The game uses an overhead view of an 8-by-8 Othello board. Players take turns placing a disc of their color in an empty square, provided the move brackets one or more opposing discs between the new disc and an existing disc of the player’s color.

Bracketed discs are flipped, and control of the board can change quickly. The game ends when neither player can make a legal move or the board is full. The player with more discs wins. Depending on the mode, the opponent is controlled by the computer or is another local player.

Prioritize stable corners because discs placed there cannot be flipped. Avoid giving the opponent an easy corner unless the move creates a stronger long-term position.

Keep the opponent’s mobility under control, but do not automatically maximize the number of discs flipped. Moves that preserve flexible options and reduce access to the board’s edges are often more valuable than short-term gains.