Reversi, which has been marketed as Othello since the 1970s, is a placement and capturing game. The game begins with four pieces, two of each color, at the bottom of the table. Next, players put pieces one by one on the table, collecting rows of opposition pieces wedged between the freshly put item and other friendly pieces. Each piece has a black side and a white side; a caught black piece is flipped over to reveal its white side.
The game’s rules, goals, and suggestions may be just as vibrant as the game’s history. Two Englishmen created Reversi towards the end of the nineteenth century in England. It goes without saying that the game has become quite famous, but its background is also incredibly creative, earning it notoriety from a unique standpoint. Board game Othello online (Reversi) is a two-player board games and checkers game in which players are given an eight by 8 square board. One player takes the lead with white chips, while the other takes the lead with black chips.
Reversi’s Background
Reversi was patented in 1888; however, it closely resembled an older game, Annexation, from 1870, on which it was most likely based. This creation of the Victorian board game craze was famous until World War I when it faded into obscurity.
In Japan, the game was renamed Othello in 1968. It has acquired enormous popularity since then, initially in Japan. Moreover, it has lately been a prominent subject among computer and mobile phone developers, extending its appeal worldwide.
The Reversi Rules
The original reversi game is slightly different from the subsequent Othello game. However, because the latter is still commercially accessible, the reversi rules are presented here.
- The game of Reversi is performed on a board with eight rows of eight squares. A chess board can be used, although one without the chequered pattern is preferred because the chequered pattern can be confusing.
- Each of the sixty-four pieces has white on one side and black on the other, enabling a component to change color during playing.
- The game is played by two players, one of whom is called white and the other as black. The initial turn is taken by the white player. Putting the Pieces Together
- The four central squares must be completed in the first phase of the game. White inserts a piece in one of them with the white side facing up. Black inserts a piece in one of them with the black side facing up.
- In the remaining middle squares, white and black, put two more pieces in the same way. After that, the game moves on to the primary phase, with white getting the initial turn.
- A player takes a turn and sets a single piece by his color facing up.
- A piece must be positioned in such a way that it and a comrade encircle a row of one or more opponent pieces. A line of covered pieces might be horizontal, vertical, or diagonally oriented.
- Turning the contained pieces around to reveal the player’s own color captures them. Enclosing two or more lines of opponent pieces at the same time is feasible; all of the contained pieces are flipped over.
- A player’s turn is forfeited if he or she is unable to lawfully place a piece. The Game is coming to an End. When neither player can put a piece, the game is finished. This usually occurs when the board is complete or the pieces are of the same color, preventing either player from enclosing his opponent.
- The player with the most pieces exhibiting his color at the conclusion of the game is the winner. There’s a chance of a tie, but it is improbable.
In Reversi, strategy is important
The first thing a beginner should understand is that attempting to capture the most pieces on each move is not a viable tactic. It may succeed against another newbie who is attempting to do the same thing, but the game has more nuances.
Each square on the table has its own set of strengths and limitations. The corner squares are clearly the strongest, as they cannot be taken once they are held. As a result, neighboring squares are hazardous, as a piece placed here might allow the opponent to seize the corner, diagonally adjacent squares being the worst.
Other squares near the edge are pretty powerful since they can only be taken if the opponent positions their own pieces near the edge. Interestingly, the squares in the center of the board are extremely valued. In comparison to edge squares, which are more permanent, a play to these squares is rather safe; a loss here may frequently be retaken later.
Gaining territory and securing the toughest squares are the two major strategies in the game. Early on, it is preferable to focus on obtaining the strong squares, as territory won in the early stages of the game is readily lost. Once the powerful squares have been secured, they may be utilized to gain territory; later in the match, acquiring territory is crucial.
Tactics include protecting the corners while preventing the adversary from doing so, as well as minimizing the weakest squares next to the corner until it is completely safe to do so. It is also crucial to remove enemy pieces that are hidden among your own troops since they are highly hazardous if they are permitted to be captured from within.
To win the match, you must convert the majority of your opposition’s pieces into your own. To do so, you may try to seize control of the company from the start, but this is a terrible strategy because your opponent will always have a couple of pieces in the center of the board that may change the situation around. The winner is chosen by the number of chips on the field at the end of the game: the player with the most chips ends up winning. The draw is considered if both players have the same number of chips.