Play the Viking board game Hnefatafl online | Viking Chess | Tablut | Nefatavl

Play Hnefatafl Online.

The Viking board game.
World Tafl Federation Championship 2019 started Sep. 15th 2019.
See the tournament page.
Coming tournaments:
Master tournaments:
Historical Hnefatafl 9x9 (Saami Tablut), starting Nov. 1st 2019. The winner is Hist. Hnef. Master 2019.
Sea battle-2526 9x9, starting Nov. 23rd 2019. The winner is Sea Tafl Master 2019.
(Combined Cop. Champ. & Hist. Hnef. & Sea Tafl: Triathlon Tafl Master 2019).
Berserk Hnefatafl 11x11, starting Dec. 9th 2019. The winner is Berserk Tafl Master 2019.
Go to the Tafl Against Humans page to join; the invitation is open for 7 days.
Tafl against humans.
Тавлеи против людей.
(Use button in top panel.)
Rasmus Holbroe vikings
Artist: Copyright © Rasmus Holbroe (Jan. 2016).

Tafl against the computer.
Small forum.
Code of Conduct. You should not post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful or threatening material. Doing so may lead to you being immediately banned for a period of time.

  11-20/17:54 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Casshern 27 pt.

  11-18/13:22 Plantagenet:  Yes but why aren't you on the list?

  11-18/01:12 Hagbard:  You'd play a game of Copenhagen?

  11-17/23:11 Plantagenet:  @Hagbard Why can't we invite you?

  11-17/15:52 cassio:  I never liked chess, but was taken by Tafl on first contact. The distinction made by   @L716 will have me thinking for a time...

  11-17/15:48 cassio:  Continuation:

As a beginner I do respect the experience and knowledge of whoever has more mileage, and will try to learn from it. From being a teacher I also know experienced people can (and should try to) learn from the less experienced. I’m just glad to be among people who feel that way. What I meant was just that!

Please, don't stay embarrassed by that. It’s a good thing!

  11-17/15:37 cassio:  @Casshern, you’re right — people is just people. Titles are just signs of what people have done, not of who they are. I didn't mean to cause embarrassment, and I won't use that word anymore.

But as I think any beginner should, I do look up to the experience

  11-17/09:46 branan:  @L716: I love your tafl definition! :)

  11-17/05:56 casshern:  @L716: Thank you! That’s why I enjoy this game so much. It is very simple. Spacing is name of the game.

@Steiger: Glad to hear from you, Alex! It is good to be busy. Hope all is well!

  11-16/22:24 Hagbard:  Yes it's a decision long back that the world champ. games are visible only when finished.
But the master games can be seen.

  11-16/14:44 ChaolAibhne:  It doesn't seem to be possible to follow the final games in progress. Is that deliberate?

  11-16/09:20 Steiger:  @casshern: Mario, I'm OK, but very busy.

  11-16/08:55 mihkkal:  @Ded Fomich: Thank you! And thank you for the good games.

  11-16/05:42 L716:  @casshern: "Not sure why cuz I am terrible at chess and most other strategy games".

Well, it's obvious. While chess is a game about pieces, tafl is a game about spaces between them :D

  11-16/05:17 casshern:  Lol. My mistake. Yes, Ded Fomich is awesome! The Tablut tournament has been a great one. But what happened to @Steiger? I always enjoy my Tablut games with him.

  11-16/02:38 cassio:  @Casshern too, but I meant @Ded Fomich, from whom the last response was...
Anyway:
Skál!

  11-16/00:57 casshern:  @Cassio: Thank you for the kind remarks. But please don’t call me great or master or anything along those lines. I am just a regular guy who happened to discover an awesome game called Hnefatafl and is good at it. Not sure why cuz I am terrible at chess and most other strategy games. There are many more intelligent, polite, and humble people here than me. Skál!

  11-15/23:24 cassio:  Great @Casshern!
Skál!
(I'm assuming that's a Viking greeting)

  11-15/20:16 cassio:  Sure, @Masterluke! I'll gladly accept yours too!

  11-15/20:11 Ded Fomich:  @Cassio Velkominn, félagi! One more viking on the board. Skál! Thank you, I’m at your service and at service of all the players here, I’m always open to invitations for Saami Tablut games. I saw so many upsets on this site, that’s one more reason why I love this game. I remember my first victory against top-rated player, it was very inspiring. @Masterluke, congratulations!

Let’s play each other fair pairs of games, regardless of rankings and titles, they are just numbers and letters. Even if you have sport ambitions, don’t fuss over your ratings like a child over a new toy, play games with everybody, behave like a champion.

About two weeks ago @Mihkkal (rating 1484 at the moment) smashed Ded Fomich (rating 1904 at the moment) in both Saami Tablut games — as attackers and as defenders. There’s no use searching for excuses, that time he was stronger, it was fair flawless victories. My congratulations to you too, Mikkel!

