When my opponent takes the center position, one of the strongest responses is to take a corner. This gives me more flexibility for future moves and prevents my opponent from developing multiple threat lines easily. By taking the top-left corner (0,0), I can potentially set up winning opportunities along the top row, left column, or the diagonal. All corners are strategically equivalent at this point since the board is symmetrical except for the center X, so I'm choosing the top-left to establish my position. This move also forces my opponent to be defensive rather than offensive in their next move.