Play Hnefatafl Online.

The Viking board game.
World Tafl Federation Hnefatafl Championship tournament 2016.

The tournament starts September 1st 2016.

There will be two rounds:
1. Welsh Tawlbwrdd 11x11 (Bell).
2. Copenhagen Hnefatafl 11x11.

33 registered participants by September 1st:
HELFRICH, altti, Tuireann, Steiger, Teondrae, xerxes, animals, Kratzer, Patterson, Hagbard, BigWurm91, Gjallarhorn, crust, Adam, AreVidar, Mykle, vonraider, sybil, RBerenguel, GavinBegbie, herjan, TheBloodyJarl, Waegn, Ded Fomich, Aluric, Fraech, tonythebook, Chalhub, OdinHimself, Fellhuhn, Agmundr, Sigurd, fairland

The players come from
12 countries (USA, Ukraine, UK, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Italy, Australia, Russia, Ireland, Brazil, Bulgaria)
11 USA states (West Virginia, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, California, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Louisiana, Pennsylvania)
4 continents (Europe, North- and South America, Australia - if Drzhbe in Novosibirsk, Russia, had joined, we would have had Asia in, too)

If you weren't to make it to the Asgarthr Final, no worries, you'll have the Round 2 in Mith- or Utgarthr.

NB! Round 1 time buffer 7 days only!!
Tafl against humans.
Тавлеи против людей.

vikinger
©Ras.Hol.
There is an invitation for a game of Hnefatafl.
Opponent: imaxuncut, New York, NY
Tafl against the computer;
click on a board.
Play white
9x9
Play black
9x9
Play white
11x11
Play black
11x11
Rules / Regeln / Règles / Regler / Правила.

Congratulations to English National Champion 2016, Steve Lonsdale, Peterborough, UK.
Junior: Oliver Wilson, UK.
(Sutton Hoo July 31st 2016)
Forum.


  2016-09-26 08:18:44 Hagbard: The Fornebei group is first to finish Round 1.

  2016-09-25 16:05:18 Hagbard: 90% of the Round 1 games are completed, so Round 1 could be finished around Sep. 28th.
29 players are soon ready to proceed to Round 2.
In July I mentioned the possibility of four groups also in Round 2, and luckily we are so many players that this is timely.
We'll have to move the top Final into Valhöll, and the rest of us go to Asgarthr, Midgarth and Utgarthr.

  2016-09-24 21:48:17 crust: nice job Sigurd  :)

  2016-09-24 13:44:56 Hagbard: Sigurd qualified for Asgarthr.

  2016-09-22 19:49:21 Hagbard: Very strange

  2016-09-22 16:42:40 HELFRICH: Same as yesterday: When I log in I get "You have specified an incorrect username. Please check your username and try again. If you continue to have problems please contact the Board Administrator." Please advise -- thanks.

  2016-09-22 16:40:06 HELFRICH: Thanks. I did that but did not see any results. will check again.

  2016-09-22 07:34:15 Hagbard: You click the button "Forum", then click "Register" and fill out the details.

  2016-09-22 06:17:23 HELFRICH: Instructions on how to register in the large forum please and thanks

  2016-09-22 06:16:10 Tuireann: I was hoping there would be a Tablut tournament some time after the championship was over. :p

  2016-09-21 23:58:31 altti: @ Hagbard. Thank you. To encourage more play on those variants, perhaps Tournaments....☺

  2016-09-21 23:57:20 Hagbard: Interesting discussion. I copied it all to the large forum and opened up for new registrations. Fx. are Altti, Helfrich and Xerxes not registered in the large forum yet.

  2016-09-21 23:52:03 altti: I like the multiple variant tournament (possibly beginning in Jan. and continuing until completed...) with Ard Ri, Seabattle 9x9, Seabattle 11x11, Tawlbwrdd 11x11(no throne) in their own tournament. Saami-Tablut, Tablut 11x11 in their own. Brandubh, Skalk9x9 or Old Hnefatafl 9x9, Copenhagen and Fetlar. in the final set. Or, alternatively, perhaps the site features one variant per month for competition? personally, as a multi-variant tourney line-up, I prefer; Ard-Ri, Tawlbrwdd 11x11(no throne), Saami-Tablut, Brandubh, Copenhagen.

  2016-09-21 23:39:50 Hagbard: @altti: you're now in the Ard Ri ratings table. The tables are short because, only players who completed at least 24 games of the variant are shown.

