How To Play: Othello

Overview

If you’ve ever flipped a disc in Othello and felt like you were working on a magic trick, you’re not alone. I’ve played this classic with friends and learned that luck isn’t the only trick up your sleeve. In this guide, I’ll walk you through How To Play Othello, cover the basic rules, and spill the best strategies I’ve picked up for crushing your pals (or at least holding your own).

What’s in the box

• 1 game board
• 64 double-sided discs
• 4 disc holders
• 1 instruction sheet

How To Play Othello: Rules Summary

Setup

1. Place the Othello board in the center of your table (coffee stains optional).
2. Each player takes 32 discs. One side is light, the other is dark. You know, like toast.
3. Put two light and two dark discs in the center squares of the board. They should form a neat X shape. Don’t mess up or your friends will judge you.
4. Flip a coin to see who plays dark. Dark always goes first—no arguments!

Gameplay

1. Players take turns placing their disc, dark or light, on an empty square.
2. You must place so that your disc traps one or more of your opponent’s discs in a straight line—vertical, horizontal, or diagonal—between your new disc and another of your discs. Yes, even the sneaky diagonals count.
3. Now, flip all the trapped discs to your color. It feels weirdly satisfying every time.
4. If you can’t trap any discs, you skip your turn. This is usually where I pretend I meant to do that.

Winning

1. The game ends when no more moves are possible. At this point, someone will suggest playing UNO instead, but ignore them.
2. Count your discs. Whoever has the most discs showing their color wins!
3. If you tie, both players claim they ‘let the other win’. It’s tradition.

Special Rules & Conditions

1. If no legal moves remain for both players, the game ends right away.
2. Sometimes, both players might have to skip. This is rare, but it happens. Try not to look too smug about it.
3. Never eat the discs. They look like Oreos but trust me, they taste like plastic. I learned this the hard way.

That’s it! Now you know How To Play Othello like a pro—or at least, you won’t embarrass yourself at game night. Have fun flipping!

Best Othello Strategies

Corner Control: Your Secret Weapon in Othello

So you want to know How To Play othello like a pro? Trust me, my friends and I learned the hard way—corner control wins games. Grabbing corners gives you discs that can’t be flipped, which means pure power! Let me break down the best strategies to snatch those sweet spots.

1. Prioritize Corners Early

1. Always watch for chances to grab a corner, even if it means passing up easy flips elsewhere.
2. Set up your moves so opponents can’t take a corner on their next turn.

2. Avoid Dangerous Spots

1. Never play right next to a corner unless you can take it for yourself instantly.

3. Use Edge Discs Wisely

1. Protect edge discs that lead to corners; these can make or break your endgame.

When I ignored corners, my friends crushed me. Now, I focus on them and win more often. Try it and watch your victories pile up!

Mastering Edge Play in Othello: Outsmart Your Friends

Why Edges Matter

Edges are sneaky in Othello. Once you grab them, they’re tough for your rivals to flip. I always see my friends panic when someone takes a good edge spot—me included!

Best Edge Play Moves

1. Claim edges late; early edge grabs can backfire big time.
2. Force your opponent to fill the edge first, then swoop in.
3. Use the edge to make your discs stick—no one likes to lose their hard work!

Avoid Common Edge Mistakes

Always check which edge moves will help, not hurt. Even after learning How To Play othello, I got burned by snapping up edges too soon. Think before you pounce!

How To Play Othello: Mastering Disc Parity For The Win

Disc parity means having the right number of discs at the end. You want the last move! When I played with my friends, I lost because I forgot this—so learn from my mistakes.

1. Count Moves Carefully

1. Track empty squares left on the board.
2. Monitor how many moves you and your opponent have.
3. Plan your moves so you can take the last one.

2. Force Your Opponent

1. Push your rival into making moves that help you.
2. Set traps where they have no choice but to fill squares you want.

3. Flip Wisely

1. Flip only discs that help with parity.
2. Don’t rush; keep control for the last important flips.

Ready to Outsmart Your Friends?

So that’s the scoop on Othello strategy! Corners matter, edges can save your bacon, and disc parity isn’t just a fancy word—it’s how you win. My friends still grumble about the time I snuck a corner and rode it to victory (I may have gloated too much). Remember, practice makes perfect… or at least makes you better at pretending you know what you’re doing. Now grab that board, teach someone How To Play othello, and let the friendly smack talk begin!

Want to know what we think of Othello? Read our detailed review of Othello here