Reversi Rules

Object Of The Game

The object of the game is to have the majority of your color discs on the board at the end of the game

Game Play

Each player has 32 discs and chooses one color to be throughout the game.

Black places two black discs, and White places two white discs as shown in Figure 1. The game always begins with this setup.

A move consists of "outflanking" your opponent's disc(s), and then flipping the outflanked disc(s) to your color. To outflank means to place a disc on the board so that your opponent's row (or rows) of disc(s) is bordered at each end by a disc of your color. (A "row" may be made up of one or more discs).

Figure 1

Figure 2A	Here's one example: the white disc was already in place on the board (Figure 2A).
Figure 2B	The placement of the second white disc (Figure 2B) outflanks the row of three black discs.
Figure 2C	White then flips the outflanked discs (Figure 2C) and the discs are reset as shown.

Rules

Black always moves first.

If on your turn you cannot outflank and flip at least one opposing disc, your turn is forfeited and your opponent moves again. However, if a move is available to you, you may not forfeit your turn.

A disc may outflank any number of discs in one or more rows in any number of directions at the same time -- horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. (A row is defined as one or more discs in a continuous straight line). See Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 3

Figure 4

	You may not skip over your own color disc to outflank an opposing disc, as shown in Figure 5. Only the single white disc is outflanked, as shown.

Figure 5

Discs may only be outflanked as a direct result of a move and must fall in the direct line of the disc placed down. See Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 6

Figure 7

The new disc that was placed (as shown above) only results in the two discs below it being flipped.

All discs outflanked in any one move must be flipped, even if it is to the player's advantage not to flip them at all.

A player who flips a disc which should not have been turned may correct the mistake as long as the opponent has not made a subsequent move. If the opponent has already moved, it is too late to change and the disc(s) remains as-is.

Once a disc is placed on a square, it can never be moved to another square later in the game.

If a player runs out of discs but still has an opportunity to outflank an opposing disc on his or her turn, the opponent must give the player a disc to use (this can happen as many times as the player needs and can use a disc).

When it is no longer possible for either player to move, the game is over. Discs are counted and the player with the majority of his or her color discs on the board is the winner.

NOTE: It is possible for a game to end before all 64 squares are filled.