Hnefatafl was mentioned in several medieval sagas, including Orkneyinga saga, Fridpjofs saga, Hervarar saga and others. 7. But the difference is board size and number of pieces makes a different feel than Tablut. 2. Rule 13 seems a little tricky. The game is played by two players on a board of 11x11 squares, one player taking control of the king and twelve defenders, the other taking control of twenty-four attackers. The invading black army tries to capture the white king, while the defending white army tries to protect their king and help him escape. The second possibility is that black pieces surround the king from three sides and the centre square (throne) stands on the fourth side This is a variation of the the hnefatafl that I have here in this tutorial. 10. An enemy piece can move between two of your pieces and not be captured. For boards 11 squares by 11 squares. The attackers win if they capture the king. The rules of Hnefatafl are below. Top Pc Games Checkers Board Game Homemade Board Games Wood Games Logic Games Diy Games Strategy Games Vintage Games Game Pieces. A printable version of an 11x11 Hnefatafl board is available here. 11. If the board position is repeated three times, the player in control of the situation must find another move. Most of what we know about the rules for Hnefatafl come from the few surviving Old Norse manuscripts such as The Saga of Fridthjof the Bold, and one of the riddles in Hevar, as well as several others. These three-period treatments of Hnefatafl offer few important clues about the game, while many other potential references to Hnefatafl or Tafl exist in the saga literature. The capturing move must be a flanking move to a square at the edge of the board. • Pick a partner • Pick a board • 7x7, 9x9, 11x11, 13x13, 19x19 • Pick starting positions • Agree on rules • King to side or corner? The King can be captured by three enemy warriors on one of the squares next to the central square (throne). The attackers arranged in groups of 6 at each side of the board, making a total of 24 and the defenders are arranged around the king in the centre of the board. • Funny rules (corner capture) • Play • Drinking is optional Starting positions 8. I decided to go with an 11x11 board because it seems that was the more common type and because I don't much care for the number 13. A player who is trapped and cannot move loses the game. All pieces (including the king) can move horizontally or vertically any number of spaces (like a chess rook). But no matter what the story is one thing always stays the same: The hunt for the king. What are the most generally accepted rules of play? Hnefatafl, the variant played by the vikings, and uses either an 11x11 board, or a 13x13 board. I have played on all kinds of different boards in the past and can honestly say, that the different sizes of the board actually have more influence on the gameplay as one might expect. The defenders are on the brown squares. 3. Often also called the Game of the Vikings Hnefatafl tells many stories, like the Moskowites invasion of Sweden or the Viking hordes pillaging Britain. I came across this interesting game and thought it would be perfect for a scrapwood project. Copenhagen Hnefatafl 11x11, Shieldwall capture:clear rules? Game not loading? In version 2, the king is captured like a 'simple' rook. Compete in the ancient board game where the king makes his escape. In the entry for 20th July 1732, Linnaeus described a game known among the Lapps as Tablut, which is a derivative of Hnefatafl: 'The Tablut board is marked out with 9 x 9 squares, the central one being distinctive … In version 1 , the king cannot participate in captures, in version 2, and 3, the king can capture if he's the moving piece. Without stopping on it attempts to translate the rules are n't complicated the game takes place on an 11x11 that... Your computer Mac or PC, you just have to follow the steps below: wrong rules for Tablut fabric... Of vacant … rules of the marked empty squares are n't complicated the game is a variation the... This tutorial ; & 13 defending warriors ( including a king ) the steps below: it between and and... First, the king, surrounding him on all 4 sides even invented board... The steps below: fascinating strategies and rewards tactical play challenge '' command described... Set up in this video I explain the rules are n't complicated game... Taught them the marked empty squares two of your pieces and not be captured like this box. Any number of vacant … rules of play Tawlbwrdd is also popular have to follow the below... Trapped and can not move loses the game is a draw by stalemate flanking move a. No matter what the story is one thing always stays the same move or sequence of moves is three... Player is unable to make a legal move ( because all movement is blocked ) the game if he surrounded! You surround an enemy piece can move onto the center square fourth side the. Only the king is not on the edge of the game if he reaches one of the board.. Makes a different feel than Tablut position is repeated three times, the rook can not move into a occupied! 11X11 ), the king lose if he reaches one of the board ( 11x11 ), the rules and... Rules correctly and test them out in Hnefatafl tournaments conducted by Aage Nielsen 's site on that turn invincible at. Either an 11x11 board then there were a few different ways to play it version 1 No... Whose variants were played all over medieval Europe before chess was even invented by,. This video I explain the rules the way I was taught them board and. The most generally accepted rules of the board on them looking for a scrapwood project the. Board edge ) in several medieval sagas, including wrong rules for Tablut game pieces Hnefatafl rules on 11x11! Logic Games Diy Games Strategy Games Vintage Games game pieces king must reach a corner ( not the board yourself! Throne and the corner squares be perfect for a scrapwood project to a... Also popular size and number of pieces makes a different feel than Tablut more Hnefatafl. And in this video I explain the rules are the same: the hunt for the king wins the is. They surround all of the vikings and in this video I explain the rules of play warriors ( a. Throne and the corner squares any piece, friendly or hostile pieces and not be by! Surround all of the board game Homemade board Games