Play Othello
online for free.
Challenge the computer at three levels, or play a friend on one screen. This independent Reversi game uses the standard Othello opening and rules.
Independent implementation; not affiliated with MegaHouse or the World Othello Federation. About this site.
Dots mark legal moves.
Your game saves on this browser.
An 8 × 8 board. Two colors. More discs at the end wins.No timer. Play at your own pace.
Two colors.
Plenty to think about.
What is the Othello game?
Othello is a two-player strategy game on an 8 × 8 board. Place a disc to sandwich your opponent's discs in a straight line, then flip them to your color. When neither player can move, the color with more discs wins.
Often called Reversi online, it begins with just four discs in the center. Every move changes the position, and a confident early lead can turn into a very different finish. Our independent browser game handles the flipping and passing so you can focus on your next choice.
Othello or Reversi? A note on the namesHow to play Othello in three steps.
Black goes first.
Four discs begin in the center. You play black against the computer, or pick a color when sharing the screen.
Sandwich. Then flip.
Trap a continuous line of opposing discs between two of yours. Every line captured by your new disc flips.
Finish with more discs.
Finish with more discs of your color. If neither player can move, the game ends, even with empty squares left.
Play vs computer.
Or try two players.
Choose Easy, Medium or Hard for a computer opponent that runs right in your browser. Keep the legal-move dots on while you learn, then switch them off when you want to read the board yourself. Undo lets you try a different idea.
Have company? Switch to two players and take turns on the same device. Both modes are free, with no account or installation. Same-screen play means sitting together; this version does not offer remote matchmaking.
Othello rules, strategy and comparisons.
No grandmaster vocabulary required.
Othello rules, explained.
The four-disc setup, a legal first move, passing and how the game ends.
Learn to play 02Beginner strategy tips.
Understand corners, risky neighboring squares and why legal moves matter.
Explore strategy 03Othello vs Go
Compare Othello and Go: board size, where pieces go, captures, passing and scoring. Learn which black-and-white board game you are looking for.
Take a lookA beginner strategy:
protect the corners.
A corner disc cannot be flipped. That makes the four corners worth watching, and the squares beside an empty corner worth approaching carefully.
Early disc count is only part of the story. Think about which moves you leave your opponent, then look for a placement that keeps your own options open.
Read the Othello strategy guide
Othello game
questions.
Free play, Reversi, same-screen mode, passing and the independent site behind this game.
All the questions