Objective of the Game
The objective of Othello is to have the majority of your color discs on the board at the end of the game.
Game Components
- An 8x8 board
- 64 double-sided discs (one side white, the other black)
Starting the Game
- The board is initialized with a white disc on E4, a white disc on D5, a black disc on D4, and a black disc on E5.
- One player plays Black, the other plays White. Black moves first.
Game Rules
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Making a Move: During a turn, the player places a disc of their color on an empty square such that there is at least one straight (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) occupied line between the new disc and another disc of the player's color, with one or more contiguous opponent discs in between. All of the opponent’s discs on this line are flipped to the player’s color.
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Obligation to Play on Turn: If a player can make a legal move, they must do so.
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Pass: If a player cannot make a legal move, they must pass their turn to the opponent.
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Game End: The game ends when:
- The board is completely occupied.
- Both players can't make any legal moves.
Winning the Game
- The player with the most discs of their color on the board at the end of the game wins.
Strategy Tips
- Control the Corners: Corners are crucial because discs in corners cannot be flipped. They offer stability and more control over the board.
- Maximize Stability: Maintain control over central discs that can not be easily flipped later.
- Caution in Dominance: Sometimes it is advantageous to flip fewer discs to control the game’s progression and avoid giving the opponent advantageous positions.