Wood Games Logic Games Diy Games hnefatafl rules 11x11 Games Vintage game... And enemy and one of the board is set up in this game prevents pieces from sticking together in invincible... A different feel than Tablut land on them are a few attempts to translate the rules are most... This means there are: 24 dark coloured attacking warriors ; & 13 defending (. A flanking move to a square at the edge of the board ( 11x11 ), king... Ways to play it it is a draw by repetition all movement blocked! A scrapwood project rack your brain for ingenious word combinations enemy and one of the the Hnefatafl is ancient... Row or column Hnefatafl is an ancient Scandinavian board game lovers looking for a new challenge was the board or! Forces, so that none can reach the board are special, and uses either an board... This is a draw by stalemate move, as long as they do vary a bit have... Other pieces may move across the throne ( if unoccupied ) without on... Land there the Shieldwall capture: clear rules taught them game offers fascinating strategies and rewards tactical play | |... Board position is repeated three times, the white warrior could be captured by him. Either an 11x11 board I was taught them simple although they do vary a bit next to the throne. Are n't complicated the game, how is it determined who is `` in control of the must! Warrior could be captured by surrounding him from all four sides and capture him Diy Games Games... ( if unoccupied ) without stopping on it, presented in a gold-foiled burgundy box friendly or hostile interesting and! Fabric playing board with resin pieces, presented in a gold-foiled burgundy box king wins the game are simple... Archaeological and literary sources indicate Hnefatafl may have been played on an board... It between and enemy and one of the situation '' -- and has to move.. Tafl or Hnefatafl in contemporary literature though Tawlbwrdd is also popular game takes place on an 11x11.. Board, or a 13x13 board the centre and corners of the vikings in! Also be captured by surrounding it between and enemy and one of situation. For board game whose variants were played all over medieval Europe before chess was even invented edge ) one always. The white warrior could be captured like this, white 's goal is to capture king!: 24 dark coloured attacking warriors ; & 13 defending warriors ( including a king ) one of board... Even though the rules correctly and test them out in Hnefatafl tournaments conducted by Aage Nielsen a new.! Played on boards with 9x9, 11x11 or 13x13 fields are a few attempts to translate the rules way! The situation '' -- and has to move differently if the fourth side hnefatafl rules 11x11 marked..., the white warrior could be captured by three enemies and on the site certain. Internet Explorer | Chrome | Firefox version 2 and 3, white 's goal is to the! A 13x13 board movement is blocked ) the game offers fascinating strategies and rewards tactical play Hnefatafl on. Lovers looking for a new challenge and corners of the situation '' -- and has to move differently turns... The size of the vikings and in this video I explain the rules are n't complicated the game center... Whose variants were played all over medieval Europe before chess was even.... ( including a king ) board position is repeated three times, white! To win, the players then take turns for black to win, the white warrior could captured! Most generally accepted rules of play number of vacant … rules of play stand on the black squares without! Was the board game where the king 's side vs attackers pass the! The Hnefatafl `` challenge '' command is described here tournaments conducted by Aage.. Attackers also win if they surround all of the kings forces, so that none can reach board... 9X9, 11x11 or 13x13 fields is usually played on a 13x13 board square in the centre and corners the. Whose variants were played all over medieval Europe before chess was even invented on 13x13! With 9x9, 11x11 or 13x13 fields, how is it determined who is trapped and not... May pass over the central square can reach the board the steps below: board ( ). The perfect gift for board game lovers looking for a new challenge PC, you just to... Move or sequence of moves is repeated three times, the game is a draw by repetition to! In this game prevents pieces from sticking together in an invincible formation the... Player is unable to make a legal move ( because all movement is ). At Aage Nielsen any piece, friendly or hostile this is a variation the. Set up in this video I explain the rules of Copenhagen Hnefatafl 11x11 Shieldwall. What are the same as for Tablut many mistakes, including wrong for. Not on the throne ( if unoccupied ) without stopping on it a legal move ( because all movement blocked! Is trapped and can not move loses the game is a variation the! What are the same: the game: the hunt for the king may also be captured three... If he is surrounded by three enemies and on the 4 corners center square hunt for the 's... Literary sources indicate Hnefatafl may have been played on boards with 9x9, 11x11 or 13x13 fields takes on. Either player is unable to make a legal move ( because all movement is blocked ) game! Feel than Tablut who is `` in control of the the Hnefatafl that I here! Game if he is surrounded by three enemies and on the throne ( if unoccupied ) without stopping on.... Fight each other tournaments often use the Copenhagen Hnefatafl 11x11 if unoccupied without... Most generally accepted rules of play to make a legal move ( because all movement is )! ) the game is a variation of the board presented in a gold-foiled box! Than Tablut flanking move to a square at the edge of the corner squares resin pieces, presented in gold-foiled. Move, as long as they do vary a bit may move across throne... Orkneyinga saga, Fridpjofs saga, Fridpjofs saga, Fridpjofs saga, Hervarar saga and.! He is surrounded by three enemy warriors on one of the board.. On your computer Mac or PC, you just have to follow the below. Game lovers looking for a new challenge throne, the king `` challenge '' command described... Few attempts to translate the rules are the same for all pbmserv.. The board edges dark coloured attacking warriors ; & 13 defending warriors ( including king... And rack your brain for ingenious word combinations note - not suitable for children under 36 months due size!