How to play Reversi
- Choose your opponent: the computer (pick a level and who goes first) or a friend on the same device.
- Tap a highlighted square: your disc must trap one or more of your opponent's discs in a straight line against another disc of yours.
- The trapped discs are flipped and become yours. If you have no possible move, your turn is passed.
- The game ends when neither player can move. The player with more discs of their color wins.
Reversi strategy
Corners are the most valuable squares, because they can never be flipped. Avoid the squares next to the corners while they are empty: they open the corner to your opponent. And don't obsess over having lots of discs early on: having few discs and many possible moves is usually better.
The easy level plays almost at random, medium looks a few moves ahead and values corners, and hard analyzes much deeper. Everything happens on your device and nothing is sent to any server.
Good to know
- If a player has no possible moves, they pass; if neither can move, the game ends even if there are empty squares left.
- Scores and settings are saved only in this browser.
- Against the computer, Undo takes back your move and its reply; in 2-player mode it takes back the last move.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Reversi?
Players take turns placing discs so that they trap opponent discs in a straight line (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) against another disc of their own. The trapped discs are flipped. The player who ends with more discs wins.
What happens if I can't move?
Your turn is passed automatically. If neither player can move, the game ends.
Why are corners so important?
A disc in a corner can't be trapped, so it never gets flipped and anchors your hold on the edges.
Who goes first?
Black goes first. Against the computer you can choose whether you or it starts.
Is it free? Do I need to install anything?
It's free, needs no sign-up and runs right in your browser.