You play Black; Black moves first. A move must flank at least one opponent disc — all flanked discs flip. If you have no legal move, your turn passes automatically.
Othello — also known as Reversi — is the “a minute to learn, a lifetime to master” disc-flipping game. You and the computer 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 offers three difficulty levels, 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 it free? Yes — no signup, no downloads, no installs.