Reversi

About Reversi

Reversi is a two-player strategy game played with two-sided discs. Each move places a disc and flips trapped opponent discs, so the board can change dramatically from one turn to the next.

How to play Reversi

Place your disc so that one or more opponent discs are caught in a straight line between your new disc and another of your discs. Captured discs flip to your colour. The player with more discs at the end wins.

Tips for playing Reversi

Corners are extremely valuable because they cannot be flipped. Avoid giving your opponent easy corner access. Edges are useful too, but unstable edge play can backfire if it opens a corner.

Reversi history and background

Reversi appeared in the late 19th century, while the modern commercial game Othello later standardised a popular version with a fixed starting setup. The flipping mechanic keeps the game tactical until the final moves.

Reversi FAQ

Is Reversi the same as Othello?

They are closely related. Othello is a modern standardised version of the Reversi-style game.

Why are corners important in Reversi?

Corner discs cannot be flipped, so they often help control nearby edges.