Q: What is Reversi?

A: Reversi is a two-player board game played with black and white discs. You place a disc, flip any trapped opposing discs, and try to own more of the board by the end.

Q: Is Reversi the same as Othello?

A: Most people use the names for the same 8-by-8 disc-flipping game. Strictly speaking, Othello is the modern branded ruleset with the fixed four-disc opening. This site uses that familiar opening but calls the game Reversi.

Q: Why are some squares highlighted?

A: Those are the legal moves for the current player. The highlight only says, "you may place a disc here." It does not say whether the move is good.

Q: Why can I not click every empty square?

A: A move has to flip at least one opposing disc. If an empty square does not trap a line of opponent discs, it is not playable.

Q: Why did one move flip several lines?

A: A disc can capture in more than one direction. If the new disc closes several straight lines at once, every captured line flips.

Q: Can I pass whenever I want?

A: No. You only pass when you have no legal move. The app checks that for you and passes automatically when needed.

Q: When does the game end?

A: The game ends when the board is full or when neither player has a legal move. It can end before all 64 squares are filled if both players are stuck.

Q: How is the winner decided?

A: The board is counted at the end. More black discs means Black wins. More white discs means White wins. If both sides have the same count, the game is a draw.

Q: Does Black always move first?

A: Yes. In this version, Black always starts from the standard four-disc center position.

Q: Which color do I play against the computer?

A: In AI mode, you play Black and the computer plays White. In 2P mode, both colors are controlled by people sharing the same screen.

Q: What changes between AI levels?

A: Easy is looser and makes more casual choices. Medium pays more attention to corners and mobility. Hard looks more closely at opponent replies and exposed frontier discs.

Q: Why does the score sometimes look bad early but improve later?

A: Early disc count can be misleading. Reversi positions often swing late because corners, stable edges, and forced passes matter more than simply leading on move ten.

Q: What should beginners watch first?

A: Corners. A corner disc cannot be flipped, and many bad positions start by giving one away too easily.

Q: Are highlighted legal moves a hint?

A: They are a rules aid, not a strategy hint. They prevent illegal clicks, but you still have to choose among the legal moves yourself.

Q: Can two people play on one device?

A: Yes. Choose 2P mode and take turns on the same board.

Q: Can I use this to learn the rules?

A: Yes. The board enforces legal moves, shows whose turn it is, handles passes, and animates flips, which makes the rules easier to follow while playing.