About Reversi (Othello)
Reversi (also sold as Othello) is a two-player disc-flipping strategy game on an 8×8 board. You capture your opponent’s discs by trapping a line of them between two of your own, flipping them to your colour. When no moves remain, whoever has more discs wins.
How to play
- Each move must outflank at least one opponent disc in a straight line.
- All trapped opponent discs between your new disc and an existing one flip to your colour.
- If you cannot make a flip, you pass.
- When the board is full (or neither can move), the colour with the most discs wins.
Tips & strategy
- Corners can never be flipped — grab them.
- Early on, fewer discs is often better (mobility matters more than count).
- Avoid squares next to empty corners; they hand corners to your opponent.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reversi the same as Othello?
The rules are essentially identical. Othello is a trademarked version with a fixed starting position.
How do you win Reversi?
Have more discs of your colour than your opponent when no more legal moves are possible.