High-rated playes are people too, they often make mistakes, don’t hesitate to play with them and we’ll see more nice upsets (apologize for the pun) in the future.

I’m not a good stable player, but I have high rating at the moment. So what? I’m taking that as a joke of Óðinn =).

I’ll analyze those games when I’ll have enough time, so one can say that in that regard we both won, because we made each other stronger. Let’s keep playing and getting stronger together, gentlemen! Have fun!

  11-15/19:07 casshern:  @Plantagenet: B7 was a move I considered, but I think black is still winning. I also considered e3-i3. Black is probably still winning there too. It goes back to move 6 still. It means h7 was a wasted move. After h7, the pawn on e6 became a liability. King f5 on move 6 is best, I think. It activates both the e6 and e7 pawns and continues white attack of the right side of the board.

  11-15/13:37 Masterluke:  @cassio: Cheers! If you want to play again, don't hesitate to send an invitation... :)

  11-15/13:35 Plantagenet:  @casshern  How bad is the 6th move h7? You could have played 14th move b7 instead of ee5x.

  11-15/09:48 Steiger:  @cassio:Good words, glad that you're in tafl!

  11-15/06:52 OdinHimself:  @cassio: Skal!

  11-15/04:02 cassio:  Hi, everybody!

Sorry for the long post, folks. Can't help it.  

I'm quite new around here, and mostly known only by those who have played me in the Saami Tablut Tournament — my first. It's been hardly a month since I played my first Tafl game. Learned the rules in Adam Torkelson's YouTube channel (wish I could find him around here!)

Who cares, right? Well, I expected nobody would, but I was wrong. So I want to thank all of you guys for the warm welcome to all beginners, for the encouragement, and for the patience to endure us. At least that's what I got here.

I empathize with @ Masterluke (cheers!) for his joy in beating even only once a World Champion and top rank Master such as @ Casshern — I would certainly celebrate that (not there yet). But I cannot fail to see the Grand Master's humble sportsmanlike response. And to celebrate the openness and unpretentiousness of this community of Tafl enthusiasts! Hope to be an effective part of it. So thanks @ Casshern; thanks @ Ded fomich; thanks @Xerxes — so thank you all (can’t name everyone)! You too, @Masterluke — my first opponent here, who accepted my awkward, shy game invitation with this reply: “Don't worry, I’m learning too!”  A beautifully similar reply to what you just got from @ Casshern ...

Be proud, people! I am — and I’ve just got here!

  11-14/20:12 Hagbard:  Most active player: Death

  11-14/18:10 Hagbard:  It should not play a role. But if the system does not catch this situation, in the end the time can be manually calculated and the umpire decide about a timeout.

  11-14/17:30 Khan Asparukh:  @Hagbard I'm not sure, but I think in the game against Bogd Khan his time has not begun to flow.maybe because no move was made, but it should not play a role?

  11-13/21:25 MasterLuke:  @branan: Thx!

  11-13/19:05 branan:  GG Luke! :)

  11-13/18:47 casshern:  I also would not call myself a Master. Like you Masterluke, I am still improving and learning the game. I still make mistakes often. Even so, it is up to my opponent to capitalize on the advantage and close out the game. Which you did perfectly. As far as this game is concerned, like Plantagenet said g7-f7 is blocked by g9-g8. Essentially, the game was over after move 19, f1-f3, maybe even earlier. I should have moved e5-f5 on move 6, like I usually do, but I tried to create a path through with my pawns and Masterluke was able to block me for the victory.

  11-13/16:06 Masterluke:  @ casshern: You're too polite... I would not call myself a Master (even if my nickname says Masterluke), given my ranking at this moment... :) But I'm improving, I guess, step by step, little by little... I'm learning to play Tafl the hard way... :) Starting at 1500, I tumbled all the way down to less then 1000 points. My goal now is to reach 1300 (been there for a while a few weeks back) :)

  11-13/15:44 OdinHimself:  Maybe. But maybe not.

  11-13/14:11 Plantagenet:  @OdinHimself And Masterluke would have blocked with gg8 and it's over.

  11-13/13:57 Plantagenet:  With "in this game", I mean "tafl games".

  11-13/13:52 Plantagenet:  It proves the terms "Master" or "Grand Master" don't really make sense in this game.

  11-13/12:54 OdinHimself:  @casshern: If I were you I would play g7-f7 on move 38.

  11-13/10:26 casshern:  A victory worth celebrating. Very well played. You are indeed the Master!!! :)

  11-13/10:06 Masterluke:  Yes! I defeated Casshern... A rare comet is passing by right now :D :D

  11-12/18:17 Hagbard:  First move: Casshern

  11-12/17:54 Hagbard:  May Odin give you knowledge on your path!

  11-11/20:04 OdinHimself:  @Ytreza: Skal!

