Reversi: Rules and How to Play
Reversi is a board game for 2 players that takes about 10 minutes. Sandwich your opponent's discs to flip them; the most discs at the end wins. Free. In-browser. No account.
Setup
- Two players. You need an 8×8 board and discs that are black on one side and white on the other.
- Start with four discs in the middle four squares — two black and two white, set crosswise.
- Black plays first, white second.
How to play
- Black and white take turns placing one disc each.
- You may only play on a square that sandwiches at least one of your opponent's discs between the disc you place and another of your own — up, across or diagonal.
- Every disc you sandwich flips to your colour on that move. Discs that are not sandwiched do not flip.
- If you have no legal square, your turn passes automatically and your opponent plays again.
- A disc never moves once placed; it only ever flips.
Winning and scoring
- The game ends when the board is full, or when neither player has a legal move.
- Whoever has more discs on the board at that point wins.
- An equal number of discs is a draw.
Defaults on this site
| Item | Default on this site |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 players (set automatically by the party size) |
| Turn time limit | None by default (the host can set 30 or 60 seconds) |
| If someone drops mid-game | Reopening on the same device returns you to your seat. If you do not return, the CPU plays in your place. |
| Draws | For games that allow a draw, ratings do not change. |
| Source of the rules | Based on the standard reference rules |
Rules supervised by Qdan, Inc. (based on the standard reference rules)
House rules
Defaults follow the standard reference rules. The party can change these.
| Name | Description | Default | Changeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Show legal squares | Mark the squares you can play on during your turn. | On | Yes |
| Swap who starts | Swap who plays black after each game. | On | Yes |
Terms
- Sandwich
- To trap a line of your opponent's discs between two of your own.
- Flip
- A sandwiched disc turning over to the other colour.
- Pass
- Losing your turn because you have no legal square. You never choose to pass.
- Corner
- One of the four corners. A corner disc can never be sandwiched, so it never flips back.
FAQ
Can I play on any empty square?
No. Only on a square that sandwiches at least one of your opponent's discs.
How many discs flip?
Every disc in each sandwiched line, in every direction at once.
Why are corners so strong?
A corner cannot be sandwiched from both sides, so a disc played there never flips back.
Can I turn off the legal-square marks?
Yes, in the party settings. They are on by default.
Who plays black?
Whoever sat down first. If you keep playing, black swaps after each game.
Can I change the board size?
Not yet — the board is 8×8.
Play now with these rules
Last updated 2026-09-13 · Run by Qdan, Inc.