Othello
Flank and flip - whoever has more stones at the end wins
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About this tool
Take turns placing stones on an 8x8 board, flipping every enemy stone caught between yours. When no one can move, whoever has more stones wins. The first two people take the seats; everyone after that watches. Illegal moves are rejected by the server, so the rules hold even if you poke at the page.
How to use
- The board appears right away. On your own you can move both sides, so you can play across one screen or just practise.
- Playable squares are marked with a dot. Othello does not let you place anywhere, so the board tells you up front.
- Tap a marked square to place a stone; every enemy stone you flanked flips at once.
- Press "Play together" to create a room, then send the invite link.
- To face the computer, press "Play the computer". There are three strengths and everything is calculated inside your browser.
Frequently asked questions
- Why can I not place anywhere?
- A move must trap at least one line of enemy stones between the new stone and one of yours. Squares that flip nothing are not legal. The playable squares are marked with dots.
- My turn got skipped.
- In Othello, a player with no legal move passes. You do not lose; your opponent moves again, and the turn comes back as soon as you have somewhere to play.
- The game ended before the board filled up.
- If neither side can move, the game ends there, empty squares and all. Whoever has more stones at that moment wins.
- Is having more stones always better?
- Not in the middlegame โ holding fewer stones is often stronger, because a big group has more edges to be flipped. The four corners can never be flipped, so they are the most valuable squares.