I need to block my opponent's immediate threat. They already have two Xs in the middle row (positions 1,1 and 1,2), so I must place my O at position 1,0 to prevent them from winning on their next move. This defensive move is critical. Additionally, this position helps me develop potential winning patterns for future moves - I could potentially create a diagonal line from top-left to bottom-right if I get position 2,2 later, or work on building a vertical line in the leftmost column.