Reversi 6×6

Reversi 6×6 is the mini version of Othello/Reversi played on a 6×6 board instead of the standard 8×8. The 6×6 game has been solved (Joel Feinstein, 1993) — with perfect play, the second player (White) wins 20-16. It’s a great training board because games are much shorter than on 8×8, and corner/edge concepts apply more dramatically due to the smaller playing surface.

How to play

• 6×6 board. Start with 2 black + 2 white in centre (diagonal pattern).
• Play vs CPU (Easy, Medium or Hard) or 2 Players on one device. Against the CPU you play Black, moving first.
• Place a disc to flank a continuous line of opponent discs (horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) ending in your colour.
• All flanked discs flip to your colour.
• If you can’t play, your turn is passed. If neither can play, game ends.
• Most discs on the board wins.

Strategy (6×6 specific)

• Corners are kings. A disc in a corner can never be flipped, and it anchors stable discs along both edges.
• Avoid X-squares. The four squares diagonally adjacent to corners (positions [1,1], [1,4], [4,1], [4,4]) often give opponent corner access.
• Mobility beats material. Don’t celebrate flipping 6 discs if it leaves you stuck.
• Edge play matters more on 6×6. With fewer squares, edges represent a bigger fraction of the board.
• Endgame parity: on 6×6 there are 32 empty squares at the start, an even number, so if nobody passes, White (moving second) gets the last move.

Why 6×6 instead of 8×8

• Solved game. 6×6 Othello was solved by computer in 1993 (Feinstein). Perfect play = white wins 20-16.
• Faster games. 32 moves at most vs 60 on 8×8.
• Sharper strategy. Corner/edge concepts apply dramatically.
• Good training. Patterns learned on 6×6 transfer to 8×8.
• Beginner-friendly. Smaller board, easier to visualize.

Intermediate strategy

• Stable discs hierarchy. Corner discs permanently stable. Edge discs reaching corners are stable.
• The “wedge” attack. When opponent occupies an edge with gaps, you can force them off.
• Forced moves. Sometimes you make a “good” move only to force opponent into a “bad” reply.
• End-game arithmetic. Late game, every disc matters.
• Computer-perfect play. Because 6×6 is solved, the perfect result from the opening is known.

FAQ

• Q: Who wins on 6×6 with perfect play? A: White (second player) wins 20-16. Solved by Joel Feinstein in 1993.
• Q: How is 6×6 different from 8×8? A: Smaller, faster, sharper strategy. Same rules.
• Q: Best opening? A: Centre control. Black has four legal first moves, and they are all equivalent by symmetry.
• Q: Why 6×6 vs 4×4? A: 4×4 is too small for interesting strategy. 6×6 is the sweet spot.

For other 2-player strategy games, try Reversi, Chess, Checkers, or Connect Four.