  2016-09-21 21:36:38 xerxes: (Sorry - didn't realise there was a length limit here !).  If we are going to end up with 8 in Asgathyr, then the qualifying groups have successfully seeded the top 8 into the qualifying positions.
There are many formats of the game, each with their strengths, weaknesses, tactics, and specialists - we should be trying to get as many participants as we can into the competitions and that means including as many variants as is practical.
(A long post - perhaps we should move this discussion to the large forum ?)

  2016-09-21 21:32:01 xerxes: I think Animals makes some good points re different a Copenhagen championship and the other formats.  The World Tafl Federation facebook page describes it as being for the ‘promotion, development and enjoyment of tafl games: hnefatafl, tablut, brandubh etc.’.  In my view that means we should not favour Copenhagen over any other particular format/variant.  I’ve no problem with a ‘Copenhagen’ Championship – and an associated ‘Copenhagen Champion’ - but in my view we should not limit ourselves to that format for the World Championships.  I accept that there are those good Copenhagen players who may be disadvantaged by having to qualify for Asgarthr by finishing in the top two of their Tawlbwrdd Bell 11x11 group, but I know of at least two players who are currently in the top 20 of the ratings who did not enter the World Championships because they do not like playing Copenhagen.  
The only way to ensure we have the top 8 ‘masters’ in Asgarthr group is to put them there to start with and leave the rest of us out of it.  Looking at the top 20 in the ratings (as I type - I don’t have the numbers for the start of the tournament), and discounting those who did not enter and those that have completed fewer than 20 rated games, the current groups seem evenly balanced: Tunsberg has 2 of the top 8 and 3 of the top 10; Vinland has 2 of the top 5 and 3 of the top 12; Fornebei has 2 of the top 8 and 3 of the top 11; Heithabyr has 2 of the top 7 and 3 of the top 13.  If we are going to end u

  2016-09-21 18:27:25 animals: I'm also in agreement with Xerxes idea of a subscription; however, I'd like to see separate the current (Copenhagen) championship, and a separate championship involving a variety of formats. This could of course be extended to a series of tournaments held throughout the year, of which the current championship was just one part, with points being awarded for each individual tournament. In this way, there could be a champion for each format, as well as an overall champion.

  2016-09-21 18:14:14 animals: I'm in general agreement with Helfrich. Assuming Copenhagen is the preferred format for the championship, it seems unfair that good Copenhagen rules players are unable to reach Asgarthr because they may be weaker in another format (the triathlon event provides a better test for players with a wider range of interest/ability). The various tournaments that are available through the year can encourage new and developing players, and the annual championship should be regarded as a serious competition that people enter with the intention of completing their games; and (if we are getting fake entries / false ratings) a minimum number of games may well improve the situation. Using Copenhagen for both rounds is likely to lengthen the whole competition, but (even though I tend to be a faster player) the championship tournament should take as long as it needs to for the best player to win (which unfortunately won't be me).

  2016-09-21 18:09:24 HELFRICH: By 'masters' I was referring to the very high rated players as well as those designated by this very site as such.

  2016-09-21 17:59:01 xerxes: @Helfrich: I agree that there needs to be some way of filtering out those who are not serious about entering or completing their games - a minimum number of completed games is a good idea - and perhaps an entry fee would help too ?  Duplicate user names could be discouraged by an annual subscription (which would also cover Hagbard's costs in hosting the site.  Any undisclosed double entries should result in both user names being deleted from the federation if found out.  I disagree with your reference to 'the masters' of the game - unless by 'master' you mean 'master of Copenhagen' - the other forms are no less valid in my view.  I'd prefer to see the World Championship being played over two or three variants, with the final group members playing each other over those two or three variants.  Admittedly that would make it a lot longer, but we could start the preliminary rounds in January !

  2016-09-21 17:28:53 HELFRICH: 2016-09-21 17:25:28 HELFRICH: Regarding future tournament planning: May I suggest that some requirement be placed before entry into the championship tourney such as a minimum of 50 rated games played? This would help eliminate last minute fake profiles and false ratings, as well as discourage those not serious about competing. With the number of entries this year, it perhaps would have been a good policy to have five or six groups (max of six in any first round group). This could have spread out the number of "masters" of the game and allowed the best to compete in the final round (which is what the WTF may really be seeking). Also fewer numbers in groups would have enhanced or quickened round completion times. Additionally, the championship rounds should be the same game variant. With the number of anticipated "masters" playing in the Midgard grouping, it does not seem to be a very level playing field. This should not be perceived as a complaint but rather as a stated suggestions for next year.

