How to play Reversi

What is Reversi?

Sandwich your opponent's discs between your own and they all flip to your colour. Players alternate as long as they have a move, and whoever has more discs at the end wins. The rules are simple, but the opening, middle game and endgame each call for a completely different strategy.

Playing Reversi at Kirakuken

• Standard 8×8 rules, with legal moves highlighted
• Glossy, three-dimensional discs make every change of colour easy to see
• Passes are detected automatically when you have no move
• Three CPU strengths. Undo is available against the CPU

Rules of Reversi

These rules always apply at our tables.

Setup

the game starts with two black and two white discs on the four centre squares of an 8×8 board, set diagonally. Black moves first.

Legal moves

you may only place a disc where it sandwiches the opponent's discs between it and one of yours, across, down or diagonally. Every sandwiched disc flips to your colour. The legal squares are shown on the board.

Passing

a player with no legal move is skipped automatically and the opponent plays again. You can't pass while you still have a legal move.

End

the game ends when neither player can move. The player with more discs on the board wins; equal numbers are a draw.

FAQ

How many players can play Reversi?

2 players. If you're short of players, the host can add CPU players, so you can start a table on your own.

What age is Reversi suitable for?

We suggest 6+. There's no age check, so treat it as a guide.

Does it cost anything?

Nothing at all. No account and no app to install: enter a name and you're straight in.

How long does a game take?

About 10-20 min.

Can I play on a smartphone?

Yes. It runs in the browser, so the same URL opens on iPhone and Android alike.

How do I invite friends?

Open a table and press "Invite link" to get its URL. Anyone you send it to comes straight to your table.