Reversi

Reversi

Reversi is a strategic board game for two players, played on an 8x8 uncheckered board. The game is also known by the name Othello, which is a trademarked version of the game. The objective of Reversi is to have the majority of discs turned to display your color when the last playable empty square is filled.

History

Reversi was invented in 1883 by either Lewis Waterman or John W. Mollett, both of whom claimed to have invented the game. The game gained popularity in England and was later marketed under the name Othello by Goro Hasegawa in Japan in 1971. The name "Othello" was inspired by the Shakespearean play, symbolizing the black and white discs used in the game.

Rules

The game begins with two black discs and two white discs placed in the center of the board in a diagonal pattern. Players take turns placing a disc of their color on the board, with the goal of capturing the opponent's discs. A player captures discs by trapping one or more of the opponent's discs between two of their own. Captured discs are flipped to the capturing player's color.

Setup

• The board is set up with four discs in the center: two black and two white, arranged diagonally.
• Black always moves first.

Gameplay

• Players alternate turns, placing one disc per turn.
• A move is valid if it captures at least one of the opponent's discs.
• If a player cannot make a valid move, they must pass their turn.
• The game ends when neither player can make a valid move.

Scoring

• The player with the most discs of their color on the board at the end of the game wins.
• If both players have the same number of discs, the game is a draw.

Strategy

Reversi is a game of strategy and foresight. Key strategic elements include controlling the corners, managing edge play, and planning several moves ahead. Players must balance between offensive moves that capture many discs and defensive moves that prevent the opponent from gaining a strategic advantage.

Corner Control

• Corners are crucial as they cannot be flipped once captured.
• Securing corners often leads to a stable position and can influence the entire board.

Edge Play

• Controlling the edges can provide stability and limit the opponent's options.
• However, careless edge play can lead to giving the opponent access to corners.

Mobility

• Maintaining a high number of available moves is important.
• Reducing the opponent's mobility can force them into unfavorable positions.

Variants

While the standard Reversi is played on an 8x8 board, there are variants with different board sizes and rules. Some popular variants include:

• Mini Reversi: Played on a smaller board, such as 6x6.
• Giant Reversi: Played on a larger board, such as 10x10.

Also see

• Board game
• Strategy game
• Othello (game)
• Go (game)