How do you play Reversi?+
Place one disc of your color on an empty square such that it is flanked on a straight line by one of your existing discs and one or more enemy discs. All sandwiched enemy discs flip to your color. Players alternate until the board fills or no legal move remains.
What is Othello?+
Othello is the commercial name for the same game as Reversi. The standard rules, board layout, and objectives are identical. If you know Othello, you already know Reversi.
What are the basic rules of Reversi?+
The 8×8 board starts with four discs at the center: dark diagonally, light in the other diagonal. Players alternate placing one disc per turn. A disc must flip at least one enemy piece in a straight line. If you have no legal move, your turn passes. The game ends when neither player can move.
How do disc flips work in Reversi?+
When a newly placed disc is on a straight line with one of your existing discs and one or more enemy discs in between, every enemy disc on that line flips to your color. This can happen horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can cascade into multiple lines from a single move.
What is a legal move in Reversi?+
An empty square is legal if, in any of the eight directions, there is a straight line containing one of your discs and at least one enemy disc. The new disc must be placed such that it sandwiches enemy discs between itself and your disc on both ends of that line.
What happens if I cannot move?+
If you have no legal move, your turn is passed and your opponent plays again. If neither player has a legal move, the game ends and discs are counted. Passing can swing the game because your opponent gets consecutive turns.
What is the best opening move in Reversi?+
The four center squares are already occupied at the start. Your first legal moves are the squares directly diagonally adjacent to the center: C3, F3, C6, and F6. C3 and F6 flip one disc each; F3 and C6 flip two discs each. Many players prefer F3 or C6 for an early edge.
Why are corners important in Reversi?+
Corners are permanent. Once claimed, a corner disc can never be flipped because there is no diagonal straight line past it. Also, disc you place on the corner secures the edge to its left or right, making you powerfully stable. Losing a corner early is often fatal.
Can you flip more than one disc per move?+
Yes. A single legal move can flip discs in several directions at once. For example, a carefully chosen move may flip one disc horizontally, two vertically, and one diagonally, giving you a large board swing in one turn.
Does Reversi have a tie condition?+
Yes. If both players have the same number of discs when the game ends, the result is a tie. In practice this is rare, but it can happen on a balanced board with many stable disc clusters.
Is Reversi a two-player game?+
Yes, this is a local two-player pass-and-play game. Take turns placing discs after handing the device to your opponent. There is no computer opponent in this version.
Can you play Reversi on mobile?+
Yes. The layout is touch-friendly and legal squares are highlighted. Tap an empty highlighted square to place your disc. The board and controls stay responsive on phones and tablets.
Is there a timer in Reversi?+
No. Players move at their own pace. There is no turn clock or match timer, so you can study the board and plan flips carefully. The focus is on strategy, not speed.
What is the best strategy for Reversi beginners?+
Take corners when you can, avoid squares next to empty corners until the corner is yours, and prefer moves that flip in multiple directions. Build edge chains that connect to corners, and watch the parity of remaining legal moves in the endgame.
Why do edge discs matter in Reversi?+
Edges can still be flipped, unlike corners. However, an edge that connects to your corner becomes nearly stable because any attempt to flip it must pass through your corner. Build edges outward from claimed corners to expand your territory safely.
What is the disc parity rule?+
In the final turns, the player who cannot move loses another turn and lets the opponent place multiple discs. The number of remaining legal moves can predict which color ends ahead. Plan early endgame moves so your opponent runs out of options first.
How does scoring work in Reversi?+
The game tracks your disc count and saves your highest total as a local best score. A typical strong game ends with 45 to 55 discs for the winner; a dominant game can exceed 60.
What games are similar to Reversi?+
Fans of Reversi often enjoy Go for its territory mechanics, Chess for its flip-like sacrifices, and Hex for its line-completion victories. Any game that rewards balance between aggression and stability trains the same strategic muscles.