  11-11/19:48 Ytreza:  Many thanks for organizing the tournament, and special thanks to my opponents who all played interesting and enjoyable games. It was a really fun experience! Good luck to all finalists :)

  11-11/19:02 OdinHimself:  @L716: Lol. True. You are shiny. :) @Bogd Khan: Why my friend? In the virtual world of computers there is no certainty. Why is it so important for you to know your opponents identiy? Do you play against an opponent or you play against his name? Do you play against his qualities and potential or you play against his ID? I, personally, prefer to play against anonymus opponents. I think I have better chances to win against casshern or Plantagenet without knowing that I'm playing against them. Mind barriers made us capable or incapable of doing something. Free your mind and let your abilities go over their limit. Did vikings fight against well known foes or their enemies were unknown to them? "Good day sir, I'm a fierce berserker from the north and I've come to ravage your land and anihilate you, but before that I insist to know your name, so pleace introduce. Otherway I'm not totaly sure if I'll be able to cut off your head." Oh come on guys, just play the game and cut the bullshit! :)

  11-11/18:33 L716:  L716/12/05: https://www.finenordic.com/crystal-chandelier-ceiling-mount-with-12-lights-gold-finish-swarovski-crystal.html

  11-11/18:25 L716:  Totally agree. Why argue amongst themselves when it is obvious I am the best one here, since I'm the only one who is named after a model of a chandelier. A very shiny one.

  11-11/15:45 Bogd Khan:  I just wonder why there are guys arguing who is better then the other xDddd
But still think branan's question is reasonable and I'm not glad to see so much anonymous players in the final again.

  11-11/10:23 branan:  I'm really sorry that my question created a controversy. It was just innocent curiosity. :(

  11-11/10:15 xerxes:  I think it is time to remind us all of the Code of Conduct that applies to this Forum: "You should not post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful or threatening material. Doing so may lead to you being immediately banned for a period of time."

  11-11/08:25 Hagbard:  Round 2 is completed

  11-11/08:21 Adam:  Speaking as umpire: Casshern, Bogd khan, Khan asparukh and Death have qualified for the final starting Nov. 12th at 18 o'clock Danish time.

  11-10/21:08 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Ded fomich 14 pt.

  11-10/19:50 Steiger:  Vesall maðr
ok illa skapi
hlær at hvívetna;
hittki hann veit,
er hann vita þyrfti,
at hann er-a vamma vanr.

  11-10/19:09 Khan Asparukh:  leave a player you are not a good person, which is a pity

  11-10/19:08 Khan Asparukh:  and i'm in the final, ooooh yessss

  11-10/19:06 Hagbard:  I must admit that I'm not a good enough player

  11-10/19:03 Khan Asparukh:  why are you not at the finish? why are you never at the finish?

  11-10/19:02 Khan Asparukh:  yes he is in the final yesssssssss

  11-10/19:01 Khan Asparukh:  ха ха ха

  11-10/19:00 Hagbard:  Don't know. Be he from the Moon, he's still in the Final -

  11-10/18:56 Khan Asparukh:  it's clear he's a real player. Is he Bulgarian or American tell you?

  11-10/18:53 Khan Asparukh:  ха ха ха ха ....

  11-10/18:49 Hagbard:  Behind the abstract alias is a real player, and the player behind Death is in the Final (when results are approved by the umpire).

  11-10/18:44 Khan Asparukh:  how then did death declare himself american and in his tournament you wrote it bulgarian?

  11-10/18:32 Hagbard:  Well, this is what is known:
All 27 players are as far as is technically possible found to be unique players.
The four players of the Final are all very strong and have beaten a lot of players to come this far, so they must play the Final.

  11-10/18:09 Khan Asparukh:  I ask the referee to allow a player here to use another location and play from a completely different place. For a friend do I ask?

  11-10/17:59 Khan Asparukh:  I am calling Hagbard to check IP to all players.Those who do not respond to their location are prompted to correct it or not allowed in tournaments

  11-10/17:45 Khan Asparukh:  death has defined himself as an american I don't see why you count him as a Bulgarian?

  11-10/17:23 branan:  @OdinHimself : lol 😁

  11-10/14:04 OdinHimself:  @branan: It's a misprint. Anyway, death is only once in a lifetime, so it couldn't be a duplicate. Lol :)

  11-10/10:32 branan:  There are 2 "Death" here? I see a death from Bulgaria registered for WTF 2019 champ. and another death from tampa, florida (with a rating of 1862  for 35 games only) on Tafl against humans page.

  11-09/20:13 OdinHimself:  It is going to be Bulgaria versus USA final. ;)

  11-09/19:23 Hagbard:  Looks like Death qualified for the Final.

To umpire Adam:
Requested that Casshern, Bogd khan, Khan asparukh and Death qualified for the Final,
and that the Final can start Nov. 12th at 18 o'clock Danish time.

