How to Play Othello
Objective
The goal is to have the majority of your color discs on the board when the game ends.
Setup
The game starts with four discs in the center: two black and two white, placed diagonally. Black always moves first.
Making a Move
- You must place your disc on an empty square that "outflanks" at least one opponent disc.
- Outflanking means placing your disc so that opponent discs are in a straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) between your new disc and another disc of your color.
- All outflanked opponent discs are flipped to your color.
- If you cannot make a valid move, your turn is skipped.
Game End
The game ends when neither player can make a move. This usually happens when the board is full, but can also occur earlier if no valid moves remain.
Winning
The player with the most discs of their color on the board wins. If both players have the same number, the game is a draw.
Tips
- Corners are valuable - once captured, they cannot be flipped.
- Avoid placing discs next to corners early in the game.
- Edges are generally more stable than center squares.
- Mobility matters - try to have more move options than your opponent.