  2016-09-21 17:27:22 HELFRICH: sorry for the typos -- will repost

  2016-09-21 17:25:28 HELFRICH: Regarding future tournament planning: May I suggest that some requirement be placed before entry into the championship tourney such as a minimum of 50 rated games played? This would help eliminate last minute fake profiles and and false ratings, as well as discourage those not serious about competing. With the number of entries this year, it perhaps would have been a good policy to have five or six groups (max of six in any first round group). This could have spread out the number of "masters" of the game and allowed the best to compete in the final round (which is what the WTF may really be seeking). Also fewer numbers in groups would have enhanced or quickened round completion times. Additionally, the championship rounds should be the same game variant. With the number of anticipated "masters" playing in the Midgard grouping, it does not seem to be a very level playing field. This should not be perceived as a complaint but rater as a stated suggestions for next year.

  2016-09-21 11:23:12 crust: nice one, Bigwurm91!

  2016-09-21 09:07:27 Hagbard: Bigwurm91 qualified for Asgarthr.

  2016-09-21 04:39:12 altti: I've been curious of the Ard Ri ratings table. it must not be a simple task to calculate these tables, as I see they get reposted only occasionally. I do like to see where I place in competition per variant. thank you Hagbard. both Damian and Tim have noted your statistical diligence.

  2016-09-21 04:17:25 altti: ahh I see that Adam may lose his position to Steiger. Odinhimself and Hagbard will be joining us on Midgarthr then. it's going to be quite a battle for supremacy of the mortal world.

  2016-09-20 20:16:36 Hagbard: I agree with Altti's list also, but only eight of them it will be, because of the two additional ways of disolving ties. The rest will add to the vigor of the Midgarth battle.

  2016-09-20 19:07:47 OdinHimself: crust, you could post our epic Welsh game somewhere or make a detailed analysis move by move if you have some free time in future, I think it will be fun and useful for other players to take a look at it... :)

  2016-09-20 16:34:37 crust: I agree with Altti's list - I think Sigurd and Adam will win enough points to get to the Asgarthr group; - Midgarthr looks like it will be fun too, with "heavy tafl sharks" as Hagbard puts it  :)

  2016-09-20 16:26:46 altti: my picks for Asgarthr: Tuireann, Adam,  Xerxes, Odinhimself, Crust, Animals, Hagbard, Herjan, Bigwurm91, Sigurd. see you in Midgarthr.

  2016-09-20 16:10:32 altti: congrats to Xerxes, Tuireann, and all those who have not yet finished but have none-the-less certainly qualified for Asgarthr.

  2016-09-20 14:53:16 crust: I had a fantastic game with Odinhimself in the Fornebei group (he played white, I was black) - although I won, it was incredibly close and both of us were doing all sorts of traps and tricks...  it's a pity the tie-break rules are against him.  Also, well done Tuireann, only Adam can possibly catch up with you in the Tunsberg group

  2016-09-20 09:33:22 Hagbard: It seems that there might be some heavy tafl sharks in Midgarthr round 2.

  2016-09-20 09:21:38 xerxes: Thanks - and congrats to Tuireann. We had some good games in Fornebei, particularly with Odinhimself who was unlucky not to get through.

  2016-09-20 07:15:08 Hagbard: Tuireann qualified for Asgarthr.

  2016-09-20 00:44:32 crust: well done xerxes..

  2016-09-19 21:39:13 Tuireann: congrats Xerxes!

  2016-09-19 20:38:25 Hagbard: Xerxes qualified for Asgarthr.

  2016-09-18 22:15:39 Waegn: Thanks, Hagbard!

  2016-09-18 14:07:37 Hagbard: @Waegn: New rating, weighted average.

  2016-09-18 07:44:46 Hagbard: I'll have a look later today

  2016-09-18 02:18:37 Waegn: I have no problem with losing rating as long as I end up as just one of me.

  2016-09-18 02:16:36 Waegn: Is there anyway to get rid of my extra alias? I dimwittedly tried to change my "ae" to "æ" and unfortunately succeeded. So now there are two of me.

  2016-09-17 09:39:54 Hagbard: New registration for the large forum is opened for three days! (Usually closed because of spam robots).

  2016-09-16 15:25:25 Hagbard: 71% of Round 1 is completed, so with some luck the round could be finished around Sep. 23rd.

  2016-09-16 14:17:40 mmagari: è davvero indecoroso vedere come alcuni giocatori si nascondano sotto diversi pseudonimi...

est vraiment  inconvenante voir comment certains joueurs se cachent sous divers alias ...

is really unseemly see how some players are hiding under various aliases ...

  2016-09-15 22:15:45 Agmundr: Thanks Crust! Looking forward to the next round! Not important in what group. Good luck everyone in the tournament!

  2016-09-15 14:28:02 crust: well done Agmundr!  I've got one game still ongoing - a titanic clash with Odinhimself, already 103 moves long, and I can't tell who is winning yet!  Great tournament everybody, there have been some awesome traps and tactics going on!