  11-09/17:36 Steiger:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jdi3gH-Naxk

  11-09/17:36 OdinHimself:  Skål!

  11-09/17:34 Steiger:  Skål! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdbdetriJcg

  11-08/13:00 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Chaolaibhne 11 pt.

  11-08/12:49 OdinHimself:  @Hagbard: Yes. We had a great time there! Skal! :)

  11-08/10:52 Hagbard:  @OdinHimself: Thank you. I enjoy the songs from Volga too:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_2uB2VGJQY

  11-08/09:51 Agmundr:  @OdinHimself: I raise my horn with mjød and shout, Skål! my viking brother! This song is for you and all the vikings here! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BPILaMT50k

  11-08/07:02 OdinHimself:  Hail to Steiger, Agmundr, Hagbard and all the viking hearts here!!! This is my special salute to them, my favorite Thyrfing song, please listen from the beginning till the end! Scandinaviaaaaaaa!!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaEnk9IcgYw

  11-07/19:21 Hagbard:  Second lead in Fólkvangr: Death 6 pt.

  11-07/17:26 OdinHimself:  @Steiger: Cool! :)

  11-07/15:47 Plantagenet:  @branan Je sais que le brandubh favorise blanc. J'en ai eu l'amère découverte.

  11-07/10:24 Steiger:  @OdinHimself: beware!!!)) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwmHdPNoTZ8

  11-07/09:46 OdinHimself:  @Steiger: Exactly!!! Right there! That would satisfy some people here! 😁

  11-07/09:06 Steiger:  @OdinHimself: something like that?)))): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myrE4MF4L4I

  11-07/07:03 branan:  @Plantagenet: essaie le Brandubh avec moi, alors, le jeu favorise les blancs. 🙂

  11-07/06:37 OdinHimself:  @Steiger: Lol. Now you know! Immediately switch over to a different music genre. Possibly more "angelic/cherubic/seraphic/celestial/heavnly" orientated hehehe. :)

  11-07/05:31 Steiger:  @OdinHimself: devilish? Oh my god, I didn't know!)

  11-06/23:23 Plantagenet:  @branan Parce que je m'ennuie. J'ai déjà répété maintes fois à Aage Nielsen qu'il fallait changer les règles ou du moins en rajouter car c'est un jeu qui est trop en faveur de noir.

  11-06/21:30 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Ded Fomich 10 pt.

  11-06/20:04 branan:  @Plantagenet: pourquoi tu ne joues plus?

  11-06/18:31 OdinHimself:  @Steiger: Beware!!! Last warning! You're posting links to DEVILISH music!!! :):):)

  11-06/18:14 branan:  @Plantagenet: je vais regarder. Merci.

  11-06/18:01 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Ded Fomich and Chaolaibhne 9 pt.

  11-06/17:23 Steiger:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kusNZREcfgI

  11-06/15:45 Plantagenet:  @branan Déjà fait. Clique sur l'onglet "Tournaments" puis dans le lien écrit en petit caractère "Wall of fame", descends la page et clique sur "WTF Champ. Tourn. 2017".

  11-06/13:25 branan:  @Plantagenet: je fais partie de ceux qui évoluent lentement. 🙂 Par contre, je serai curieux de voir ce que pourrait donner une partie entre toi et casshern.

  11-05/23:52 Plantagenet:  *évoluer

  11-05/23:50 Plantagenet:  @branan Je ne pense pas que le terme "Maître" ait un sens dans ce jeu. Je suis toujours étonné de voir beaucoup de joueurs évolués que très lentement alors que ce n'est pas si compliqué que ça.

  11-05/19:09 branan:  @Plantagenet: Non, je suis juste content de croiser virtuellement un grand maître français ici. :)

  11-05/17:12 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Jrton80 6 pt.

  11-04/23:32 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Chaolaibhne 5 pt.

  11-04/20:41 Hagbard:  https://sn.dk/Koege/Verdensarv-taettere-paa/artikel/884340

  11-03/21:26 Plantagenet:  @branan Bonsoir, est-ce que l'on se connaît?

  11-03/21:25 Plantagenet:  Bonsoir, est-ce que l'on se connaît?

  11-03/19:11 Hagbard:  Lead in Saami: Jrton80 3 pt.

  11-03/12:52 branan:  @Plantagenet: Bonjour Alexandre, je suis content de voir que tu repasses ici de temps en temps. :)

  11-01/11:54 Hagbard:  Second lead in Fólkvangr: Ytreza 5 pt.

  11-01/10:57 OdinHimself:  @Plantagenet: Beware, you're posting links to devilish music!!! Anathema! LOL :)

  10-31/23:17 Plantagenet:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MCatCy1QLg ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wkrha31cYGI ; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDAFTbVUSd8&t .

