Origins of the game
    Reversi was invented by the Englishman, Lewis Waterman, in 1888, and published by Jacques & Son. A similar game, called Annexation, was invented, probably slightly earlier, by John W Mollett, also of England, but was played on a cross-shaped board.
     The rules were amended slightly by Goro Hasegawa of Japan in 1971, and the game was marketed under the name Othello.

Basic rules and objectives
    Reversi (Othello) is a territorial game for two opponents, played on a board of 8x8 squares, whose colours have no significance. Each player starts with 32 pieces in hand, which are placed alternately on the board. The pieces have a different colour on each face. A piece can be played only if it can capture an opposing piece, which is then turned, to show the other colour, and thus belong to the capturer. When all pieces have been placed, the player with more pieces of his colour showing wins.
     The rules of Reversi and Othello differ in two respects: 1. In Othello the first 4 pieces are already in position on the board at the start of the game, whereas in Reversi the players have a choice where to place them. 2. Because turns can be missed, one player may may still hold pieces at the end. In Reversi the player may place these on the board.

Clubs, societies, etc.
International Othello Federations