Reversi, free online
Reversi is a two-player strategy game played on an 8×8 board. Each move must trap a line of your opponent’s discs between two of yours, and every trapped disc flips to your color. The lead can swing wildly, so the game is decided by position, not by who has more discs in the middle.
Play the computer on easy, medium or hard, or pick 2 players to play a friend on one screen. Legal moves are marked with a dot, flips animate one by one, and full screen gives you a bigger board.
How to play Reversi
- The game starts with four discs in the middle, two black and two white. Black moves first.
- Place a disc so that one or more of your opponent's discs lie in a straight line between your new disc and another of yours. That line can run across, down or diagonally.
- Every trapped disc flips to your color. One move can flip lines in several directions at once.
- If you have no move that traps a disc, you must pass. If neither player can move, the game ends.
- The player with more discs on the board wins.
Reversi tips
Corners are gold
A disc in a corner can never be flipped. Take a corner whenever you safely can, and it will anchor whole edges for you.
Avoid the squares next to an empty corner
The squares touching an empty corner, especially the diagonal one, often hand the corner to your opponent. Stay off them until the corner is taken.
Fewer discs early can be better
Grabbing lots of discs in the opening usually gives your opponent more moves. Keep your options open and limit theirs; the big flips come at the end.
Count your moves
The dots show where you can play. If you have many choices and your opponent has few, you are usually winning, even with fewer discs.
Frequently asked questions
Is Reversi the same as Othello?
Othello is a trademarked version of Reversi with a fixed starting position. The rules you play here are the standard modern ones, with the four discs placed in the center.
How strong is the computer?
Easy sometimes plays a random move and is good for learning. Medium looks three moves ahead. Hard looks five moves ahead and values corners and mobility like a strong human player.
What happens if I cannot move?
You pass automatically and your opponent plays again. The game ends when neither side has a legal move.
Can two people play on one device?
Yes. Choose 2 players and take turns on the same screen. Black always moves first.
