When does a game of Reversi end?
Reversi ends when neither player has a legal move. Usually all 64 squares are full, but a game can stop early with empty squares if both sides are stuck.
There’s no move limit and no clock. Play continues, with automatic passes whenever one player is stuck, until neither player can make a legal move.
Two ways it happens
- The board is full. After 60 moves all 64 squares are taken and nothing more can be played. This is how most games end.
- Both players are stuck. Empty squares remain, but none of them would flip a disc for either side. The most extreme case is a wipe-out: if every disc on the board is one colour, nobody can ever flip anything again.
Who wins
Count the discs. The player with more discs of their colour wins; empty squares don’t count for anyone. Equal totals are a draw, see can Reversi end in a draw.
Because the count can swing hugely in the last few moves, the final stage is worth calculating exactly. The strategy guide covers how to count the endgame.
For practical play beyond this rule, read Reversi Strategy: Corners and Mobility.
Play Reversi free →Invite a friend or practice with the computer. No sign-up.