in the USA. 📚📖



(GIF via GIPHY)


So, how did the name "tic-tac-toe" came to be? As it turns out, that name was originally ascribed to a game that no longer exists. That game was played by throwing a pencil at a slate with numbers, sort of like a variation to darts. Historians believed the name originated from the sound of the pencil hitting the slate, and that's how tic-tac-toe's name was born. 🤝

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Now that you know all about tic-tac-toe's history, it's time for you to show off your skills in the game! Play a game of tic-tac-toe every day with us to win more PrestoPay Credits!

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