Hnefatafl (Viking Chess)
Viking chess: guide the king to a corner, or trap him.
How to play Hnefatafl
Hnefatafl ("king's table") is a strategy game the Vikings played more than a thousand years ago. The two sides are not equal. Twenty-four attackers start on the edges of an 11×11 board. Twelve defenders guard their king in the centre. The attackers move first. This site uses a simplified version of the modern Copenhagen rules.
Goal
- Defenders win when the king reaches any of the four corner squares.
- Attackers win when they capture the king.
Turn by turn
- Move like a rook. Every piece, including the king, moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, across or up and down. Pieces cannot jump.
- Special squares. The centre square (the throne) and the four corners are only for the king. Other pieces may pass over the empty throne but never stop on it.
- Capture by sandwich. Move a piece so that an enemy piece is trapped between it and another of your pieces, in a straight line across or up and down. The trapped piece is removed. A corner, or the empty throne, can stand in for one of your pieces. The king also helps the defenders capture.
- Safe on purpose. You may move a piece between two enemies. It is only captured when the enemy makes the trap.
- Capturing the king. The king is taken when attackers stand on all four sides of him. Next to the throne, three attackers plus the throne are enough. A king on the board edge cannot be captured.
End of the game
The game ends when the king escapes or is captured. A player who cannot make any move loses. If 50 moves pass on each side with no capture, the game is a draw. The defenders may not stall: if the same position comes up for the third time, the attackers win.
When playing the computer, choose your side with "Play as". The king pulses red when three attackers already surround him. For another uneven battle, try Fox and Geese.
Strategy tips
- Attackers: close the corners. Put pieces on the squares next to each corner early. A blocked corner cannot be used for an escape.
- Defenders: open lines fast. Move defenders out of the king's way so he can reach the edges. A king with a clear path to two corners at once cannot be stopped.
- Watch for double threats. Before every move, check whether the king can reach a square that sees two corners. Attackers must block that square first.
- Keep your pieces in pairs. A lone piece is easy to sandwich. Pieces that stand next to each other in a line protect each other.
- Trade with care. The attackers have twice as many pieces, so even trades help them. Defenders should only capture when it opens a road.
Hnefatafl FAQ
Is Hnefatafl the same as Viking chess?
Yes. Hnefatafl is the best-known game of the tafl family, often called Viking chess. Smaller versions such as Tablut use a 9×9 board.
Which rules does this version use?
A simplified form of the Copenhagen rules on 11×11: corner escape, a hostile throne and corners, an armed king, and a king captured on four sides. Edge forts and shield walls are not used.
Which side is easier?
Many beginners find the defenders easier, because one clear path is enough to escape. The attackers need patience and a solid blockade.
How strong is the computer?
Easy often plays random moves. Medium looks a few moves ahead. Hard searches deeply for about a second and rarely misses an escape or a trap.
