A standard Reversi board is an 8×8 grid — easy to recreate on paper for home play, classroom games, or travel. This guide explains how to set up and use a printed board, plus tips for improvising pieces.
How to Draw or Print a Reversi Board
Board Specifications
A regulation Reversi (Othello) board has:
- 8 columns labelled a–h (left to right)
- 8 rows labelled 1–8 (bottom to top, or top to bottom by convention)
- 64 equal squares — all the same size
- Optional: alternating light/dark shading (like a chess board), though Reversi boards are traditionally a single colour (usually green)
Drawing a Board by Hand
You need: paper (A4/Letter or larger), a ruler, and a pen.
- Draw a square with sides of at least 16 cm (6.3 inches) — this gives 2 cm per square
- Divide each side into 8 equal sections
- Rule horizontal and vertical lines through each division point to create the 64-square grid
- Label columns a through h across the top or bottom
- Label rows 1 through 8 down the left or right side
Tip: A 24 cm (9.5 inch) outer square gives 3 cm per square — comfortable for placing coins or buttons as pieces.
Printing a Board
Any 8×8 grid will work. You can:
- Print a chess board image (remove the chess notation if preferred)
- Use graph paper and draw a border around an 8×8 section
- Print a simple black-and-white grid using a word processor table
Best print settings: A4 or Letter, landscape orientation, scale to fill the page. Laminating the printed board makes it reusable with dry-erase markers.
Starting Position
Once your board is ready, place four discs in the centre to start the game:
a b c d e f g h
1 . . . . . . . .
2 . . . . . . . .
3 . . . . . . . .
4 . . . W B . . .
5 . . . B W . . .
6 . . . . . . . .
7 . . . . . . . .
8 . . . . . . . .
- D4: White disc (light side up)
- E4: Black disc (dark side up)
- D5: Black disc (dark side up)
- E5: White disc (light side up)
Black (dark) always moves first.
For a detailed explanation of the starting position and why it’s arranged this way, see the Reversi rules guide.
Improvising Reversi Pieces
You need 64 two-sided pieces — one colour per side. Here are the best household alternatives:
Coins
The most convenient option. Use:
- Heads = White, Tails = Black
- Any consistent denomination works — a mix of sizes is fine since all 64 can be the same coin
- You need 64 coins total
Buttons
Two contrasting colours of buttons work well. Spread them into two piles of 32 before the game. The only limitation is that buttons don’t flip — you’ll need to swap them rather than turn them over.
Paper Squares
Cut 64 small squares of paper. Colour or shade one side of each with a pencil or marker. Fold the bottom edge up slightly so you can flip them easily during play. Paper pieces work surprisingly well on a flat, wind-free surface.
Two-Colour Poker Chips
If you have a poker set, use two colours of chips. Assign one colour to each player and swap chips as pieces are captured — since chips are single-sided, you replace rather than flip.
Sticky Notes (Two Colours)
32 sticky notes in one colour + 32 in another. Stack them face-down at the start; flip the appropriate colour face-up as discs are placed. Not ideal, but works in a pinch.
Score Tracking Sheet
For tournament-style home play, use a simple score sheet to track multiple games:
| Game | Black Score | White Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 |
Reversi scoring: count each player’s discs on the board at the end. The player with more than 32 discs wins. Maximum possible score is 64–0; minimum winning score is 33–31.
Classroom and Group Play Tips
Running Multiple Games Simultaneously
- Prepare several printed boards in advance (laminated is best)
- Assign pairs of players and rotate winners to the next table
- Keep a running tournament bracket on a whiteboard
Teaching the Game While Playing
Printed boards are ideal for teaching because:
- You can annotate the board with pencil — mark the four corner squares with a star to remind new players of their value
- You can mark the X-squares (b2, b7, g2, g7) with a warning symbol so beginners know to avoid them
- The grid coordinates help you discuss moves clearly (“you should have played at f5 instead of g2”)
For a complete teaching guide including how to introduce the game to new players step by step, see how to teach Reversi to kids.
Practice Online
Once you’ve played on a physical or printed board and understand the rules, practicing against an AI opponent is the fastest way to improve. You can play Reversi free online or play against the computer at difficulty levels from beginner to expert — no download or signup needed.
Playing online alongside physical play is effective because you can:
- Play many more games per hour than with a physical board
- Immediately see the AI’s responses to understand why certain moves are strong or weak
- Undo moves and test alternatives to understand strategic consequences
Related Guides
- How to play Reversi — Complete beginner guide
- Reversi rules — Official rules reference
- How to set up Reversi — Step-by-step setup guide
- Reversi tips for beginners — 10 tips to win more games
- Best Reversi board sets — Physical sets to buy