History of Reversi (Othello)

From Victorian parlor game to modern tournament and computer-era favorite.

Victorian roots (late 1800s)

Reversi emerged in England in the late 19th century and quickly became a salon pastime. Early sources credit the game to Lewis Waterman or John W. Mollett, who disputed authorship. Classic Reversi used an 8×8 board and two-sided discs but did not always enforce today’s fixed starting setup.

Rule idea in one line

On your turn, place a disc to bracket one or more of your opponent’s discs in straight lines (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal); all bracketed discs flip to your color. If you can’t move, you pass. The player with more discs when neither side can move wins.

Othello revival (1970s)

In the early 1970s the game was revitalized in Japan under the name Othello, popularized by Goro Hasegawa with the now-standard starting position of four discs in the center. The commercial success of Othello spread internationally and standardized the modern rules and opening.

Tournaments & computer era

• National and world championships helped formalize competitive play and theory.
• Reversi/Othello became a favorite for AI research thanks to its simple rules and deep tactics.
• Strong programs and endgame solvers accelerated opening theory and endgame accuracy.

Strategic themes

• Mobility: maximize your options, restrict your opponent’s.
• Corners & edges: corners are stable and powerful; edges can be liabilities if taken too soon.
• Tempo & parity: timing flips to control who makes the last move in key regions.
• Quiet moves: prefer moves that gain mobility without handing over stable discs.

Note: “Reversi” and “Othello” are closely related; modern competitive play almost always uses the Othello rule set (fixed central start and a few standardized details), but the flipping mechanic and overall aim are the same.