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Jan 7, 2022·How to play·02:15·474490·Watch on YouTube

How to play Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Triple S Games

Triple S Games

Watch “How to play Viking Chess (Hnefatafl),” a how-to-play guide for Hnefatafl from Triple S Games on BoardGameVideo.

Description provided by Triple S Games on YouTube:

Learn the rules to the board game Viking Chess (Hnefatafl) quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules. Play chess online for free here: https://link.triplesgames.com/Play-Chess-Online (As an chess.com affiliate we earn from qualifying subscriptions) Don't own the game? Buy it here: amazon.com - https://amzn.to/3FSBrOb amazon.ca - https://amzn.to/3Cgx7b7 amazon.uk - https://amzn.to/3efY073 amazon.es - https://amzn.to/3CnC9mh amazon.de - https://amzn.to/3MfDHTQ amazon.fr - https://amzn.to/3MgR1XU amazon.it - https://amzn.to/3MjRKrn amazon.nl - https://amzn.to/3CjTjRz amazon.se - https://amzn.to/3Cn4lp8 amazon.pl - https://amzn.to/3eiC62Q amazon.com.br - https://amzn.to/3AicXgK amazon.co.jp - https://amzn.to/403Yn7N (These Amazon Affiliate links directly supports me) RULES: The object of the game for the attacker is to capture the king. The object of the defender is to get their king to one of the 4 corner spaces. Layout the board and place the king on the center cream space. Place the red pieces on the red squares and the teal pieces on the teal squares. One player is the defender and controls the king and red pieces while the other is the attacker and controls all the teal pieces. The attacking player goes first then turns alternate. On your turn you may move any of your pieces any number of spaces in a horizonal or vertical straight line. Pieces may not move off the edge of the board, they may not pass through other pieces nor share a space with another piece. Pieces may not move diagonally. If you move a piece so that is sandwiches an opponent’s piece in between two of your pieces, so that they are across from each other with the opposing piece in between, then you capture that opposing piece and remove it from the board. Pieces may travel through a sandwich without being captured, but pieces may not stop inside a sandwich. You can also capture an opponent’s piece if you sandwich it between the kings starting space and your piece, or a corner space and your piece. A king may only be captured by completely surrounding it on all four sides. If the king is on the edge of the board, and it is the defender’s only piece on the board, then 3 pieces may be used to capture it instead. You must make a legal move on your turn, if a player cannot make a legal move, then they lose the game. If the king gets to one of the corner spaces, then the defending player wins. If the king gets trapped surrounded by opposing pieces, then the attacking player wins.

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Hnefatafl

Hnefatafl

Videos
41
Creators
22

Mostly how-to-play and playthroughs. Hnefatafl is covered on BoardGameVideo.com by 5 reviews, 19 how-to-play guides, 12 recorded sessions, and 5 other videos.

2 players
20 min
Medium weight: Teach it in one sitting

About Hnefatafl, from BoardGameGeek:

Hnefatafl, also known as The Viking Game, The King's Table or simply Tafl, is one of those two-player games where the opposing sides are not equal in number. The defending side comprises twelve soldiers and a king, who start the game in a cross formation in the center of the board. Their objective is for the king to escape by reaching any of the four corner squares. The attackers comprise 24 soldiers positioned in four groups of 6 around the perimeter of the board. All pieces move like the Rook in chess and pieces are taken by "sandwiching" i.e. moving your piece so that an opponent's piece is trapped horizontally or vertically between two of yours. There is a host of information on the Internet about Hnefatafl, including many rule variations that are worth experimenting with. A copy of the game was published in issue #128 of Dragon magazine, Dec 1987 (later republished as part of a boxed set: The Best of Dragon Magazine Games in 1990). One of the oldest games in the world - traced in various versions to the Vikings, Welsh, Saxons, and Irish. The origins of this game can be traced through Petteia, played by the Romans, to the even older versions played by the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Derivatives of Hnefatafl include Breakthru, Break Away, Seikkailu Merellä, Tablut and Thud.

Artists

Vlad Korniuk, David Masnato, Nathan Morse, Dieter Zander

Categories

Abstract StrategyAncient

Mechanics

Grid MovementVariable Player Powers
View on BoardGameGeek ›
Hnefatafl

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