Reversi vs Othello — What's Actually Different?

The Short Answer

Reversi and Othello are essentially the same game. The board is the same (8×8), the pieces are the same (double-sided discs), and the core mechanic is the same (outflank and flip). The only meaningful difference is the starting position, and even that distinction has been erased in modern play.

If you know how to play one, you know how to play the other. All strategy, openings, and competitive theory apply equally to both.

The Three Actual Differences

1. Starting Position

This is the only rule difference that affects gameplay.

In classic reversi, the first two turns for each player involve placing discs in the center four squares. Because players can choose where to place, the opening is slightly more open-ended.

In Othello, the four center discs are always placed in the same diagonal pattern before the first “real” move. This means every game starts from an identical position — just like chess with its fixed starting setup.

Why it matters: The fixed starting position in Othello is what makes named openings possible. Since every game starts identically, players can study and memorize opening sequences — the Tiger, the Rose, the Buffalo, and dozens more. With classic reversi’s free placement, opening theory would be far more complex.

2. Name and Trademark

Reversi is a public-domain name dating to 1883 England. Anyone can use it without a license.

Othello is a registered trademark — currently owned by MegaHouse (a Japanese toy company that acquired the rights through Tsukuda Original, the company that first manufactured the game in 1973). The international trademark was originally held by Tsukuda Original, and the rights outside Japan are now managed by MegaHouse, with Mattel handling distribution in some regions.

Using the name “Othello” commercially — on a product, app, or game — requires a license. That’s why most free online implementations (including this site) use the name reversi.

3. Historical Context

The cultural and historical backgrounds are completely separate:

• Reversi was invented in 1883 in London during the Victorian era. Two Englishmen — Lewis Waterman and John W. Mollett — both claimed to have created it, and neither conceded. The game became a brief fad among the English upper classes before fading. Read the full history of reversi.

• Othello was patented in 1971 by Goro Hasegawa, a Japanese salesman who initially described it as an improvement on reversi. He standardized the starting position, enforced the fixed diagonal setup, and named the game after Shakespeare’s play Othello, the Moor of Venice — a reference to the conflict between the black and white characters. The green board represents the battlefield.

Hasegawa established the Japan Othello Association in 1973, and the first World Othello Championship was held in Tokyo in 1977. The competitive scene has used Othello rules ever since.

What Modern Play Actually Uses

In practice, everyone uses the Othello starting position — the fixed diagonal center. This includes:

• The World Othello Championship (since 1977)
• All national and regional tournaments
• Every major online platform (including this site)
• Every competitive rating system
• All published strategy books and opening databases

No one plays competitive reversi with the classic free-placement opening anymore. The name “reversi” survives primarily as the unlicensed name for what is functionally Othello.

When you see a website or app called “Reversi,” it almost certainly uses Othello rules. When you see a product called “Othello,” it uses Othello rules. The distinction has collapsed in practice.

Why the Confusion Persists

Several factors keep the “are they the same?” question alive:

1. Trademark vs public domain. Licensed products say “Othello.” Unlicensed products say “Reversi.” Same game, different label — creating the appearance of two different things.

2. Wikipedia has separate articles. The English Wikipedia maintains a “Reversi” article and a “Computer Othello” article, reinforcing the impression of distinct games.

3. The free-placement rule technically exists. Classic reversi’s different opening is a real rule difference. It’s just never used in practice — like knowing chess once had different castling rules.

4. Hasegawa’s later claims. Goro Hasegawa initially called Othello an improvement on reversi but later claimed he invented the game independently of reversi entirely, muddying the historical relationship.

5. Regional naming. In Japan, almost everyone says “Othello.” In English-speaking countries, both names are used interchangeably. In some European countries, “reversi” is more common. The lack of a single universal name creates confusion.

What This Site Uses

On Rare Pike, we use the name Reversi with the Othello starting position:

• Name: Reversi (the public-domain term)
• Starting position: Fixed diagonal (the Othello/tournament standard)
• Rules: Identical to official World Othello Championship rules
• Strategy: Everything applicable — corners, mobility, openings, endgame parity — works whether you call it reversi or Othello

All of our strategy guides, the glossary, and articles reference both names where appropriate. If you search for “Othello strategy” or “reversi strategy,” the advice is identical.

Quick Comparison Table

The Bottom Line

If someone asks you “Reversi or Othello?” the honest answer is: same game, different name. The one rule difference — the starting position — has been universally standardized to the Othello version for over 40 years.

Learn the rules, study the strategy, and play. Whether the title bar says “Reversi” or “Othello,” you’re playing the same beautiful game that’s captivated millions since the 1880s.