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Reversi game info

Goal

A strategy board game for two players, the goal of Reversi is to flip over your opponent’s discs by trapping them between two of your own pieces. The winner is determined by the number of discs owned at the end of the game when no more moves are available. 

Gameplay

Reversi is played on an 8x8 game board and uses game pieces called discs. These are white on one side and black on the other, with each player playing as their assigned color.

During the game, players take turns placing a disc with their assigned color facing upwards onto empty squares. When a player traps opponent pieces between a piece of theirs already placed and a piece they just placed in a straight line, the trapped pieces are turned over and become the player’s own piece. 

For example, Player 1 plays a black piece next to a white piece, which was already next to a black piece, forming a straight line of three. The middle white piece is now trapped and is flipped, becoming a black piece. In this move, Player 1 has gained two pieces, while Player 2 has lost one. 

Players can only take valid, legal moves during their turn. Valid moves are moves that result in at least one disc getting flipped over. In other words, you cannot place discs on spaces where no change will come about. 

Controls 

Only one control is necessary for Reversi - simply left-click an empty space to place a game piece down. 

Game Features

Several additional features have been implemented into the game to enhance one’s experience. The timer keeps track of how long each player spends taking their turn, and players can compete against each other to take the shortest amount of time to win against their opponent.

Next to the timer is a counter, which will indicate the number of discs each player owns during each turn, allowing them to plan and play accordingly. Furthermore, all possible valid moves are shown to aid players in making their decision, and the number indicates how many discs that move would flip over. This is great for helping beginners learn the game, but for more advanced players this can be turned off through the settings menu (top right cog wheel).

Multiplayer

Our current version features two game modes - choose to play against the computer or versus other online players in multiplayer mode. You could also create private game rooms by setting passwords and inviting friends to join your room. 

When players choose to play against a computer, they can also alter the difficulty of their opponent from one-star to three-star, with the game becoming harder as the number of stars increases. 

Tips 

Though the game may seem simple, it takes a minute to learn but a lifetime to master! Here are some tips to help you get started. 

• Secure corner spaces: The player with the most corner spaces usually takes the win! Where possible, place one of your own discs in any corner space. These spaces are extremely valuable as it is impossible for your opponent to flip your piece over. It also easily sets you up for subsequently claiming your opponent’s discs. Try not to place any discs in the three spaces surrounding the corner. This stops your opponent from inhabiting those precious corner pieces.
• Keep the game even: During the early stages of the game keep your disc count similar to your opponents. Owning too much of the board too early in the game gives your opponent more chances to flip your discs, leading to a quicker loss. Instead, players are better off holding until the late-game stage.


Inventor

The Reversi game was originally invented by Lewis Waterman & John W. Mollett, and the implementation on our website is developed by Code This Lab.