How many discs does each player start with in Reversi?

Each player starts with 2 discs on the board — for a total of 4 starting discs. Black has discs on e4 and d5; White has discs on d4 and e5. All remaining 60 discs are held in reserve and placed one per turn during the game.

Which colour goes first in Reversi?

Black always goes first in Reversi. After the starting position is set up (4 discs in the centre), the player with the black pieces makes the first move.

Does the starting position matter in Reversi?

Yes. The standard starting position — with White on d4 and e5, Black on e4 and d5 — is fixed by the rules. The diagonal arrangement of colours is not arbitrary; it creates the initial board tension that drives the opening strategy. An incorrect starting position (e.g., same-colour discs adjacent rather than diagonal) creates a very different and non-standard game.

Can you start Reversi differently?

No — the standard starting position is fixed. Some variants (such as Random Reversi or Reversi variants on smaller boards) use different starting arrangements, but standard Reversi always begins with White on d4/e5 and Black on e4/d5.

How to Set Up a Reversi Board

To set up a Reversi board: place a White disc on d4, a Black disc on e4, a Black disc on d5, and a White disc on e5 — four discs in the centre in an X pattern with same-colour discs diagonal to each other. Black always moves first. The entire setup takes under a minute.

The Starting Position

The Reversi board is an 8×8 grid. Columns are labelled a–h (left to right) and rows 1–8 (top to bottom). The starting position uses only the four centre squares:

     a    b    c    d    e    f    g    h
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 1 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 2 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 3 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 4 |    |    |    | W  | B  |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 5 |    |    |    | B  | W  |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 6 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 7 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+
 8 |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |    |
   +----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+

Starting discs:

d4: White (W)
e4: Black (B)
d5: Black (B)
e5: White (W)

The key pattern to remember: same-colour discs are diagonal to each other. White occupies d4 (top-left of centre) and e5 (bottom-right). Black occupies e4 (top-right) and d5 (bottom-left). The four discs form an X pattern viewed from above.

Step-by-Step Setup

Step 1: Orient the board Place the board between both players. Each player should face a straight edge (not a corner). If your board has labels (a–h and 1–8), position it so the letters run along the top and numbers down the side.

Step 2: Find the centre The board’s centre is a 2×2 block. Count in 3 squares from the left edge and 3 squares from the top edge to find d4 (the top-left of the central four squares). Alternatively: the centre block is where the 4th and 5th rows meet the 4th and 5th columns.

Step 3: Place the White discs Put White discs on d4 (top-left centre) and e5 (bottom-right centre). These two White discs are diagonally opposite each other.

Step 4: Place the Black discs Put Black discs on e4 (top-right centre) and d5 (bottom-left centre). These two Black discs are diagonally opposite each other.

Step 5: Verify Look at the four-disc pattern from above. You should see:

White  Black
Black  White

A checkerboard-like diagonal pattern. If you see:

White  Black
White  Black

Black  Black
White  White

…the setup is wrong. Same-colour discs must be on the diagonals.

Step 6: Decide who plays Black Black moves first. Agree who will play Black for this game — by mutual agreement, coin flip, or alternating between games in a session.

Step 7: Begin All remaining 60 discs are held in reserve (or in the disc tray). Black places the first disc. The game is underway.

Common Setup Mistakes

Same-colour discs placed side by side (not diagonal)

Mistake: White on d4 and e4 (same row), Black on d5 and e5.

Why it matters: This creates a very different board state where the opening moves, flanking opportunities, and strategic dynamics are completely different from the standard game. Always ensure same-colour discs are diagonally placed.

Board oriented corner-on instead of edge-on

Mistake: Rotating the board 45° so a corner faces each player.

Why it matters: It doesn’t affect the game rules, but the coordinate labels (a–h, 1–8) will be disorienting if they exist on the board. Standard orientation has edges facing each player.

Missing discs in the reserve

Mistake: Some of the 64 discs end up on the board or missing before the game starts.

Why it matters: A complete set has exactly 64 reversible discs. After setup, 4 are on the board and 60 are in reserve. If pieces are missing, the endgame may not resolve correctly (you could run out of discs before the board fills).

Wrong player goes first

Mistake: White moves first instead of Black.

Why it matters: Black always moves first in standard Reversi. White going first changes the fundamental structure of the opening phase. In competitive play this would be a rules violation.

Setting Up for Variants

If you’re playing a Reversi variant on a smaller board:

4×4 Reversi (for young children): Use only the central 4×4 area. Place the starting discs in the 2×2 centre of this grid — the same diagonal pattern, just at positions b2, c2, b3, c3 within the 4×4.

6×6 Reversi: Use the central 6×6 area. Starting discs go in the 2×2 centre of this grid — at c3, d3, c4, d4 within the 6×6.

Handicap games: For a handicap setup, additional discs may be pre-placed before the standard starting position is established. See the handicap guide for specific configurations.

Playing Online

If you’d like to skip the physical setup entirely, Reversi Pro provides an instant online board — no setup required, plays in any browser. The starting position is automatically arranged, and you can play against the AI at adjustable difficulty levels immediately.