Reversi
Background
In an unlikely coincidence, two very similar games were marketed in the city of London in 1880. One game, invented by John W. Mollett, was called Annexation, and was played on a board shaped like a cross. The other game, invented by Lewis Waterman, was Reversi. Reversi used the same 8 x 8 square board as Checkers. Which of the two games actually hit the marketplace first is unknown, but Waterman's Reversi survived. This may have been due in part to the fact that Jacques and Sons, Waterman's firm, legitimized the game by publishing The Handbook of Reversi in 1888.
Reversi is similar to, though more accessible than, the ancient Asian game of Go. Besides their visual similarity, both games share a theme of controlling territory by surrounding the opponent's pieces in order to reverse them (in Reversi), or capture them (in Go). It seems likely that Waterman and/or Mollett were inspired by Go in the invention of their games.
Next: How to play Reversi?
posted by Hawk @ 5:37 PM
3 comments
3 Comments:
Go is far more complex. Way more.
I miss Go partners :S
I'm curious: what are the rules for Annexation? Is it similar to Reversi?
Yep, GO is much more complex.
Lewis Waterman and John W. Mollett (both of London, England) both marketed games with similar rules in 1880. Mollett's game was called Annexation and was played on a cross-shaped board. Waterman's game was called Reversi and played on the familiar 8x8 square board. It is unclear whose version came first, but Waterman's board and name are in use today.
I never see any Annexation game. If any one out there have it, please let me know.
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