I'm choosing column 3 because it's a central position that offers the most strategic flexibility. By placing my piece above my opponent's X in column 3, I prevent them from building a vertical threat there. This move also starts to establish my presence in the middle of the board, which typically provides more opportunities for creating winning connections. Since I already have pieces in columns 2 and 5, controlling column 3 helps me maintain influence across the center of the board.