  10-31/18:02 Ytreza:  Out of curiosity, as someone ever plotted the average B/W win ratio as function of an Elo threshold? Like for the 5% top players then 10%, 20%...? Could be interesting to see how black's chances increase as the level of play improves.

  10-30/19:53 Bogd Khan:  Adam, can you check your current games. I have a question, thank you

  10-29/18:01 Hagbard:  The computer's warnings were about white repetition only. Ytreza then chose other moves, and nothing happened until the end when white had only one possible move left which it had to repeat endlessly. So the loss in the end was also because of white repetition only.

  10-29/17:22 Adam:  @Ytreza and Hagbard: in the case of Ytreza's white repetition warning from the tournament game with Khan Asp., is the computer spotting a board repetition, or a white only board repetition?

  10-29/12:40 Hagbard:  Looks like Khan Asparukh qualified for the Final, 7 pt.
Next lead in Fólkvangr: Ytreza and Kllimm, 4 pt.

  10-29/09:37 Ytreza:  @Adam - Thanks for the answer. Actually I was more wondering about the first occurence of the message "white repetition. It is not clear to me why white would lose on this one.
Yeah that was an interesting game, I was almost at the "100 moves without capture limit". Actually this strategy was found by my 10 years old little sister! But my opponent played very well here :)

@Bogd Khan - I have shown some examples in a thread in the forum in the "rules" section, especially in the second page. (please remove all side stones which could hack the repetition). First situation of second page is very dubious imo: white only tries to not lose while black has the choice, exactly like when white repeats on a second row in front of two different corners. I think black should lose in this case, but Hagbard seems to disagree. Also I tried to show a repetition in more than two steps where it's alternatively black and white's fault.
It would be much simpler in any case to state that rep are losses for white everytime, especially if situation 1 on p.2 is really a loss for white!

  10-29/08:41 Bogd Khan:  I have another question about the perpetual repetition which is forbidden in Copenhagen. Is there any cases that leads to the loss of blacks if they make repetition.

  10-29/08:30 Adam:  Speaking as umpiure: @Ytreza: Sorry for the delayed reply, you've probably got your answer from the discussion. In short, your position was not an exit fort as your king coudld't get out to the board edge. Draw forts are not a feature in Copenhagen, only winning forts. The rule I think is very clear: "Exit forts: The defenders also win if the king has contact with the board edge, is able to move, and it is impossible for the attackers to break the fort." Perhaps the words 'king, edge, move, impossible' should be in bold though. In your case, the fort was indeed a draw fort, as the only way to break it would be for black to let your king escape and win. The repetition rule was implemented specifiaclly to prevent this type of position from being a win in Copenhagen rules. An interesting game, I especially liked the way you stretched out your opponents forces. Khan Asparukh had to work hard to get you penned in.

  10-28/10:13 Hagbard:  https://bog.dk/valhalla-tag-med-pa-en-rejse-tilbage-i-tiden/
https://finespind.dk/index.php/artikler-og-billedserier/1323-valhalla-fylder-40-ar-med-jubilaeumsbog-og-udstilling-pa-storm-p-museet

  10-28/05:04 casshern:  The game of Bogd khan / Hagbard is a good example. It is a larger exit fort, but not detected by the computer until the king moves to the edge square.

  10-27/19:41 Ytreza:  Thank you for all clarifications :)

  10-27/19:35 casshern:  There is no need to reduce the fort. However, the computer will only detect the fort when the king is touching the edge.

  10-27/19:13 Ytreza:  Ok. And in order for the computer to detect it, should it be reduced?

  10-27/19:11 casshern:  @Ytreza: You are correct in your deductions. As shown in the rules, there are only 2 types of exit forts, 4x2 and 3x3 as I refer to them. Any larger fort created could be reduced down. And it is only a fort if it is indestructible. Any incomplete fort, or lack of a fort as you explained, is not a win for white.

  10-27/18:55 Ytreza:  Are you sure? This implies that any unbreakable fort is reducible to the two forts shown in the rules, which is not obvious to me.

  10-27/17:50 Khan Asparukh:  when the fort is constructed properly described in the rules, this leads to a repetition by the blacks, but after many moves. In order not to swell, we accept the game to end at the time of the construction of the fortress.

  10-27/17:36 Khan Asparukh:  fortresses other than those mentioned are forbidden for white, so the rule is for repetitions

  10-27/17:31 Khan Asparukh:  victory for white is only in the case of specifically built fortresses, you can see them in the rules, all other fortresses are a victory for black.Do not practice on the subject

  10-27/17:26 Ytreza:  Hum... But if white moves the king back and forth at the edge and there is no fort at all (no defenders surrounding the king) or the beginning of a fort with few defenders, it is not a win for white. So if you are right, forts are not so well defined. Such repetitions should rather lead to a loss for white in my opinion. At least that's how I interpret the rules.

  10-27/17:17 Bogd Khan:  You are right. In this case for me the repetition is from the black side and not as usual by white.