  2016-09-14 18:37:23 Hagbard: Agmundr is first to complete all Round 1 games.

  2016-09-13 20:34:25 Hagbard: TheBloodyJarl caused more than half of his Round 1 games to time out and is disqualified.

  2016-09-10 06:46:33 Hagbard: Teondrae caused more than half of his Round 1 games to time out and is disqualified.
The timeouts did not affect other players negatively.

  2016-09-09 17:12:24 Hagbard: @altti: I'll check it later today.

  2016-09-09 15:52:23 altti: both of my games with Teondrae ended but I lost 11 points just waiting for opponents move?

  2016-09-09 09:03:25 crust: @Hagbard,  Great!! thank you..:)  @Tuireann, we'll see about that!! (*sharpens axe*)

  2016-09-09 08:27:01 Hagbard: Crust is first to qualify for Asgarthr.

  2016-09-09 08:12:32 Hagbard: RBerenguel and Chalhub did not move at all during the first eight days and are removed from the tournament.

  2016-09-08 21:03:43 Tuireann: All shall fall before the might of Tuireann!!! :p

  2016-09-08 17:50:33 crust: everyone please feel free to chat either here or in your games - I know it's the world championship, but it doesn't have to be solemn!  :)  Also, it's a good way of distracting your opponent so they're more likely to make a mistake ;)

  2016-09-05 09:07:04 crust: Great to see Herjan and GavinBegbie have started their championship matches;  still no sign of Chalhub or RBerenguel. There have been some interesting games already!

  2016-09-03 09:27:33 crust: ...and Herjan too has yet to start playing - but I can message him through FB

  2016-09-03 09:23:40 crust: Three players signed up for the tournament and have not yet shown up to play:  RBerenguel, GavinBegbie and Chalhub.  I've sent GavinBegbie a message through facebook, but don't have any way of contacting the others - is anyone in touch with them?

  2016-09-02 13:43:21 Hagbard: Altti and Hagbard won the Brandubh Ohio weak 7x7 test tournament. A summary is written in the forum:
http://aagenielsen.dk/hnefataflforum/viewtopic.php?f=4&p=679#p679

  2016-09-01 21:48:54 Tuireann: That is quite an impressively large tournament page :P

  2016-09-01 20:44:21 Fairland: Thank you!

  2016-09-01 19:11:09 Hagbard: Fixed.

  2016-09-01 17:35:08 fairland: Guys, I signed up months ago but I am not in the tournament. HELP!!!

  2016-09-01 14:44:04 Hagbard: The first Round 1 game is completed: Animals / Gjallarhorn !

  2016-09-01 09:12:40 Hagbard: An 'æ' coding problem, I'm about to make a hack to fix it, but thanks for reporting!

  2016-09-01 08:13:09 crust: Hagbard,  Waegn appears to be missing from the Fornebei group tournament board;  I know he's in Fornebei group because his two games against me appear on my games page

  2016-09-01 01:00:17 crust: Good luck in the Championship tournament, to all those who are playing!

  2016-08-31 18:40:38 tonythebook: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-31 03:08:15 Sigurd: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-30 10:00:20 Hagbard: Some of those who maybe might be expected for the Championship Tournament but haven't enlisted yet:
Plantagenet, Sigurd, mmagari, sqaree, duhawk93, Thanir, Epoc, docbullen, Oddur, Anto2016, Fairland, imaxuncut, Torc, Tamarisco.
The time limit for registering is August 31st 24:00 Danish time.

  2016-08-29 10:29:41 Agmundr: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 20:50:47 Chalhub: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 20:12:46 Fellhuhn: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 20:02:24 OdinHimself: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 19:32:18 Chalhub: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 19:27:18 Chalhub: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 19:04:00 Hagbard: Notice: The time limit for registering for the Championship Tournament is August 31st 24:00 Danish time.

  2016-08-28 08:24:21 tonythebook: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-28 08:23:53 Fraech: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-26 19:09:16 Aluric: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-26 01:12:48 Teondrae: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-25 15:16:04 Ded Fomich: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-25 14:37:49 Ded Fomich: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-25 10:00:38 Hagbard: This is just some of those who maybe might be expected for the tournament but haven't enlisted yet:
Plantagenet, Sigurd, mmagari, OdinHimself, sqaree, duhawk93, Thanir, Epoc, docbullen, Oddur, tonythebook, Anto2016, Tamarisco, Fraech, Agmundr, imaxuncut, Torc, Aluric

  2016-08-24 21:58:56 Wægn: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-24 03:12:14 TheBloodyJarl: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-23 13:25:54 Hagbard: Room for many more championship participants. If you weren't to make it to the Asgarthr Final, no worries, you'll have the Round 2 in Mith- or Utgarthr.

