Hnefatafl Strategy: 7 Tips

The two sides play different games. The attackers are patient builders; the defenders look for the one moment the net has a hole. New here? Read the rules first.

Attackers

1. Block the corners first

In Brandubh, a piece on the square diagonally next to each corner (b2, b6, f2, f6) makes the corner almost impossible to reach. Put those in place before anything else.

2. Build a cordon, don't chase

The king can't jump, so a ring of pieces with no gaps holds him however he runs. Tighten the ring one square at a time, keeping every attacker protected by a neighbour.

3. Capture defenders, not tempo

Each defender you take makes the ring easier to hold. Look for defenders that have strayed next to the throne or a corner, where one attacker captures alone.

Defenders

4. Threaten two lines

One open line to an escape square is a threat the attackers can block. Two at once wins. Move the king to a square where a single attacker move can't cover both.

5. Use the throne and the corners

Empty hostile squares capture for you. A defender beside the throne can pin an attacker against it; attackers next to a corner are one move from being taken.

6. Clear the edge, then run

In Tablut, the king needs only an edge. Trade defenders for the attackers covering one edge; once there are fewer attackers than files to cover, the king walks out.

Both sides

7. Count before you move

Before every move, ask what the opponent captures in reply. The game is lost more often by leaving a piece between two enemies than by any deep plan.

Last updated 2026-10-20