Black moves first. Against the computer you play Black; in 2 players mode, Black and White take turns on the same screen. A move must flank at least one opponent disc — all flanked discs flip. A side with no legal move passes automatically. New to the game? Switch on Tutorial and a gold star marks the strongest square each turn.
The original: Othello by Goro Hasegawa (1971), a modern form of the 1880s game Reversi. Ours is an independent version, not affiliated with the makers of Othello.
Othello — also known as Reversi — is the “a minute to learn, a lifetime to master” disc-flipping game. Two sides take turns placing discs on an 8×8 board, flipping the opponent's discs by trapping them. Whoever has the most discs of their color when the board fills up wins. This free browser version lets you play against the computer at three difficulty levels or pass the screen between two people, with an optional Tutorial mode that marks the strongest square each turn — no downloads, no signup.
The two names describe nearly the same game. Reversi is the 19th-century original; Othello is the 1970s standardized version with a fixed starting setup and the familiar 8×8 board. The rules you'll play here are the modern Othello rules that everyone uses today.
How do I play Othello? Place a disc so it traps a line of the opponent's discs between yours; every trapped disc flips to your color. You can only play where you flip at least one. Most discs when the board fills wins.
What's the best first move in Othello? All four opening moves are equivalent by symmetry — the real skill is in the midgame: take corners, keep your mobility, and avoid the squares next to corners.
Is Othello the same as Reversi? Essentially yes — Othello is the standardized modern form of Reversi.
Is there a tutorial? Yes — switch on Tutorial mode under the board. Each turn it marks the strongest square with a gold star and explains the move — a corner grab, an edge square, or exactly how many discs it flips.
Can two people play Othello on one screen? Yes — switch Mode to 2 players in the top bar. Black and White take turns placing discs on the same device, with legal-move dots shown for whoever is to move.
Is it free? Yes — no signup, no downloads, no installs.