Othello vs Reversi: What’s the Difference?
Short answer: Reversi is the original 19th-century game; Othello is its modern, standardised form with a fixed starting position. The flipping rule is the same. When people today say “Reversi”, they almost always mean a game played under Othello rules, and that is what you play on this site.
Key facts
- Same core rule: outflank a line of opponent discs and flip it, on an 8×8 board.
- Reversi appeared in England in the 1880s; players set up the centre themselves and had limited discs.
- Othello was introduced in Japan in the early 1970s (released 1973) with a fixed diagonal start.
- Tournament play uses Othello rules; “Reversi” apps online almost always play them too.
- OTHELLO is a registered trademark; Reversi is a generic name.
Differences at a glance
| Classic Reversi (1880s) | Othello (1970s–today) | |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Players placed the first four discs in the four centre squares themselves, so the start could vary. | Fixed diagonal start: white d4 & e5, black d5 & e4. |
| Discs | Each player had a limited supply (traditionally 32). | The 64 discs are effectively shared: a player who runs out but can still move is given a disc by the opponent. |
| Core rule | Identical: place a disc to outflank a line of opponent discs and flip them; no legal move means pass. | |
| Board | 8×8, 64 squares. | |
| Scoring | Most discs wins. | Most discs wins; in official tournaments, empty squares go to the winner. |
| Name | Generic, free to use. | A registered trademark (owned today by MegaHouse). |
A short history
Reversi in Victorian England
A game of outflanking and flipping counters became popular in England in the 1880s under the name Reversi. Two Englishmen, Lewis Waterman and John W. Mollett, each claimed to have invented it. Early versions differed in details such as the opening and the number of discs per player.
Othello in 1970s Japan
In the early 1970s, Goro Hasegawa introduced the game in Japan as Othello, with the fixed diagonal opening that is standard today. It was released commercially in 1973, and the name is usually said to refer to Shakespeare’s play, with its reversals of fortune and the black-and-white pairing of Othello and Desdemona. International championships followed: the first World Othello Championship was held in 1977.
Today
Tournament play worldwide uses the Othello rules, coordinated by the World Othello Federation. Because the name OTHELLO is trademarked, countless computer and online versions use the name Reversi for the same game. Some purists point out that historical Reversi and Othello aren’t strictly identical, which is true for the opening and disc supply, but in practice any modern “Reversi” you find online plays exactly like Othello.
Which should you play?
Play the standard rules. They are what every strategy guide, opening book and computer program assumes, and they make your games comparable with everyone else’s. The game on our home page uses them, and the rules page covers every detail, including scoring.
Questions
Are Othello and Reversi the same game?
They share the same core mechanic: outflank and flip. Othello is a standardised modern version with a fixed starting position and shared discs. Today most online and software games called “Reversi” actually use the Othello rules.
Which is older, Reversi or Othello?
Reversi is older. It appeared in England in the 1880s. Othello was introduced in Japan in the early 1970s.
Why do many apps call it Reversi?
OTHELLO is a registered trademark, so many apps and websites use the generic name Reversi for the same game.
Which rules does OthelloGame.app use?
The standard tournament (Othello) rules: fixed diagonal start, Black moves first, mandatory passing only when no move exists, and empty squares awarded to the winner at the end.
Sources
- Reversi, Wikipedia: history, the Waterman/Mollett claims and Othello’s release.
- Official rules of Othello, World Othello Federation: starting position, disc supply and scoring.