Reversi, which many people know as Othello, is a two-player strategy game on an 8×8 board. Each disc is black on one side and white on the other. Whenever you place a disc, every line of your opponent's discs trapped between it and another of your discs flips to your colour. The lead can swing right up to the last move, which is what makes Reversi so gripping.
In Hamdor you can play ranked Reversi online against real players, set up a private room and send the code to a friend, practise offline against a bot, or play a friend on one phone.
How to play Reversi
- Place a disc so at least one line of rival discs is trapped between it and another of yours; they flip.
- With no legal move you pass. When nobody can move, most discs wins.
These are the exact rules Hamdor plays by; the app shows them too, under each game's How to play tab.
Reversi in Hamdor
- Classic 8×8 board: black moves first, and every move must flip at least one disc.
- Passing: with no legal move, your turn is passed automatically.
- End of the game: when neither player can move, most discs wins; equal counts are a draw.
- Reversi or Othello: the names differ, but Hamdor starts from the same four-disc centre position Othello players know.
Tips to win at Reversi
- Take the corners. A disc in a corner can never be flipped and anchors stable rows along the edges.
- Avoid the squares next to an empty corner. The diagonal square beside a corner, and the two squares touching it, usually hand your opponent that corner.
- Fewer discs early is fine. Only the final count matters. In the opening, quiet moves that flip just a few discs are usually safer.
- Limit your opponent's moves. Choose moves that leave your opponent few options. A player with no good move is forced to give you a corner.
- Play from the centre. Discs in the middle, away from the edges, give your opponent fewer chances. Rushing to the edges early often backfires.
- Count the endgame. With only a few squares left, read a few moves ahead; one right move at the end can flip dozens of discs.
Reversi in Hamdor
- Online, ranked: play real opponents and earn a rating. If nobody turns up within a few seconds, a bot takes the seat and is labelled as a bot.
- Private rooms: create a room, send the code to your friends and chat with stickers and reactions while you play.
- Bots: play offline against bots, to practise or when nobody is online.
- Two on one phone: pass the phone and play face to face.
- Stats and streaks: your win rate, best winning streak and this game's leaderboard.
- Your own look: change how the table and pieces look in the Hamdor shop. It is cosmetic only and never affects who wins.
Reversi FAQ
What is the difference between Reversi and Othello?
Practically none. Othello is a trademarked name for the same game with a fixed four-disc starting position, and Hamdor's Reversi starts from that same position.
What happens if I have no legal move?
Your turn is passed and your opponent plays again. When neither of you can move, the game ends and the discs are counted.
Can I play Reversi offline?
Yes. Play a bot or a friend on one phone without a connection.
Is Reversi free in Hamdor?
Yes. Reversi and every other game in Hamdor are free, with no gambling or real money involved.