Printable Reversi Board
Sometimes you want Reversi away from a screen. A printable or blank Reversi board is just an 8x8 grid of squares that you can print out and play on with any counters - coins, buttons, or a bought set of double-sided discs. This page explains what those boards are, who they help, and exactly how to set up the starting position by hand. When you would rather just play, you can always play free in your browser instead.
Heads up: Reversi.now does not offer a downloadable PDF yet. This page shows you how to draw or print a board and set up the game with real pieces, plus links to play every variant online.
What a printable Reversi board is
A printable Reversi board is a plain grid of squares - eight by eight for the standard game - drawn on paper or card. You place double-sided discs (dark on one side, light on the other) on the squares, flipping them as they are captured. Any two-colour counters work: two stacks of coins heads-and-tails, black and white Go stones, or a proper Othello set. All you really need is a grid and pieces you can turn over.
Who wants a printable board
- Teaching kids. A big printed grid makes the flank-and-flip rule easy to see while a child learns.
- Playing offline. On a plane, a porch, or anywhere without a device, a board and a handful of counters are all you need for a full game.
- Studying positions. Setting up a board by hand is a great way to work through an opening or an endgame slowly.
How to set up Reversi with a real board
Here is the standard Othello setup, the version most people picture. You need an 8x8 grid and 64 double-sided discs (or any two-colour counters).
- Draw or print an 8x8 grid - 64 squares in eight rows and eight columns.
- Find the four central squares (the 2x2 block in the middle of the board).
- Place two discs of each colour on those four squares in a diagonal cross: light on the top-left and bottom-right centre squares, dark on the top-right and bottom-left.
- Leave every other square empty. Dark moves first.
- To play, take turns placing a disc so it traps a straight line of your opponent's discs between it and another of your own; flip all the trapped discs to your colour.
- When neither player can move, or the board is full, count the discs - the colour with more discs wins.
For classic Reversi instead of Othello, leave all four centre squares empty at the start; the first four moves place discs there by choice, with no flipping, before normal play begins.
New to the rules? The full walkthrough for every game lives on the Reversi rules hub.
Reversi board sizes at a glance
The rules are identical on every board; only the grid changes. Here is how the common sizes start.
| Board | Squares | Starting discs | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini (4x4) | 16 | 4 (centre cross) | A two-minute puzzle |
| Reversi 6x6 | 36 | 4 (centre cross) | Fast, sharp games |
| Standard 8x8 | 64 | 4 (centre cross) | The classic game |
| Grand (10x10) | 100 | 4 (centre cross) | Long, strategic battles |
Or just play in your browser
No printer and no discs handy? Every board sets itself up for you online, for free, with no download. Try Reversi, Othello, or Mini Reversi and the site handles the setup, the legal moves, and the flipping for you.
Printable Reversi FAQ
Do you have a printable Reversi PDF?
Not yet. For now, this page shows you how to draw or print an 8x8 grid and set up the starting position so you can play with real counters, or you can play the full games free online.
What does the Reversi starting position look like?
In Othello, the four central squares start filled with two dark and two light discs in a diagonal cross, and dark moves first. In classic Reversi the centre starts empty and the first four discs are placed there by the players before normal play.
Can I teach kids Reversi with a printed board?
Yes. A large printed grid and a pile of two-colour counters make the flank-and-flip rule easy to demonstrate. Start on a small 4x4 or 6x6 board so games are short, then move up to the full 8x8. The rules hub keeps every game in plain English.