What is Reversi and how do you play it?

Reversi is a strategy & board game where players compete to achieve the highest score. The game features intuitive controls, progressive difficulty, and engaging gameplay mechanics. Simply use your keyboard, touch screen, or gamepad to control the action and complete objectives.

Can I play Reversi on my mobile phone or tablet?

Yes! Reversi is fully optimized for mobile devices including smartphones and tablets. The game features responsive touch controls that work seamlessly on iOS and Android devices. Simply open your browser and start playing - no app download required.

Does Reversi support keyboard controls?

Absolutely! Reversi has full keyboard support with intuitive key mappings. Use arrow keys or WASD for movement, Space for actions, and Enter to confirm. All controls are responsive and designed for optimal gameplay on PC.

Can I use a gamepad or controller to play Reversi?

Yes! Reversi supports Xbox, PlayStation, and generic USB controllers. Connect your gamepad and use the D-pad or analog stick for movement, face buttons for actions, and triggers for special moves. Button mappings follow standard controller conventions.

Is Reversi free to play?

Yes, Reversi is 100% free to play with no hidden costs, in-app purchases, or subscriptions. Enjoy unlimited gameplay without spending a penny. Play as many times as you want!

Board Games

Reversi

Flip your opponent's pieces by trapping them between yours. Play free online - no downloads or signup required.

Wins

Losses

Draws

Ready to Play?

Difficulty

How to Play Reversi

1
Place Your Piece
Click on a valid cell to place your black piece. You must place adjacent to opponent pieces.
2
Flip Opponent Pieces
Trap opponent pieces between your new piece and another of your pieces to flip them to your color.
3
Valid Moves Required
Each move must flip at least one opponent piece. If you have no valid moves, your turn is skipped.
4
Win the Game
The game ends when the board is full or neither player can move. The player with the most pieces wins!

Strategy Tips

Control the Corners

Corners cannot be flipped once captured. They are the most valuable positions on the board.

Avoid Corner-Adjacent Cells

Placing pieces next to corners (when empty) can give your opponent the corner.

Control the Edges

Edge pieces are harder to flip and help you build stable positions.

Think Ahead

Early game piece count matters less than positioning. Focus on limiting opponent moves.

Why Play on YaliKit?

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Play Reversi Online Free - Classic Strategy Board Game

Welcome to YaliKit's free online Reversi game, also known as Othello. This classic strategy board game challenges players to flip their opponent's pieces by trapping them between their own discs. Whether you're a beginner learning the basics or an experienced player looking to sharpen your strategic skills, our browser-based Reversi game provides the perfect platform without any downloads or registration required.

Reversi has a fascinating history dating back to 1883 when Lewis Waterman of London created the original game. The modern version, trademarked as Othello by Goro Hasegawa in Japan in 1971, uses the marketing slogan "A minute to learn, a lifetime to master." This perfectly captures the game's appeal - simple rules that hide remarkable strategic depth. Today, Reversi and Othello are played competitively worldwide, with annual World Othello Championships attracting top players from dozens of countries.

Our online Reversi features three difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard) with AI powered by the minimax algorithm with alpha-beta pruning. The AI evaluates positions based on corner control, edge stability, mobility, and disc parity. On Hard difficulty, even experienced players will find a genuine challenge as the AI looks several moves ahead and applies advanced strategic concepts.

Playing Reversi regularly develops critical thinking, strategic planning, and the ability to think several moves ahead. Unlike chess, where piece values are fixed, Reversi positions can change dramatically in a single move, teaching players to evaluate fluid positions and adapt their strategies. Start your Reversi journey today and discover why millions of players worldwide find this game endlessly fascinating.

Benefits of Playing Reversi

Strategic Thinking

Reversi teaches players to think several moves ahead, evaluate position quality, and plan long-term strategies while adapting to changing board states.

Adaptability Training

Unlike games with fixed piece values, Reversi positions flip rapidly. This teaches flexibility and the ability to reassess situations as circumstances change.

