How to Play Hnefatafl
Hnefatafl is the board game the Vikings played before chess reached the north. The sides aren't equal: a king and his guard start in the middle and try to break out, while twice as many attackers try to close the net.
The board and the pieces
- Brandubh (7×7): the king, 4 defenders and 8 attackers.
- Tablut (9×9): the king, 8 defenders and 16 attackers.
- The centre square is the throne. Only the king may stop on it or pass through it.
- In Brandubh the four corners are the king's goal. Only the king may stop on a corner.
- The attackers move first.
Moving
Every piece, the king included, moves like a rook: any number of empty squares along a row or column. No jumping.
Capturing
You capture an enemy piece by sandwiching it between the piece you just moved and:
- another of your pieces, or
- the empty throne, or a corner (Brandubh), which are hostile to everyone, or
- the throne with the king on it, which is hostile to attackers.
Only the moving piece captures, so a piece can safely step between two enemies. One move can capture up to three pieces. The king takes part in captures like any piece.
Capturing the king
- Away from the throne the king is captured like any other piece: two attackers, one on each side.
- On the throne, or on one of the four squares beside it, attackers must hold all four sides (the throne counts as one).
Winning
- The defenders win when the king reaches a corner (Brandubh) or any edge square (Tablut).
- The attackers win when the king is captured.
- A side with no legal move loses.
Playing on kawu
- Play either side against three computer levels, two players on one device, or online with a friend.
- Hints, unlimited undo, and separate stats for each board.
Next, read the Hnefatafl strategy guide. Prefer a symmetric game? Try Nine Men's Morris.
Frequently asked questions
Which side is easier to play?
Beginners usually find the defenders easier: the goal is concrete (get the king to a corner or edge) and the attackers must coordinate many pieces. kawu lets you play either side against the computer.
Can a piece move between two enemies safely?
Yes. Captures only happen when you close the trap by moving. A piece that walks into a gap between two enemies is safe until one of them moves away and back.
What's the difference between Brandubh and Tablut?
Brandubh is the small 7×7 game from Ireland: a king, four defenders and eight attackers, and the king must reach a corner. Tablut is the 9×9 Sámi game recorded by Linnaeus: twice the pieces, and the king escapes to any edge square.
Last updated 2026-10-20