Controls

You play by tapping an empty square to place a disc. The game highlights the squares where a legal move is possible, so you can always see your options before you commit.

The heart of the game is the flip:

• A legal move must trap at least one straight line of enemy discs between the disc you place and another of your discs already on the board.
• Flipping happens automatically. Every enemy disc caught in that line turns to your color, and a single move can flip discs in several directions at once.

If you have any move that flips discs, you must make one. If you have none, your turn is skipped.

The game ends when the board is full or neither side can move, and the majority of discs wins. Against the computer, the difficulty rises across eight levels.

Tips

• Grab the corners. A disc in a corner can never be flipped, because there is no square beyond it to trap it. Corners are the most valuable squares on the board, so take them when you can.
• Be careful with the squares next to corners. Playing right beside an empty corner often hands it to your opponent on their next move, so those spots are a common trap.
• Don't grab discs greedily early on. Flipping lots of discs in the opening leaves you overextended and easy to flip back. Fewer, well-placed discs give you more control.
• Aim to control the edges. Edge discs are harder to flip than ones in the open middle, so building a stable line along a side gives you a foundation your opponent can't easily undo.
• Think about your opponent's replies. Every disc you place can be recaptured. Before you move, look at what your opponent could flip back, and prefer moves that limit their good answers.
• Value having moves, not having discs. Midway through, being ahead in discs matters far less than having safe moves left. Keeping options open often beats flipping the most pieces right now.

Frequently asked questions