Ranked Match

Compete for glory and climb the ladder

Bronze

Rating Points

BronzeSilver

600 points to next rank

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⚠️ Leaving a ranked match will result in a rating penalty

Ranked Infinite Tic-Tac-Toe: How the Ladder Works

Ranked matches are Infinite Tic-Tac-Toe's competitive ladder. Every result adjusts your Elo rating, matchmaking pairs you with someone near your level, and your placement shows on the global leaderboard. No account is needed to play ranked — your rating is tracked from your first match.

How ranked differs from quick play

Quick play exists to get you into a game fast and nothing is at stake. Ranked is the opposite trade: matchmaking waits a little longer to find someone within a sensible rating range, and the result counts. That changes how people play — ranked opponents defend properly, so the sloppy three-in-a-row setups that win casual games get punished here.

What moves your rating

The rating change depends on the gap between the two players. Beating someone rated well above you is worth a lot; beating someone well below you is worth very little, and losing to them costs more than a normal loss. This means you cannot farm rating off weak opponents — climbing requires beating people at or above your own level. Sliding and Expanding carry completely separate ratings, so strong play in one mode does not carry over to the other.

Choosing your mode before you queue

Sliding rewards short-horizon tactics: with only three marks each, the board state churns constantly and you are always trading a threat for the mark you are about to lose. Expanding rewards planning — the board grows from 3×3 to 4×4 to 5×5 across rounds, marks persist within a round, and the win condition scales with the board, so you are building longer structures under more pressure. Pick the one you actually want to be ranked in, since the ladders are independent.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account to play ranked tic-tac-toe?

No. Ranked matchmaking works without signing in and your rating is tracked from your first match. Signing in is only needed if you want that rating to follow you across devices, along with friends and private rooms.

What rating do I start at?

Every player starts at 200. Bronze begins at 400, and the tiers run Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master and Grandmaster, with Grandmaster at 3000.

Can I lose rating for leaving a ranked match?

Abandoning a ranked match is treated as a loss, the same as being beaten on the board. Use practice mode or quick play if you want to experiment without risking rating.