Today, both names often describe the same disc-flipping game. Othello has a standardized four-disc starting position and rules. Historical versions of Reversi have used different opening and play conventions, so checking the actual rules is more useful than relying only on the name.
What modern players usually mean.
Many websites and apps call their game Reversi while using the standard Othello setup: an 8 × 8 board, two diagonal white discs, two diagonal black discs and black to move first. Both players place discs to outflank and flip opposing lines, with the final majority deciding the winner.
In that common usage, a search for either name can lead to a playable version of the same familiar game. That is why our browser game and guides mention both Othello and Reversi. The shared name usage does not mean that every historical edition had identical rules.
Why the names are not a perfect historical match.
Reversi was played in the nineteenth century, before the modern Othello game was introduced in Japan in the twentieth century. Older Reversi editions and rule sets have differed in how play starts and in other details. Othello's fixed opening makes the initial position consistent for every standard game.
Historical accounts involve more detail than a simple claim that one name replaced the other. The World Othello Federation's history material and the Reversi reference article are starting points for readers who want the background and source trail.
Othello is also a registered trademark.
The MegaHouse Othello website identifies Othello as a registered trademark. Our use of the name tells you which game and rules we discuss. It does not mean this browser implementation is an official or licensed Othello product. Read our independence and trademark notice.
What to check before playing.
| Question | Standard Othello | A game labeled Reversi |
|---|---|---|
| Starting board | Four fixed central discs | Often the same today; historical versions can differ |
| First move | Black | Check the stated rules |
| Capturing | Outflank a continuous opposing line | Usually the same core mechanic |
| No legal move | Pass; end when neither side can move | Check the version being played |
| Best reference | Published standard rules | The rules of that specific implementation |
The version you can play here.
This site uses white at D4 and E5, black at E4 and D5, and black to move first. It flips all lines captured by a placement, passes automatically if a player has no move and ends when neither color can play. Scores count the discs on the board. Equal final counts are a draw.
The computer and same-device two-player modes use the same rules. Only the opponent changes. Read the full illustrated rules to try the first move, or compare Othello with Go if you were thinking of the other black-and-white board game.