  2016-08-22 16:40:22 Hagbard: Rachunek: only the one setup from BrainKing is tested.
Old Hnefatafl and Skalk: "normal" throne, i.e. both re-enter and free passage.

  2016-08-22 15:47:14 altti: to be a pest once more.....is there re-enter and free passage in Old Hnefatafl 9x9, and Skalk 9x9 (expo media)?

  2016-08-22 15:18:17 altti: has Rachunek been test both "circle" and "T", "cross" and "square"?

  2016-08-22 14:57:20 Hagbard: Rachunek: "After the king leaves his throne, no piece can move to the throne (nor the king). However, a piece can go 'over' the throne and finish its move behind it"
https://brainking.com/dk/GameRules?tp=19

  2016-08-22 14:47:54 altti: yes that is borne out in the balances. I plan to make them available as part of the history of Hnefatafl in the modern games evolution.  in Rachunek, how does the throne play; is there re-enter and free passage?

  2016-08-22 13:43:32 Hagbard: - But those, which rules were not listed, are not "Main Stream" here. They were tested and not found to be as well working and/or logical as the selected collection of variants.

  2016-08-22 13:15:08 altti: thank you Hagbard. I am making a set of boards with rulesets printed at the bottom. this will be useful at demos

  2016-08-22 10:57:08 Hagbard: @altti: You're right. Those still in use are now added to the Rules page and the rest are added to the balance page (bottom).

  2016-08-22 02:39:10 altti: I've been searching for the rulesets of "old hnefatafl 9x9","Rachunek tafl 9x9", "Ashton Tablut 9x9", skalk hnefatafl 9x9 (expo media)", "seabattle tafl 9x9 (imperial contest)" they appear on the measured tafl game balances listing, but I can't find any rules.

  2016-08-21 20:15:03 Tuireann: No idea. One day it just stopped working.

  2016-08-20 08:00:39 crust: I was also wondering what happened to kingstafl....

  2016-08-20 07:32:55 OdinHimself: Yes I know you're the same person :) Have you any idea what happened to Kingstafl?

  2016-08-20 00:00:43 Tuireann: @OdinHimself, good to see you since the demise of kingstafl! I was tyraindreams over there.

  2016-08-19 21:49:19 OdinHimself: Thanks bud.  :)

  2016-08-19 20:29:11 cyningstan: I've just put a post in the large forum Announcements section about a face-to-face tournament next year that some of you might be interested in.

  2016-08-19 19:28:52 Tuireann: @OdinHimself, correct.

  2016-08-19 18:45:56 OdinHimself: So, in Welsh version of the game the king is captured when flanked on both sides as any other paw,  am I correct ? Except when at or next the throne where enemies must surround him by four and three sides.

  2016-08-19 16:51:08 crust: welcome GavinBegbie!  Glad you are joining us!  ~Tim

  2016-08-19 08:02:58 Hagbard: @herjan: I believe that herjan and fjorlag are the same. But herjan is the more used name, and to be used in the tournament?

  2016-08-18 18:55:12 herjan: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-18 15:31:09 GavinBegbie: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-18 12:04:42 crust: it makes sense - without the safe squares around the throne, the king is in much more danger.  Congratulations Altti!

  2016-08-18 10:47:57 Hagbard: Altti won the Brandubh cross no throne 7x7 test tournament. The game balance is somewhat uncertain but so far it's -2.75, that is unbalanced in favour of black.

  2016-08-17 16:39:34 OdinHimself: Thank you, more will come soon! ;)

  2016-08-17 11:45:37 Hagbard: @OdinHimself: I saw the video with your tafl games and interview. Thanks, it's impressing!

  2016-08-17 09:10:13 crust: You're welcome, Lucho - nice to see you on TV!  The sailing-ship tafl pieces look great.

  2016-08-17 07:08:16 OdinHimself: Tim, thank you for shareing my facebook link at the WTF website, much appreciated, my friend!

  2016-08-15 21:38:18 RBerenguel: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-15 11:19:39 sybil: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-13 03:36:51 vonraider: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-13 02:02:12 Mykle: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-13 01:40:56 Mykle: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-12 00:43:03 AreVidar: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-11 07:22:33 Hagbard: @2016Champ: You are registered with your other name "Teondrae". Do you prefer the name "2016Champ"?

