Why do I keep losing at Reversi?

Losing a Reversi game you thought you were winning is a rite of passage. Almost always, the same three mistakes are to blame. Here is how to stop making them.

Quick answer: The most common reason players lose at Reversi is chasing disc count - building a big early lead that collapses when the opponent takes a corner and flips it back. The other frequent culprits are playing the dangerous squares next to empty corners and running out of good moves. Fix those three habits and your results jump.

Mistake 1: hoarding discs early

A commanding mid-game lead is often a warning sign, not a good sign. Because one move can flip a long line, the player with the most discs at move 30 is frequently about to lose. Play instead for mobility and corners, and let the disc count take care of itself near the end.

Mistakes 2 and 3: bad squares and no moves

Playing an X-square next to an empty corner usually gives that corner away - avoid it until the corner is settled. And if you run out of safe moves you will be forced into bad ones, so keep several good replies available at all times. Drilling these on the Othello board against the medium computer is the fastest way to break the habits.

Try again with a fresh game

Related questions

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.

Why are corners so important in Reversi?

Corners are the most valuable squares in Reversi because a disc placed in a corner can never be flanked or flipped. It becomes a permanent anchor that lets you flip long lines for the rest of the game and stabilise entire edges. Most Reversi games are decided by who wins the corners.

Is Reversi a game of luck or skill?

Reversi is a game of pure skill. There is no shuffle, no dice and no hidden information - both players see the entire board at all times. Every outcome is decided by planning, mobility and corner control, so a loss means you were out-thought, not unlucky.