Tafl

Tafl is a family of ancient Nordic board games played on a square grid. The core idea is asymmetric play: a defending force, centered on a king and his escorts, tries to move the king to an escape point at a corner or edge of the board, while an attacking force from the periphery attempts to capture the king and prevent escape.

Boards vary by variant but are typically square and range from about 7x7 to 13x13, with 9x9 and 11x11 being common. The usual setup places the king at the center, defenders around him, and attackers on the outer regions. Movement is by straight lines along ranks and files, and capture generally occurs when an enemy piece is sandwiched between two opposing pieces on opposite sides of it along a row or column. Some variants include a central throne or designated squares that affect movement or capture, and corner squares frequently serve as escape points for the king.

The best-known variant is Hnefatafl, often cited as representative of the family. Other well-documented forms include Brandubh (7x7) and Tablut (9x9), each with its own specific rules for escape, capture, and special squares. Although the precise rules can differ, the overarching structure—king and defenders versus attackers, with capture by surrounding and victory conditions centered on escape or capture—remains common across variants.

Historically, Tafl games are attested in Norse and medieval European sources and have yielded archaeological finds on Viking-age sites in Scandinavia and the British Isles. They are believed to have been played from antiquity through the Middle Ages, with regional rule variants and terminology.

In modern times, Tafl has enjoyed periodic revival among enthusiasts and has inspired contemporary board games and digital adaptations, preserving its place in the broader family of historical strategy games.