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Reversi

Outflank and flip discs to own the board.

You (Dark)2
Empty60
Computer2

You (Dark) to move.

How to play Reversi

Goal

Finish with more discs of your color than your opponent.

  1. 1Place a disc so it traps a line of enemy discs between it and another of yours.
  2. 2Every trapped disc flips to your color, in any direction.
  3. 3The dots show every legal move. If you have none, your turn passes.
  4. 4The game ends when neither player can move. Most discs wins.

On a computer

Click a square with a dot. Arrow keys and Enter also work, U undoes.

On a phone

Tap a square with a dot.

Play Reversi free online, the Othello-style disc flipping game. Beat the computer on easy, medium or hard, or play a friend on the same device.

Reversi tips and strategy

  • Corners are the most valuable squares because a disc there can never be flipped.
  • Avoid the squares diagonally next to an empty corner. Taking them often hands that corner to your opponent.
  • Early on, fewer discs is often better. Keeping your options open matters more than the count.
  • Try to limit your opponent's moves. A player with only bad moves left is forced to give up good squares.
  • Edges are strong once you can anchor them to a corner, but a lone edge disc can be a target.
  • Count carefully near the end. The last few moves can swing a dozen discs either way.

About Reversi

Reversi is a disc flipping strategy game for two players on an eight by eight board. Each disc is dark on one side and light on the other. On your turn you place a disc so that it traps one or more lines of your opponent's discs between the new disc and one you already own. Every trapped disc flips to your color. The lines can run across, up and down, or diagonally, and one move can flip discs in several directions at once.

The game dates back to the late 1800s in England, and a popular modern variant with a fixed starting position is widely known as Othello. Our free version uses that familiar setup with four discs in the center. If you have no legal move, your turn passes. When neither player can move, the game ends and the side with more discs wins.

Choose Easy for a relaxed game, Medium for a fair challenge, or Hard for a computer that plans several moves ahead and plays endgames perfectly. You can also play a friend on the same screen. Your score is the disc margin at the end, so bigger wins rank higher.

Reversi FAQ

Is Reversi the same as Othello?

They are very close. Othello is a trademarked version of Reversi with a fixed starting position. Our game uses that same starting setup under the original Reversi name.

What happens if I have no legal move?

Your turn is skipped and your opponent plays again. If neither side can move, the game is over.

How is the winner decided?

When the game ends, the player with more discs on the board wins. A tie is a draw.

Why does the computer avoid certain squares?

Squares next to empty corners are risky because they can give away the corner. The computer weighs every square by how safe it is.

Can I play with a friend?

Yes. Choose 2 Players and take turns on the same device.

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