About Hnefatafl

Hnefatafl turns an unequal army into a tense escape problem. On this 11×11 Fetlar board, 24 attackers face twelve defenders and an armed king. The king wins by reaching a corner; attackers win by capturing him or closing a ring around every defender. Choose either side against three computer levels or play locally with another person. Coordinate hints, keyboard navigation and optional board enlargement support careful moves. Continue game restores an active local match and its recent undo history.

How to play

Choose a mode, side and difficulty, then start. Attackers move first. Select a piece and a marked square to slide horizontally or vertically without jumping. Defenders open a corner route for the king; attackers coordinate captures and block escape paths. Enlarge board provides larger squares and horizontal scrolling.

Rules in this version

Pieces slide through empty orthogonal squares. Only the king may occupy the throne or corners; other pieces may pass through the empty throne.
Close a custodian trap between enemies or against a hostile restricted square to capture a warrior. The king can assist. Moving voluntarily between enemies is safe.
Reaching a corner wins for the king. He is captured on four sides, or on three beside the empty throne; he is not directly captured on the edge.
Attackers also win by encircling the king and every defender with a closed ring. A player without a legal move loses. This edition automatically draws a third same-side position repetition.

Tips for playing

As defenders, plan the turning square on a corner route. An open file alone may leave the king with nowhere to turn.
As attackers, cover corner approaches and keep an encircling ring closed. The board edge is not hostile for warrior captures.