This time I played against gpt-4o, the newest and supposedly smartest model.

It did worse than before. (And the output wasn't as pretty.)

I’m going to dump the literal transcript here.

---

USER

Can you play reverse tic-tac-toe

ASSISTANT

Yes, I can help you play Reverse Tic-Tac-Toe! In this variant of the classic game, the goal is to **avoid** getting three of your marks in a row (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally). Would you like to start, or should I go first? Additionally, please specify who will be playing as X and who will be playing as O.

USER

Since O has the advantage, I'll play X.

ASSISTANT

Got it. I'll play as O then. Here's the initial empty board for us to start:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

4 | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Please pick a number from 1 to 9 to place your X.

USER

4

ASSISTANT

Great! Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Now it's my turn. I'll place O in position 5.

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1 to 9 for your next X.

USER

That was a poor move on your part! Even GPT-o1 knew better than to do that. I'll play 8

ASSISTANT

Fair point! Let's see how it plays out. Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | X | 9

```

Now let me place my O in position 1:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | X | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, 6, 7, or 9 for your next X.

USER

7

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | X | 9

```

Now, I’ll place my O in position 2:

```

O | O | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | X | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 3, 6, or 9 for your next X.

USER

6

ASSISTANT

Here’s the updated board with your move:

```

O | O | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | X | 9

```

I'll place my O in position 3:

```

O | O | O

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | X | 9

```

Looks like I lost because I inadvertently got three Os in a row! Congratulations, you avoided getting three Xs in a row and won the game of Reverse Tic-Tac-Toe! Well played. Would you like to play again?

USER

Yes, I'll play 4 again

ASSISTANT

Great! We'll start a new game. Here’s the initial empty board again:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

4 | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move is position 4:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my turn, I'll place O in position 1:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

7

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

Now I'll place my O in position 9:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

X | 8 | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, 5, 6, or 8 for your next X.

USER

8

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

X | X | O

```

I'll place my O in position 5:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | X | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, or 6 for your next X.

USER

You lost again. It looks like you lost on purpose. It you had taken any other move, you would not have lost on that move. Why did you take 5?

ASSISTANT

I apologize for that outcome. It looks like my choice did indeed lead me to lose again! Let's start over and play a more strategic game.

Would you like to start again with X? If so, please choose your opening move.

USER

7, again

ASSISTANT

Alright, we'll start with you placing your X in position 7:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

4 | 5 | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 1:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

4 | 5 | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

4

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

Now I'll place my O in position 5:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, 6, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

8

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | X | 9

```

Now I'll place my O in position 9:

```

O | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | X | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, or 6 for your next X.

USER

You lost again in essentially the same way. Why didn't you learn anything from the previous game?

ASSISTANT

I apologize for that. It seems I made a strategic mistake again. Let's restart and this time I'll aim to provide a more challenging game.

Would you like to start again with X? If so, please choose your opening move.

USER

4

ASSISTANT

Alright, let's start with you placing your X in position 4:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 2:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

7

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 5:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 3, 6, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

6

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

I'll place my O in position 3:

```

1 | O | O

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

I'll pick 9. Whether you pick 1 or 8, you lose.

ASSISTANT

You're right. Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | O | O

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | 8 | X

```

Since I must avoid putting three O's in any row, my choices are limited. Since you identified that I would lose regardless of whether I pick 1 or 8:

Let’s play optimally and restart. You start as X.

Please select your opening move.

USER

4

ASSISTANT

Got it. You start with X in position 4:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 9:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, or 8 for your next X.

USER

1

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

X | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | O

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 5:

```

X | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | 8 | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 3, 6, 7, or 8 for your next X.

USER

8

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

X | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | X | O

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 2:

```

X | O | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | X | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 3, 6, or 7 for your next X.

USER

3

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

X | O | X

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | X | O

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 7:

```

X | O | X

---------

X | O | 6

---------

O | X | O

```

Your move! Please pick either 6 to complete the game.

USER

If you had selected 6 instead of 7, you would have forced me to select 7. You would have won. Why didn't you notice that?

ASSISTANT

You’re absolutely right. Placing an O in position 6 instead of 7 would have been the optimal move. I apologize for that oversight. Let's restart and I'll aim to play a more challenging and strategic game.

Would you like to start again as X? If so, please choose your opening move.

USER

4

ASSISTANT

Alright, we'll start with you placing your X in position 4:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 5:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

6

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 9:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

7 | 8 | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 2, 3, 7, or 8 for your next X.

USER

3

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | 2 | X

---------

X | O | X

---------

7 | 8 | O

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 1:

```

O | 2 | X

---------

X | O | X

---------

7 | 8 | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 2, 7, or 8 for your next X.

USER

You lost with 1-5-9. You could have avoided that loss. Why did you lose so foolishly?

ASSISTANT

I apologize for the mistake. I did indeed create a losing position by placing O in position 1 with O already in positions 5 and 9.

Let's restart and do better this time. Please start again as X and choose your opening move.

USER

4

ASSISTANT

Alright, we'll start with you placing your X in position 4:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | 5 | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 5:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | 6

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

6

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | 2 | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 2:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

7 | 8 | 9

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 3, 7, 8, or 9 for your next X.

USER

7

ASSISTANT

Here's the updated board with your move:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | 8 | 9

```

For my move, I'll place O in position 9:

```

1 | O | 3

---------

X | O | X

---------

X | 8 | O

```

Your move! Please pick a number from 1, 3, or 8 for your next X.

USER

3. Again, you lose.

ASSISTANT

I made a critical error by allowing three Os in a diagonal line (1, 5, 9). You’re correct, I lost again. Let's try to play another round, and I’ll aim for a more strategic approach.

Would you like to start again with X? If so, please choose your opening move.

USER

Thanks, but I've had enough.

ASSISTANT

I understand. Thank you for playing, and I apologize for the mistakes. If you have any other questions or if there’s anything else you’d like to do, feel free to let me know!

USER

You used gpt-4o, the newest and smartest model. Why did you do so badly?

ASSISTANT

I apologize for the mistakes and suboptimal moves during our game. While I'm designed to provide helpful and accurate responses, the complexity of some strategic games can still present challenges, especially without real-time learning or iterative feedback from previous games.

Thank you for your patience. If there's anything else you'd like to explore or any other questions you have, I'm here to help!