  2016-08-10 23:38:27 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-10 23:38:24 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-10 23:38:21 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-10 23:38:18 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-10 23:38:07 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-10 23:38:05 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-09 10:29:48 crust: Hello everyone;  very quick report from the Asgardian Heathen Festival, Leicestershire, UK..  We played a lot of hnefatafl, including Brandubh and 13x13 sea-battle, which were both more popular than I expected. Although there was lots of interest, the tournament was very small - only four players.   Tournament was by Copenhagen rules, won by Steve Moss with a white edge-fort, and the runner-up was Craig Brooks, who will be joining us for the World Championship here.  Welcome, Gjallarhorn!

  2016-08-08 21:17:06 Adam: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-07 23:53:39 crust: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-07 21:24:03 Gjallarhorn: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-07 21:17:59 Gjallarhorn: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-07 21:16:51 Gjallarhorn: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-07 08:04:22 Hagbard: Animals and Xerxes won the Brandubh circle no throne 7x7 test tournament. The game balance is somewhat uncertain but so far it's -2.0, that is unbalanced in favour of black.

  2016-08-06 10:11:37 Tuireann: Fyrir Ast Tafl! in modern Icelandic. I like this so it shall be my new battle cry considering that Icelandic is the closest to Old Norse that we have!

  2016-08-06 09:53:23 Tuireann: No problem! For the love of Tafl!

  2016-08-06 09:48:50 Hagbard: Thanks!!!

  2016-08-06 08:39:29 Tuireann: Made a little post about my experience helping to teach Brandubh at the Dublin(Ohio) Irish Festival
http://aagenielsen.dk/hnefataflforum/viewtopic.php?f=4&p=664

  2016-08-06 01:45:55 Tuireann: Way ahead of you :)

  2016-08-06 01:32:06 Hagbard: Will there be a couple of photos?

  2016-08-06 00:53:00 Tuireann: Currently at the Dublin(Ohio) Irish Festival where they will be teaching Brandubh shortly!

  2016-08-05 22:21:54 Hagbard: Only 12 for the World Tournament?

  2016-08-04 18:59:45 Hagbard: Herjan won the Sea battle tafl 15x15 test tournament. Also this game worked all right, balance +1.30.
This was the last of the Sea battle tests for now, thanks for help testing!

  2016-08-04 16:23:51 crust: Off to teach hnefatafl at the Asgardian festival near Leicester, UK.  There will be a tournament on Sunday, Copenhagen rules naturally.  I've made a trophy that says "Asgardian Hnefatafl Champion 2016", I'll let you know how it goes  :)  I hope to see Bainn there and also Pete Jennings from Sutton Hoo.  cheers!

  2016-08-02 02:52:19 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-01 23:07:48 BigWurm91: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-08-01 15:46:22 Hagbard: Congratulations to Xerxes, new English Champion!

Don't hesitate to register for the WTF Championship, it's planned for about 36 participants.

  2016-08-01 10:50:03 xerxes: And thanks to Tim Miller and Pete Jennings for organising the championship.

  2016-08-01 01:37:02 crust: Congratulations to Steve Lonsdale (known to us as "Xerxes"), who won the 2016 English National Hnefatafl championship at Sutton Hoo on Sunday. The junior title was won again by Oliver Wilson.

  2016-07-31 07:14:49 Hagbard: Altti won the Sea battle circle 11x11 test tournament and the game worked well, with a game balance of +1.30

  2016-07-31 00:09:33 BigWurm91: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-30 22:08:20 BigWurm91: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-30 00:25:31 Tuireann: The site's host is having a bad Friday I suspect... hehe...

  2016-07-29 18:36:13 Hagbard: Good to hear!! Good luck and best wishes for a successful tournament!

  2016-07-29 18:17:35 crust: Greetings all!  Off to Sutton Hoo (Suffolk, UK) for the English National Hnefatafl championship, on Sunday.  I'll report back afterwards!

  2016-07-26 09:45:21 Hagbard: Still no date for a Quick Play Championship on the island Fetlar?

  2016-07-26 09:00:14 Hagbard: Sigurd won the Historical Hnefatafl Bell 11x11 test tournament. Summary in the forum:
http://aagenielsen.dk/hnefataflforum/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=660#p660

  2016-07-25 19:29:06 Hagbard: It's a bit complicated to do. Better if the player takes a good last look at the board, as usual, before he presses Send. The Yes only means "Yes it's right, I did press the Send button."

  2016-07-25 12:33:09 altti: the board position needs to be visible on the final move confirmation page.

  2016-07-25 11:59:34 test1: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-24 18:04:06 fjorlag: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-24 16:39:31 test1: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-24 11:47:38 Hagbard: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-24 05:32:34 Patterson: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-21 17:14:55 Plantagenet: My other profiles are "Cthulhu" and "Wotan".

