Reversi (Cont.)

Reversi Strategies and Tips

Most players of Reversi use one of three common strategies, depending on their level of experience. These are:

1. Capture as many squares as you can each turn.
2. Concentrate on capturing stable squares.
3. Attempt to maximize your mobility (your play options) while limiting the mobility of your opponent.

The first of these three strategies is simple: on each turn choose the move that flips as many of your opponent's pieces as possible. This strategy works in certain cases, but you will often find that gained territory is soon lost when your opponent flips the pieces back. It's true that you want as many pieces as possible to show your color at the end of the game. But you will find that haphazardly going for big flips in the early game won't achieve this goal.

The second strategy, capturing stable squares, is more complex. The main idea here is that some squares are more stable, and hence more valuable, than others because they are harder for your opponent to recapture. Corners are the most stable, since they can never be recaptured. Squares along the edge of the board are fairly stable also, since they can only be captured by other pieces on the edge. Other squares on the board are much more unstable and vulnerable.

Take a look at Figure on the right corner above (Types of Squares on the Reversi Board). Key squares in Reversi have standardized letter designations: A, B, C, and X. All the edge squares are considered valuable (C is better than B; B is better than the A) because they are relatively stable. The corners are not marked because they are obviously valuable.

The X squares are generally dangerous plays because they almost always allow your opponent, sooner or later, to take the adjacent corner. Late in the game, or when the corner has already been filled, you may find an X square to be your best play. But before then, you should almost always look for another move.


Next: Some more advanced strategies.