How to Play Reversi
Reversi is a two-player strategy game of flipping discs. Every disc is black on one side and white on the other; the game is about turning your opponent's discs over to your colour.
Board and start
- An 8 × 8 board. The game starts with four discs in the centre: two black and two white, placed diagonally.
- Black moves first.
Making a move
- Place a disc of your colour on an empty square so that it outflanks your opponent: in a straight line (across, down or diagonal), one or more of their discs sit between your new disc and another of your discs.
- All outflanked discs flip to your colour, in every direction at once.
- A move that flips nothing isn't allowed.
Passing and the end
- If you have no legal move, you pass and your opponent moves again.
- When neither player can move (usually because the board is full), the game ends.
- The player with more discs wins. Equal counts are a draw.
Playing on kawu
- Legal squares are marked with dots (you can turn that off in the settings). Click one to play.
- Play Black or White against three computer levels, two players on one device, or play a friend online.
Next: Reversi strategy, or play now.
Frequently asked questions
Can you pass in Reversi if you have a move?
No. You may only pass when you have no legal move. If you can outflank anything, you must play.
What happens when the board isn't full but nobody can move?
The game ends there. The discs are counted and the player with more wins; empty squares don't count for anyone.
Last updated 2026-10-18