Some thought went into the design of this, the best-selling British board game of 1977. Everything about it oozes deluxe, Black Forest Gateau sophistication. The lush green baize hints at high-stakes casino gambling, or billiards in the drawing room with brandy and cigars. The silent contemplation required of each player marks it out as an above-averagely cerebral game; Othello is not for the weak-minded. Even the counters themselves, cleverly fashioned in twin sides of black and white, symbolise the yin-yang relationship of good and evil, day and night, master and servant. Well, that, or the bloke who invented the thing was eating liquorice allsorts at the time.