Perfect Game Length

Games last 15-30 minutes - long enough for meaningful strategy but short enough for multiple games in a session. Great for building skills efficiently.

Easy to Learn

The rules are simple - place pieces to flip opponents. Yet mastering the subtle strategies takes time, offering a satisfying learning curve for all skill levels.

Pattern Recognition

Regular play develops strong pattern recognition skills. You'll learn to spot winning positions, traps, and strategic opportunities at a glance.

Competitive Community

Reversi has an active worldwide competitive scene with national federations and the annual World Othello Championship. Practice here to join the community!

Frequently Asked Questions About Reversi

Reversi and Othello are essentially the same game with minor rule differences. Othello is a trademarked commercial version patented in Japan in 1971 by Goro Hasegawa. In Othello, the starting position is fixed with four pieces in the center, and Black always moves first. In traditional Reversi, players could choose their starting positions. Today, most people use the names interchangeably and play by Othello rules.

Reversi is played on an 8x8 board with 64 double-sided discs (black on one side, white on the other). Players take turns placing discs, with Black moving first. To make a valid move, you must place your disc adjacent to an opponent's disc and 'trap' one or more of their discs between your new piece and another of your pieces in a straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). All trapped pieces are then flipped to your color. The game ends when the board is full or neither player can move, and the player with the most discs wins.

For beginners, it's recommended to play within the central 4x4 area during the opening moves. This limits your opponent's options while keeping your pieces flexible. Avoid playing on the squares directly adjacent to corners (called 'X-squares' and 'C-squares') as this can give your opponent access to the valuable corner positions. Focus on controlling the center and maintaining mobility rather than capturing as many pieces as possible early on.

Corners are the most valuable positions in Reversi because once a disc is placed in a corner, it can never be flipped. Corner pieces are completely 'stable' and provide a permanent advantage. Additionally, controlling corners helps you build stable edge positions that are difficult for your opponent to attack. The squares adjacent to corners (especially diagonally adjacent ones) are conversely dangerous, as placing pieces there can give your opponent the opportunity to take the corner.

Mobility strategy focuses on maintaining as many available moves as possible while limiting your opponent's options. A common beginner mistake is trying to capture as many discs as possible from the start. However, taking more pieces reduces your mobility and gives your opponent more move options. By keeping fewer pieces early in the game, you maintain flexibility and can force your opponent into making unfavorable moves. The disc count only matters at the end of the game.

You can only pass your turn if you have absolutely no legal moves available. Voluntary passing when moves exist is not allowed - you must place a disc if any legal move is possible. If you cannot move but your opponent can, they continue playing until you have a legal move again. If neither player can make a legal move, the game ends immediately and the player with the most discs wins.

No, Reversi is not mathematically solved. This means there is no algorithm that determines the perfect way to play from any position. Computer analysis suggests that with perfect play from both sides, the game might end in a draw, but this has not been proven. The game tree complexity of Reversi is estimated to be around 10^58 possible game positions, making complete analysis extremely challenging.

Edges (or walls) refer to the squares along the sides of the board. Edge pieces are more stable than center pieces because they can only be attacked from fewer directions. Building a 'wall' of your pieces along an edge, especially connected to a corner, creates a strong defensive position. However, be careful about taking edge positions that are not connected to corners, as they can sometimes be flipped by clever play.

A typical Reversi game lasts between 15-30 minutes, though this varies based on player skill level and thinking time. The game has a maximum of 60 moves (starting from 4 pieces to fill all 64 squares). Tournament games may have time controls, while casual games are often faster. Many people describe Reversi as 'a minute to learn but a lifetime to master' due to its simple rules but deep strategic complexity.

The World Othello Championship (WOC) is the premier international Reversi/Othello competition, organized annually by the World Othello Federation (WOF) since 1977. Players from around the world compete to become World Champion. Recent championships have been held in locations including Hangzhou, China (2024) and Ankara, Turkey (2025). The tournament showcases the highest level of Othello play and has helped establish Othello as a respected competitive mind sport.

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