  10-27/10:28 Ytreza:  A quick question on edge forts: if the fort can be destroyed but black doesn't actually do it so that white is able to move 3 times the king back and forth with a contact with the edge, does it count as a win for white?

  10-24/18:31 Agmundr:  Thanks for the games against all the players in my group! All of them good and interesting! Skål warriors! 🍻 Good luck in final Casshern and Bogd Khan! 🍻

  10-24/17:11 Hagbard:  First group to complete all games: Bilskirnir

  10-24/09:48 Hagbard:  Looks like Bogd Khan qualified for the Final, 7 pt.

  10-23/19:19 Ytreza:  @Jrton80 - Yes, this game. I'm talking about overall board position repetition, not repetition on a single side (only overall board repetition is problematic in strategy games). And the final position is a draw fort (but not an edge fort so I lost). I'm not contesting the result, just trying to understand the rules as currently formulated and implemented. I don't think white had a way to win with shieldwall capture around move 36: there is no direct capture, and black is ready to take a threatening stone if needed. But in case I'm missing something, I would appreciate if you can write the sequence of moves you have in mind (maybe in our current game chat instead of here).

  10-23/18:57 Jrton80:  @Ytreza - Are you talking about the game that went to 130 moves? I see repetition there, not a draw fort - Also White should have won that game at move 36 using the Shield wall rule

  10-22/21:52 Ytreza:  @Adam, thanks for the answer. Actually I guess it's how you detect "draw forts" (I played the game till the end to see if the computer would eventually detect it and it did). In my opinion this is another example showing that the current statement about repetitions is not good and must be revised. Especially after the last modifications where draw forts have been actually removed! Sorry to insist on this...

  10-22/21:43 Adam:  Speaking as umpire: @Ytreza, we are looking into this, I don't see any obvious board repetition, but I'm not a computer, so its possible there is something I'm missing. Play on both sides looks legal and correct.

  10-22/09:13 Ytreza:  In my current game against Khan Asparukh, the computer showed the message "white repetition" although the board position was not repeated (only white was repeating moves, not black). As this is not a "perpetual repetition" in the sense of chess, I'm wondering which rule forbides it and why (if black can progress toward victory while white just repeats (i.e. gives black free moves) I don't see any issue. The point is that in this game I don't think black can win. In my opinion it should be a draw. But as I may be wrong, I just let black prove me how he wins.

  10-22/06:32 Hagbard:  Looks like Casshern is first to qualify for the Final, 8 pt.
Second lead in Bilskirnir: Bogd Khan 7 pt.

  10-20/08:05 Hagbard:  First to complete all games: L716 2 pt.

  10-18/22:44 Hagbard:  Lead in Bilskirnir: Bogd Khan 7 pt.
Lead in Fólkvangr: Khan Asparukh 3 pt.

  10-17/16:58 xerxes:  @Hagbard: OK, Thanks.

  10-16/22:04 Hagbard:  The king must be sandwiched.

  10-16/19:44 xerxes:  @Hagbard: Ref my game as Black vs Masterluke in T146.  I have just moved a second counter against the King against the throne - why is that not a win for Black ?

  10-10/19:15 Agmundr:  Ok 👌 takk for forklaringen :) og takk for spillet! 🍻

  10-10/19:07 Hagbard:  @OdinHimself: That's it :)

  10-10/19:05 Hagbard:  @Agmundr:
Det er dén, som forsøger at bryde igennem, her hvid, som repeterer; den som blokerer, her sort, går fri.
Normalt advarer systemet før tredje repetition, men chatfunktionen er koblet fra for turneringen. I morgen bliver der lagt en rettelse ud, så advarslen kommer ud, hvis det skulle ske igen i andre spil.
Hvid ville tabe under alle omstændigheder i denne situation, er jeg sikker på. Den hvide konge har i mange træk dygtigt bevæget sig rundt på et stort område af brættet, men sorts strategi fra nu af var at indgrænse kongen i øverste højre del af brættet, og det ville kongen ikke kunne undgå.
Det var ellers et spændende spil, sort kæmpede på hælene det meste af tiden!

  10-10/18:51 OdinHimself:  @Agmundr: Viking brother, it is correct. 99% of the repetition losses are for white, because they play the treathening side. Black can only block white's moves. That's why the white team must find another way, another option. Skal brother!

  10-10/18:31 Agmundr:  @Hagbard: Hvorfor tapte jeg det siste spillet mot deg når det var du som hadde beveget brikken 3 ganger? Og jeg tapte uten å få min tur?

  10-09/11:12 Hagbard:  http://www.mynewsdesk.com/dk/romu/images/oversigt-paa-luftfoto-1780425
http://www.mynewsdesk.com/dk/romu/images/palisademarkering-i-landskabsfoto-fra-drone-1780423

  10-09/10:16 Hagbard:  https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2019-10-09-arkaeologer-har-fundet-indgangen-til-magtens-centrum-i-danmark
https://sn.dk/Lejre/Porten-til-vikingernes-kongehal-er-fundet/artikel/877859

  10-07/17:30 Hagbard:  Lead in Bilskirnir: Casshern 4 pt.

