🛡️ Hnefatafl
🎲 Board · 3 playsHnefatafl
The Viking siege game. Sneak the king to the edge, or trap him for good.
About Hnefatafl
The board game of the Viking age, here in its 9×9 Tablut form. The golden king and his 8 defenders hold the central cross; 16 attackers camp in four T-shaped groups on the edges and move first. Every piece slides like a rook — any distance in a straight line, no jumping — and the throne in the middle belongs to the king alone. Sandwich an enemy soldier between two of your pieces to capture it. The king’s side wins by reaching any edge square; the attackers win by boxing him in — on all four sides if he sits on the throne, three beside it, and just two out in the open. Play either side against Thrall, Warrior or Jarl.
How to Play
Tap a piece to see its moves, then tap a square. Pieces slide like rooks, never jumping. Trap an enemy between two of your pieces to capture it — only on your own move. Only the king may stop on or cross the central throne. The empty throne is hostile. King’s men win when the king reaches any edge square. Attackers win by capturing the king: 4 sides on the throne, 3 beside it, 2 anywhere else. Play either side vs Thrall, Warrior or Jarl.
💡 Tips & Strategy
As the king's men, speed matters. The king wins on any edge square, so open lanes early: move defenders out of his path and aim to threaten two escape routes at once — the attackers can only block one per move. Once the king leaves the throne, remember he's weaker: beside it three attackers can take him, and in the open just two.
As the attackers, build a ring before you hunt. Chasing the king with single pieces only opens gaps; instead close off the edges and lanes so every route is covered, then tighten the noose. Time is on your side — a position repeated a third time or a siege lasting 220 moves counts as your win, and a side left with no legal move loses.
For both sides, captures only happen on your own move, so stepping between two enemies is safe — but never leave a piece where a single enemy move completes the sandwich. The empty throne works as a hostile jaw too, so watch the squares next to it. Start against Thrall, then climb to Warrior and Jarl for the bigger score multipliers.