Vying Games : Othello

Othello (also known as Reversi) is a popular board game enjoyed by people around the world. Its rules are simple -- elegant even -- and, yet, lead to surprisingly nuanced play. It is also notable as a popular target for programmers and is widely available for play over the internet (including here, of course).

How to Play

Othello hasn't been written about nearly as much as, say, Chess or Go. But it is fortunate to have had many fine articles and books written about it. Rather than write Yet Another How to Play Othello article, we're going to hand you off to some other fine authors. First, for a very brief introduction, Wikipedia's Reversi article is a great place to start.

If you've never played Othello, though, I think the best way to learn is to play a few quick games. Getting a feel for how the pieces flip takes some time, and you really shouldn't worry too much about strategy when you're first learning.

When you're feeling more comfortable, there are two very good strategy books available in pdf format. The first is Othello: A Minute to Learn... A Lifetime to Master by Brian Rose (pdf). The second is not yet complete, but is an excellent start: From Beginner to Master by Randy Fang (pdf).

About the Bots

The article Othello Bots, on the Vying Games Blog, describes the strategies employed by CapellaBot, VegaBot, and SiriusBot.