How to play
Hnefatafl (say “NEF-ah-tah-fel”) is the old Viking board game, the king’s table. It’s uneven on purpose: the defenders (12 light pieces and the king, in the middle) want the king to escape, and the attackers (24 dark pieces, on the edges) want to trap him. The attackers move first.
- Moving: every piece, the king too, slides any number of squares in a straight line, like a rook in chess. Pieces can’t jump.
- Special squares: only the king may stop on the throne (the middle) or a corner. Anyone may slide across the empty throne.
- Taking: move so an enemy piece sits between yours and another of yours in a row or column, and it’s taken. Corners and the empty throne count as an enemy to everyone, so a piece next to one is easy to take. Moving between two enemies yourself is safe.
- The king helps take pieces, but is only caught when attackers surround him on all four sides (or three sides and the throne).
Winning
The defenders win when the king reaches any corner. The attackers win when they surround the king, or when the defenders have no move left. If the same position comes round a third time, or after 300 moves in all, it’s a draw.
Tips
Defenders: open lines for the king early. If he has two different ways to a corner at once, the attackers can only block one. Attackers: don’t rush for the king. Block the corners first by placing pieces diagonally across them, then close the ring slowly. Watch for pieces left next to a corner; they can be taken against it.