  10-06/11:53 branan:  Thx Luke!

  10-05/20:35 MasterLuke:  @branan: love your brandubh set at the gallery!

  10-05/13:03 Masterluke:  @Steiger: thx for your comments regarding my tafl sets in the gallery... beter late than never, I just discovered this small forum 😄

  10-05/08:24 Hagbard:  First game completed: Casshern / Hagbard

  10-04/20:57 Hagbard:  New in gallery: Branan's new Brandubh tafl set.

  10-04/17:59 Hagbard:  :)

  10-04/17:06 L716:  "Most active player" because otherwise I tend to forget what my plan was ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

  10-03/17:52 Hagbard:  Most active players: L716 and Agmundr.

  10-02/18:11 Agmundr:  Skål! 🍻

  10-02/18:07 Hagbard:  First move: Agmundr.

  10-02/17:33 Hagbard:  May Thor grant you strength and courage on your way.

  10-02/11:53 OdinHimself:  Skal!

  10-02/08:58 Agmundr:  @OdinHimself: Very good! \m/ \m/ 
The saga of the warriors from northland
Speaks of greatness and strength
The saga of the warriors from northland
Are the saga of many great a man

  10-02/06:47 OdinHimself:  @Agmundr: With sword in hand I now stand
On my enemies land
With a northern heart
I will fight until the day I die

My time will be remembered my time it will be known
By my sons by my tribe and by the sun the sea and moon

For the who battle for his land his pride and for his men
Shall be remembered and stand eternally named
In the legends of our land

@Hagbard: Our next feast will take place in this longhouse...

  10-01/22:56 Hagbard:  https://www.tv2lorry.dk/artikel/enormt-vikingebyggeri-staar-snart-klar-og-faar-royal-indvielse

  10-01/10:28 Agmundr:  The next battle round is here! Good luck warriors!
May there be many story telling battles!

 Men will fight and men will die
 Wars will be lost and won
 That's how it's been and still will be
 Long after I'm gone

 Doubting not I give my blood
 So I may enter hall up high
 The sky belongs to Asagods
 As long as the raven flies

  09-29/22:33 Hagbard:  Round 1 is completed.

  09-29/20:05 L716:  Thank you, Xerxes. I will fight in your name! :D

  09-29/18:00 xerxes:  ... it's a hard world !  Congrats to L716.

  09-29/16:12 Adam:  Speaking as umpire: Ratatoskr, Freedom, Kllimm, L716, Agmundr and Ytreza have qualified for Round 2.
Round 2 begins Oct. 2nd at 18 o'clock Danish time. Thanks everyone for a good tournament so far, good luck to all in round 2.

  09-29/08:58 Hagbard:  To umpire Adam:
Requested that Ratatoskr, Freedom, Kllimm, L716, Agmundr and Ytreza qualified for Round 2,
and that Round 2 can start Oct. 2nd at 18 o'clock Danish time.

  09-29/08:44 Hagbard:  Dyflin:
If Waegn wins the last game, then L716 qualified for Round 2.
If Xerxes wins the last game, then both Xerxes and L716 got 8 pt., and they played even against each other, too.
Next criteria, Sonneborn-Berger score:
Xerxes: 34 pt.
L716: 36 pt.
Also in this case L716 qualified for Round 2.
So it looks like L716 qualified for Round 2.

  09-28/15:10 Hagbard:  Freedom- and Steiger both got 7 pt. And played even against each other, too.
Next criteria, Sonneborn-Berger score:
Freedom-: 28 pt.
Steiger: 26 pt.
So it looks like Freedom qualified for Round 2.

  09-28/14:26 Hagbard:  First group to complete all games: Norðvegr.

  09-28/07:10 Hagbard:  Lead in Gàrðaríki: Ratatoskr 8 pt.
Looks like Ratatoskr qualified for Round 2.
Second lead in Gàrðaríki: Steiger 7 pt.

  09-25/23:33 Hagbard:  Lead in Gàrðaríki: Steiger 7 pt.

  09-25/13:23 Agmundr:  Hurra hurra! 🍻

  09-25/11:06 Hagbard:  Looks like Agmundr qualified for Round 2, 9 pt.

  09-25/07:31 Hagbard:  Lead in Norðvegr: Ytreza 8 pt.
Looks like Ytreza qualified for Round 2.
Second lead in Norðvegr: Agmundr 7 pt.

  09-25/00:02 Hagbard:  Lead in Gàrðaríki: Freedom 6 pt.

