Play Othello Online
eOthello is an online Othello community where you can play this strategy game against other players from around the world. At eOthello you can play multiple Othello games online simultaneously and increase your score as you win. Try to reach the top of the leaderboard!
What makes eOthello different from other Othello platforms
eOthello brings the classic strategy board game to your browser with real-time multiplayer, global leaderboards, and a welcoming community of players of all skill levels.
Real-time multiplayer, not just AI
Play against real opponents from around the world in live Othello matches. Every game is a test of strategy against a human mind, not a computer algorithm.
Live leaderboard keeps competition honest
Your score increases with every win and reflects your true skill level. Climb the global rankings and see how you stack up against the best Othello players worldwide.
Multiple simultaneous games keep you sharp
Unlike traditional board games, eOthello lets you play multiple games at once. This trains your ability to evaluate positions quickly and improves your overall strategical thinking.
How to Play Othello
Othello is a strategy board game for two players (Black and White), played on an 8 by 8 board. The rules are simple to learn, but mastering the game takes a lifetime.
The starting position
The game traditionally begins with four discs placed in the middle of the board — two black and two white, arranged diagonally. Black always moves first.
Making a valid move
Black places a disc so that there is at least one straight line (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) between the new disc and another black disc, with one or more contiguous white pieces between them.
Flipping discs
After placing a disc, all opponent discs lying on a straight line between the new disc and any existing discs of your color are flipped. Those flipped discs now belong to you.
Passing and winning
Players alternate turns. If you have no valid moves, play passes to your opponent. When neither player can move, the game ends. The player with the most discs on the board wins. If both players have the same number of discs, the game is a draw.
Basic Othello Strategy
Although the rules of Othello are very simple, mastering the game is not easy. Below you will find a brief guide with concepts that will help you get started.
Corners and stable discs
According to the rules of Othello, once a disc is placed in a corner, that disc can never be flipped back. Because of that, corners are the most valuable squares on the board. Once you have a corner, you can often build more adjacent stable discs around it.
Danger squares
Within the Othello board there are squares that are safer than others. When starting a game, it is recommended to play within the 4x4 central area when possible. Avoid moving on the squares next to corners — these moves could give your opponent access to the adjacent corner.
Mobility
A common beginner mistake is to try to get as many discs as possible from the beginning. A better strategy is to focus on limiting your opponent's options while having many possible moves yourself. This is usually easier to achieve by having fewer discs.
What Is Othello? A Complete Guide to the Classic Strategy Board Game
Othello (also known as Reversi) is one of the most beloved abstract strategy board games in the world. Invented in the late 19th century and later popularized by the Japanese game company Tsukuda Original under the name Othello, the game has grown into a global phenomenon with organized tournaments, world championships, and a dedicated online community.
The game's genius lies in its simplicity — you can learn the rules in under a minute, yet the strategic depth rivals that of chess or Go. Every move transforms the board in ways that are difficult to predict, rewarding players who think several moves ahead.
The fastest answers to the questions people ask first
Start here if you want to understand Othello, how to play, or how the scoring works without reading the full rules first.
Every claim on this page is grounded in official sources
All rules, strategies, and game information are sourced from the official Othello rules and the eOthello community.
eOthello
The official online Othello community where you can play the strategy game against players from around the world.
Othello Game Rules
Official rules covering the starting position, valid moves, disc flipping mechanics, and win conditions.
Basic Othello Strategy
A brief guide covering corners, stable discs, danger squares, and mobility — key concepts to improve your game.