Opening
Four discs start in the centre. Black moves first.
Reversi
Trap your opponent's discs and flip them to your colour. Finish with more discs to win.
No one is playing yet0 waiting rooms
Place a disc
Every move must trap at least one opposing disc.
Flip discs
Flip all trapped discs horizontally, vertically and diagonally.
Pass
Pass only when you have no legal move.
Corners
A disc in a corner can never be flipped.
Finish
When neither player can place a disc, count both colours. More discs wins; equal counts draw.
Read the full guide
Board setup, special rules and winning conditions for Reversi.
An 8 × 8 board · Black starts. The game ends when neither player can move, even if empty squares remain.
A quick guide to Reversi
Read the Reversi rulesWhat is Reversi?
Reversi is played on an 8×8 board starting with four central discs. Place a disc to enclose and flip opposing discs in a straight line. Black moves first. When neither side can move, the player with more discs wins.
What happens in Reversi when you have no legal move?
You must pass, and your opponent plays again. Passing is allowed only when no placement would flip a disc. If neither player can move, the game ends at once, even with empty squares left: the colour with more discs wins, and equal counts are a draw.
Is Reversi the same as Othello?
On ChessPlayX, yes in practice: Reversi uses Othello rules. The 8 × 8 board starts with two black and two white discs placed diagonally in the centre, and Black moves first. Older Reversi let players place the first four discs in the centre themselves.
How can I play with a friend?
Share one device for a local game, or choose the friend option above to create an online room and send its invitation. Online games need an internet connection. Local games are saved in this browser.
Play Reversi on one deviceWhich rules apply here?
Othello rules · 8 × 8. Read the setup, legal moves, special rules and end conditions before starting. The guide describes the variant used on ChessPlayX, including differences from other versions where relevant.
Read the Reversi rulesCan I play against AI?
Choose AI mode to practice at your own pace. Start with a lower difficulty while learning the moves, then increase it when you can spot threats and plan your replies.