An Introduction to Hnefatafl is a book that takes you through the history of this excellent game, teaching rules and strategy at the same time.

Hnefatafl: the Game of the Vikings

While most of the world knows how to play the ancient games of backgammon, chess and draughts, there is an almost forgotten game, comparatively ancient, which hangs like a spectre over a large part of northern Europe. This game is hnefatafl, also known in its various forms as tafl, brandubh, tawlbwrdd, alea evangelii and tablut, and less certainly by some as gwyddbwyll and ficheall. It is a game of skill in which a king tries to escape, with the help of his men, from a numerous besieging army.

Hnefatafl Mailing List A regular newsletter about the goings on in the Hnefatafl world. Here tournaments will be announced, both face-to-face and on-line, and afterwards the results will be posted where available. The ... (read more & subscribe...).

On this web site I will take you on a tour of the game, starting with its history from the earliest times, through its travels with the Viking settlers, on to the time of its decline and finally to its modern revival. Then I will explain the rules, taking in the large number of variations that have existed through the ages. After that I will give an outline of the game's strategy. Finally, you can play the game against the computer or a friend using a virtual board.

I have provided at the end of each page a link to the next section of our tour. So if you would like to join me, our tour will start with the game's history.

Next: The History of Hnefatafl