The goal of the game is to have the most stones on the board at the end of the game.

A minute to learn

Othello is played on a 8 by 8 board (thus 64 squares). The columns are number by letters and the rows by numbers. The left upper corner is A1, and the right lower corner H8. The game is played with 64 stones which each have a black and a white side. Each of the players chooses a color and places 2 stones in the beginning position. (figure 1). A move consists of 'outflanking' stones of your opponent. These outflanked stones are then flipped to the color of the player who just moved. To outflank means to place a stone in such a way that one or more rows of the opponent's stones are 'bordered' at both ends with a stone of your color. This can be done both horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Outflanking must be done in a continuous straight line.

Figure 1: Beginning position

Here is an example: White's stone A is already on the board just like the black stones. White places stone B and now outflanks the three black stones.
These three black stones are now flipped with their white side facing up, and the row looks like:

Game rules

1. Black always makes the first move.
2. If you can not move, you'll have to pass and your opponent has to move again. However, it is not allowed to pass if you can move even if this is disadvantageous to you.
3. A moved stone can outflank stones in multiple directions and multiple rows at the same time, both horizontally, vertically as diagonally. See figure 2 and 3.
   

   Figure 2: Stone A is placed

   Figure 3: These 7 stones are flipped

4. 
   

   You can not skip ones of your stones  to outflank one of your opponent's stones. The black move with stone A thus only flips white stone B and not Stone C.



5. Stones are only outflanked as the direct  result of a move and must be in a straight line with the just placed stone. See figure 4 and 5.
   

   Figure 4: Black places stone A

   Figure 5: Stones B and C are not flipped



6. All outflanked stones must be flipped, even if this is disadvantageous for the player.
7. A player who makes a flip error (flips a stone too much, or misses a flip) may correct his error before the opponent has made his move. If the opponent has already moved, the error can not be corrected anymore.
8. If a stone has played on a square it cannot be moved to another square anymore. In other words: once you touch a square with your stone you'll have to play on that square (provided it is a valid move).
9. If one of the players has no stones left but can still make a move, his opponent has to give him one of his stones. This must be done as often as needed.
10. If both players can not move anymore the game has ended. The stones are counted an the player with the most stones wins. It can happen that a game has ended before all squares are played.

Tips

A few tips to help you win your games:

1. The corners of the board are special places. A stone placed on a corner can never be flipped anymore. This is also true for stones that are placed next to that corner both horizontally and vertically. This way a corner can "protect: a number of stones.
2. Usually, it is a bad idea to place a stone next to an empty corner for your opponent can only play the corner if one of the stones next to it is yours.
3. Try to keep to number of your discs low in the beginning of the game. The best strategy is to have a low number of stones during the early stages of the game. If you have fewer stones than your opponent your opponent has fewer move possibilities and thus you can try to force him to play a bad move.
4. Read the strategy guide on the internet site. It is filled with tips and strategies for the more experienced player.