5 handpicked Scratch reversi | Scratch projects

Summary of the author’s notes

Easy Othello
Play Othello against a computer that’s super easy. You just need a mouse to play. The computer thinks fast but isn’t very smart, so if you rush, you might get surprised. 

The computer uses a simple trick to decide its move, checking spots in a set order and placing its piece where it can. This trick comes from an old magazine technique. You can change the computer’s strength by changing the order it checks for moves.

We use lists to represent the Othello board because Scratch doesn’t have two-dimensional arrays. There’s an invisible row around the actual game board to make checking moves simpler. 

There’s a cool animation for flipping the pieces, using seven costumes to show the change from white to black and vice versa. 

The script is short and easy to understand, so have a look to learn more.

Summary of the author’s notes

overall board score, the number of moves available on a player’s turn, and the number of secure edge pieces leading to corners. This AI is strong in one-on-one attacks but weak in broader strategies. Interestingly, it performs slightly better as the second player. The method for calculating board value comes from Koso Sato’s work on evaluation functions.

Many people think of Othello as a game of the high road.

Some Othello titles have been released by Scratch as well. Surprisingly few are available, but here is one of the best of them.

The controls and CPU (enemy) strength are just right.

You can play Othello on a computer. It doesn’t take up space, and there’s no need for cleanup, which is great! Othello starts with the black piece. After placing a black piece, it’s the white player’s turn. You can practice alone or take turns playing with two people for a fun experience. Even if you’ve never played Othello before, you can learn as you play. If you’re interested in Othello or want to try it out, give it a shot!