What is Reversi?
Reversi is one of the great abstract strategy games: two minutes to learn, a lifetime to master. Here is exactly what it is and why it has hooked players for well over a century.
The core idea: flank and flip
Reversi is played on an 8x8 grid with discs that are dark on one side and light on the other. You own one colour; your opponent owns the other. On each turn you place a disc so that it sandwiches one or more of your opponent's discs in a straight line - horizontal, vertical or diagonal - between the disc you just played and another of yours. Every disc caught in that line flips to your colour. You can start a game right now on the Reversi board.
Why it stays interesting
What makes Reversi special is how violently the lead swings. Because a single move can flip a long chain of discs, the player with the most pieces in the middle of the game is often the one about to lose. Real skill lies in controlling the corners, keeping your own moves plentiful, and reading the endgame - not in grabbing discs early. It is pure strategy, with no dice and no hidden cards.
Related questions
What is the difference between Reversi and Othello?
Reversi and Othello use the same rules - place a disc to flank and flip your opponent's pieces. The differences are historical: Reversi is the older Victorian game that traditionally lets players choose where the first four discs go, while Othello is the standardised, trademarked 1973 version that fixes those four discs in a diagonal cross.
How do you play Reversi?
On your turn, place a disc on an empty square so that it traps one or more of your opponent's discs in a straight line between your new disc and another of your discs. All trapped discs flip to your colour. You must flip at least one disc; if you cannot, your turn is skipped. When the board is full or neither player can move, the most discs wins.
How do you win at Reversi?
Winning Reversi comes down to three ideas: grab the corners safely because corner discs can never be flipped; play for mobility by keeping many good moves for yourself and few for your opponent; and control parity so you make the last move in each region. Chasing raw disc count early is usually a mistake.