You are here: irt.org | Games | Challenges | #01 - Reversi (Othello)
Reversi is a game of skill for two players that is also known (in a slightly modified form) as the proprietary game Othello.
It is quick to play and the rules are simple, but as with all the best games, it will take a while to master.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Reversi is the repeated reversals of fortune (both real and apparent) as first one side holds the majority of the board, then the other.
Reversi is a two-player game. One player has the black pieces (known as stones or discs), the other the white ones. The players alternatingly set pieces on an 8x8 board, black starting. Any pieces of the opponent that get caught between two of yours by a newly set piece are captured and change colour. You may only set a piece if doing so will capture at least one other piece, otherwise, you have to pass and it's your opponent's turn again.
The game ends when either the board is full, or neither player can make a move. The player who has the most pieces at the end of the game wins, although draws are possible.
More information about the game of Reversi (or Othello) can be found in the guide published by the International Internet Othello Association.
You can see a demonstration of the game board that uses the graphics below. Feel free to design your own pieces - these are just slightly blurred circles over a green background (and one green pixel stretched to make the empty square).
60 by 60 pixels (896 bytes total)
Games are distributed under the WebGames License