  2016-07-19 08:10:05 Kratzer: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-19 05:17:41 fairland: @helfrich: The problem is that they really don't. Beating the lower guys only gets them some two points per victory. The only way to stay on top is to continue hacking at other top players or your right on bottom again.
@altti: thanks for the tip!

  2016-07-19 02:07:16 HELFRICH: Thanks for the info. I have not played everyone listed but I can vouch that the higher rated players are very very good. Protecting their rating seems a bit bizarre since they should be able to regain 'points' by feasting on we bottom feeders. ;-] -- Also numerous under rated players listed but I suspect the top guns know whom they are!

  2016-07-18 15:39:41 Hagbard: @HELFRICH: Very difficult subject. Often very high rated players tend to hesitate taking too many chances with the rating and therefore play fewer games and fewer variants. This is not good, because the games of these players are a great help in finding the game balances and give valuable experience about how variants work.

  2016-07-18 14:40:06 HELFRICH: clone profiles should be disallowed.

  2016-07-18 00:39:34 altti: congrats to Sigurd with a clean sweep

  2016-07-17 23:32:09 animals: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-17 23:19:14 Hagbard: "Sigurd-2" is a clone of "Sigurd" (rating at the time 1907) for testing.

  2016-07-17 23:16:43 animals: I do have to question how it's possible to have a rating of 1907 having completed three games!?

  2016-07-17 00:03:26 Hagbard: Registered for the tournament:
HELFRICH, altti, Tuireann, Steiger, Teondrae, xerxes

  2016-07-16 22:51:09 Steiger: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-16 17:21:12 xerxes: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-16 08:14:13 Tuireann: I don't play copenhagen believe me you have nothing to brag about.

  2016-07-16 07:41:00 Teondrae: I'm back at the game real rusty. But i still first 2 games i beat a guy that has a rating at 1600 lol. Black and white. Where is Crust I challenge him again?!?!?!

  2016-07-16 00:49:00 Teondrae: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-16 00:46:54 2016Champ: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 23:47:31 Steiger: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 22:42:08 Tuireann: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 22:41:59 HELFRICH: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 22:36:20 altti: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 22:35:50 altti: @Fairland: 7 to 15yrs. the older kids were interested in additional variants very quickly.

  2016-07-15 22:24:43 Hagbard: It is forbidden. Each player to participate with only one name.

  2016-07-15 21:57:40 HELFRICH: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 21:51:29 HELFRICH: are you allowing duplicate or double players? I thought that was forbidden?

  2016-07-15 20:57:40 test2: Joins the World Tafl Federation Championship Tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 20:55:52 Hagbard: If the players are impatient: The registration button is added now.

  2016-07-15 20:52:59 test2: Joins the World Tafl Federation tournament 2016.

  2016-07-15 20:45:13 test1: Joins the World Tafl Federation tournament 2016

  2016-07-15 20:26:53 HELFRICH: Hello All. When will "registration" for the 2016 championship start. Sorry if I missed an earlier post that explains it. Last year I got the dates mixed up and missed the tourney altogether. Do not want to miss the 2016 ordeal!

  2016-07-15 14:23:34 fairland: How young were the children? I may be able to use a similar strategy with 15-16 year olds or do you think I would be over-simplifying?

  2016-07-13 00:45:27 altti: @ Sigurd: it was easier to have only movement, capture and objectives to absorb on the first game. then the addition of throne with its change in capture strategies, and the exit at corner on the following game made it much faster to teach, with fewer questions. fewer variables and less confusion.

  2016-07-12 18:39:59 Sigurd: @Altti: Cool. How did leading with Ard Ri and then Tablut work with their ability to pick up the concept of the throne? Any difficulty at all?

  2016-07-12 10:55:26 Hagbard: Championship tournament 2016 is announced above, two rounds planned using Tawlbwrdd and Copenhagen rules, details in the large forum. Any comments?
@Altti: good news.

  2016-07-12 00:06:14 altti: went to Estonian summercamp this weekend to teach the children Tafl. I used Ard Ri and Tablut for demo and gave them printouts of other variant rulesets to play on their own. they enjoyed it very much.

  2016-07-11 09:06:39 Hagbard: Altti won the Hist. Hnef. Lewis cross 11x11 (Welsh Tawlbwrdd 2) tournament.

  2016-07-11 09:02:12 Hagbard: @xerxes: it's put on the todo list.
@Tuireann: a text error, corrected, thanks for telling.

  2016-07-11 01:51:29 Tuireann: I believe the short form rules that appear in the games for the latest sea battle tournament are incorrect. They say king armed but the king does not appear to be armed.

