Play Reversi Online — Free 2 Player Board Game
Introduction
Reversi is the classic strategy game of black and white discs, where the goal is not to build your own line but to flip your opponent's discs into your colour. Place a disc so it sandwiches a line of opponent discs between your new disc and one of your own, and every disc in that line flips to your colour. The rules are famously simple, yet the strategy is deep enough to reward a lifetime of study. Play it free in your browser against a friend with no download and no account.
About Reversi
Reversi has been played since the late nineteenth century and is one of the most popular two-player board games in the world. Its appeal is the elegant inversion of most games: instead of capturing pieces, you convert them. Every move you make strengthens your position by turning the opponent's own discs against them.
The game is played on an eight by eight board, starting with four discs in the centre — two black, two white, arranged diagonally. On each turn you place one disc so that it flanks at least one line of opponent discs in any of the eight directions. Those discs flip to your colour, and play passes to your opponent. The game ends when no legal move remains, and the player with more discs wins.
This version is based on an open-source HTML5 Canvas implementation by zuramai, released under the MIT licence. It runs entirely in your browser and supports two players sharing one screen. No download, no sign-up and no waiting for an opponent.
How to Play Reversi
Start with four discs.
The game begins with two black and two white discs in the centre of the board, arranged diagonally. Black moves first.
Place a disc to flank.
Click or tap an empty square where your disc will sandwich at least one line of opponent discs between your new disc and one of your existing discs.
Flip the captured discs.
Every opponent disc in the flanked line — horizontally, vertically or diagonally — flips to your colour. Multiple lines can be flipped in a single move.
Pass or skip.
If you have no legal move, you skip your turn and your opponent plays again. A move that does not flank anything is never legal.
Own the board to win.
The game ends when neither player can move. The player whose colour covers the most discs wins the board.
Reversi Controls
| Action | Desktop | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Place a disc | Click an empty highlighted square | Tap an empty highlighted square |
| See legal moves | Legal squares are highlighted for the current player | Legal squares are highlighted for the current player |
| See whose turn it is | The turn indicator shows black or white | The turn indicator shows black or white |
| See the disc count | The black and white totals are shown beside the board | The black and white totals are shown beside the board |
| Pass your turn | Your turn is skipped automatically when no move is legal | Your turn is skipped automatically when no move is legal |
| Restart the game | Click the New Game button | Tap the New Game button |
| Fullscreen | Click the fullscreen button above the board | Tap the fullscreen button above the board |
| Exit fullscreen | Escape key | Tap the fullscreen button again |
Reversi Tips & Strategies
Own the corners early
A disc in a corner can never be flipped, so corners are the most valuable squares on the board. Fight for them, but never give your opponent a move that takes one.
Avoid giving away the edge
Placing a disc on the edge looks safe, but a disc next to a corner square often hands the corner to your opponent. Play the edges only when they do not open the corner.
Count the discs before the endgame
Reversi is won in the last moves, not the first. Keep the disc count close early and plan for the endgame, where one well-placed disc can flip an entire side.
Learn the quiet moves
The best moves are often the quiet ones — moves that flip few discs but keep your options open. Flipping everything you can early usually gives your opponent strong responses.
Watch for the X-square trap
The squares diagonally adjacent to the corners are called X-squares. Playing there often lets your opponent take the corner next move — avoid them unless you can capture the corner immediately after.
Control the centre squares
The four central squares open up the most flanking lines. Controlling the middle gives you more legal moves and more ways to force your opponent into bad ones.
What makes Reversi worth playing
- Classic Reversi gameplay for two players on one screen
- Runs entirely in your browser with no download or plugin
- Legal moves highlighted for easy play
- Full rules including multi-direction flanking
- Open source under the MIT licence with credit to the developer
Game Info
| Developer | zuramai |
|---|---|
| Released | 2020 |
| Genre | Board, Strategy |
| Players | Multiplayer |
| Technology | HTML5 / JavaScript |
| Platforms | Desktop, Tablet, Mobile browser |
| Average session | About 12 minutes |
| Licence | MIT |
| Last updated |
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Reversi — Frequently Asked Questions
Is Reversi free to play?
Yes, completely. The game is open source under the MIT licence and free to play here with no payment, no sign-up and no premium version.
What are the rules of Reversi?
Players place one disc per turn so that it flanks a line of opponent discs between itself and one of their own discs. Every flanked disc flips to your colour, and the player with the most discs at the end wins.
Can two people play on the same computer?
Yes. The game is designed for two players sharing one screen, taking turns placing discs. No accounts or room codes are needed.
Can I play Reversi on my phone?
Yes. Tap an empty highlighted square to place your disc. The game works in portrait and landscape on mobile browsers.
Why is my move not allowed?
A move is legal only if it flanks at least one line of opponent discs. If you have no legal move, your turn is skipped automatically.
How do I win at Reversi?
End the game with more discs of your colour than your opponent. The tips above cover the corner, edge and endgame strategies that decide close games.
Licence & Attribution
Reversi, based on an open-source game by zuramai · MIT License
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