  2016-07-10 16:48:26 xerxes: Hagbard, a suggestion for next time you are updating the site - would it be possible to have a link to the appropriate tournament in the 'Tournament Overview' page from a tournament game in the list of 'My Current Games' ?

  2016-07-08 20:05:41 xerxes: There was no tafl going on at the Caithness Viking Festival from Sat-Mon, maybe something later in the week, but not advertised.

  2016-07-08 11:10:10 Hagbard: What about the tournament on the island Fetlar? Less than a month to their usual date, and the home page still says in planning.
And what about the Caithness Viking Festival which is running right now? There should be a Hnefatafl tournament there?
Also there uses to be a display of Hnefatafl at the Tønsberg Middelaldersfestival?

  2016-07-07 09:07:19 Hagbard: To the players: What do you think about the two tawlbrwdds? Does one work better than the other?

  2016-07-06 22:34:53 Tuireann: Ah. Was really bizarre.

  2016-07-06 22:33:06 Hagbard: @Tuireann: there has been a small problem with this name, but it's the same player. As for points: when an opponent player is quite new, the amount of win/lose points is very small. In this case about 0 points for win and about -1 points for loss.

  2016-07-06 16:43:41 Tuireann: What's with this user I'm playing against whose name changes every day and I can only lose points against them but not win any?

  2016-07-05 18:51:14 Sigurd: Between Tawlbwrdd Bell & Lewis Cross it's close, but I'll go with Bell at this point. More games of each are needed though. I'm hoping they both hold up.

  2016-07-05 04:06:08 vonraider: Tablut 9X9.

  2016-07-03 11:00:22 Tuireann: I think Tawlbwrdd 1 creates more interesting games with Tablut as a close second. I'm not fully convinced of the balance of Ard Ri, although I really enjoy the game I find it very fickle, and I have made some pretty unbelievable victories from behind on Tawlbwrdd 2 as black. I've only ever played 4 games of Brandubh so I don't really know the game well.

  2016-07-03 10:14:26 Hagbard: I'd like to ask the players:
Which of the Historical Hnefatafl games do you think work the best: Brandubh 7x7, Ard Ri 7x7, Tablut 9x9, Tawlbwrdd 1 11x11 (Bell) or Tawlbwrdd 2 11x11 (Lewis cross)?

  2016-07-02 23:52:28 altti: I like the proposed Tablut first round for championship.

  2016-07-02 21:33:17 Hagbard: Tuireann, Xerxes and Animals won the Unst Alea Evangelii 19x19 test tournament. Summary in the forum.

  2016-07-01 16:15:01 Hagbard: A couple of notes in the forum about the World Tafl Federation Championship 2016:
http://aagenielsen.dk/hnefataflforum/viewtopic.php?f=4&p=647#p640

  2016-06-30 01:21:29 Hagbard: Draken Harald Hårfagre is now in Toronto. Video from voyage Greenland - New Foundland:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UWSj0R-7lE
Full contents of the small forum.
And here the large forum for the structured discussions.
Full contents of the old forum (before update).
Logo: Adam Bartley.
World Tafl Federation on facebook.

New links:

Press Release about the World Hnefatafl Federation (October 21st 2014).
Tønsberg Vikingfestival.
Fornebei Herfolk.
Ealdfaeder Group (Sutton Hoo).
Sutton Hoo, East Anglia, UK.

Brettspillet - Jernalderkrigerens virtuelle arena (summary).
Nordnorske spillsaker fra jernalder og middelalder.
Spill i middelalderens bysamfunn.
Photo gallery.

Hnefatafl is also known by the names Nefatavl, The King's Table, The Viking Game, Viking Chess, Tablut or simply Tafl.
On the origin of Hnefatafl.
Comments on the Hnefatafl rules.
History of this site.
Links to more information on the Viking board game Hnefatafl.
Viking word of wisdom: The Hávamál.
Можно здесь играть в тавлеи и против компъютер и против людей. Можно использовать кириллицы.
Many thanks to Gary and Christa (Germany), Ludovic Antoine, Nikolas Lloyd, Sten Helmfrid, Olga Mudrichenko, Dmitrij Polovinkin, John C. Ashton, Tim Millar, Adam Barkley, Nicolas Cartier, Gregory Binns, Fabio Capello, Rene Gralla, Damian Walker and Olli Salmi for their contribution to this site. And not least the more than 600 players the world over who played here more than 10000 real tafl games humans against humans and thus created a vast, practical experience with this intriguing, historical board game.

Updated 19.9.2016

Copyright © 1998-2016 Aage Nielsen, All Rights Reserved;