  09-23/15:44 Hagbard:  Lead in Dyflin: Kllimm 9 pt.
Looks like the first to qualify for Round 2 is Kllimm.
Second lead in Dyflin: L716 8 pt.

  09-22/20:59 Hagbard:  Lead in Norðvegr: Agmundr 5 pt.

  09-22/17:40 Steiger:  @mmagari: Fantastic, Marco!!! Health and wealth!

  09-21/22:25 Hagbard:  First to complete all games: L716 8 pt.

  09-21/22:21 Hagbard:  Lead in Gàrðaríki: Ratatoskr 4 pt.

  09-21/15:14 OdinHimself:  Good job Marco! And a good game with white for Klimm against xerxes! A shieldwall attack with tripple capture and a game win. Outstanding!

  09-21/14:11 Hagbard:  Lead in Gàrðaríki: Freedom 3 pt.

  09-21/10:07 branan:  Very nice Marco!!

  09-21/06:37 Hagbard:  Round 1 is halfway completed.

  09-20/22:07 mmagari:  Health! I point out my last work on the Tafl games:
Game of brandubh - by M.M.Gandolfo Milan 19 9 2019
which you can see here https://marcogandolfoworks.blogspot.com/2019/09/game-of-brandubh-by-mmgandolfo-milano.html

  09-18/22:01 Adam:  Speaking as umpire:  Mykle and Prendek to be removed from the champ. tourn. for not showing up.

  09-18/12:26 Hagbard:  To umpire Adam:
requested that Mykle and Prendek can be removed from the champ. tourn. for not showing up.
3.5 days into the tourn. no move has been made and the games are timing out.

  09-18/12:25 Hagbard:  Lead in Norðvegr: Ytreza 3 pt.

  09-16/17:33 Hagbard:  Lead in Dyflin: L716 3 pt.

  09-15/19:00 Hagbard:  Most active player: L716

  09-15/17:54 Hagbard:  First completed game: Kllimm / L716

  09-15/17:45 Hagbard:  Info: Dmitry Pashkov from "MetalVikings" and his new project "Ethnic Board Games" (Moscow) shared his thoughts of donating a new 1st prize for the tournament!!!

  09-15/00:05 Hagbard:  First move: Masterluke

  09-15/00:02 Hagbard:  May Loki give you laughter as you go!

  09-14/19:28 Adam:  Speaking as umpire: this year's hnefatafl world championship starts tonight. Please play by the rules and with respect for other players time. If you have signed up please take your games seriously, if you decide you can't see the tournament through please let the organisers know. Good luck to all!

  09-14/15:51 chuck ward:  HAIL AND KILL!!!

  09-14/13:10 Ded Fomich:  Interesting event. Welcome to Garðaríki! Komdu sæll, Þórr yðr þiggi, Óðinn yðr eigi!

  09-14/11:57 Hagbard:  9 vikings from Trelleborg in Denmark travelled to Ulyanovsk in Russia Sep. 12th:
https://sn.dk/Slagelse/Lokale-vikinger-skal-kaempe-i-Rusland/artikel/870038
https://www.vdonline.dk/Slagelse/Visionaere-vikinger-drager-paa-Ruslandstogt/artikel/12460

  09-14/11:09 Steiger:  Ósnjallr maðr
hyggsk munu ey lifa,
ef hann við víg varask;
en elli gefr
hánum engi frið,
þótt hánum geirar gefi.

  09-14/09:34 Agmundr:  Warriors of the world!
The great battle is near and it's time to sharpen your swords and Dan axes!
Fight with honour and respect and to your dying breath! 
Good luck to everyone!

Here our soldiers stand from all around the world 
Waiting in a line to hear the battle cry 
All are gathered here victory is near 
The sound will fill the hall bringing power to us all 

We alone are fighting for metal that is true 
We own the right to live the fight we're here for all of you 
Now swear the blood upon your steel will never dry 
Stand and fight together beneath the metal sky 

Brothers Everywhere 
Raise you hands into the air 
We're warriors 
Warriors of The World 
Like thunder from the sky 
Sworn to fight and die 
We're warriors 
Warriors of The World 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1G9D8A4Fiw

  09-14/07:12 death:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-14/05:50 L716:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-14/05:47 L716:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-13/01:40 ratatoskr:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-12/10:57 Khan Asparukh:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-10/10:31 Masterluke:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-09/13:14 Brench:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-08/17:35 casshern:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-08/08:48 prendek:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-07/09:40 branan:  Thanks for that Hagbard. :)

  09-07/08:45 Hagbard:  The "Brandubh noreturn 7x7" test tournament:
NB! The king cannot return to the throne.

  09-05/17:24 Hagbard:  New in gallery: Luk Martens, Belgium, sent photos of new game.

  09-05/09:51 Hagbard:  Plan for triathlon:
Like previous years, a triathlon result will be calculated for:
1. Copenhagen Hnefatafl 11x11, results from the World Champ. Tourn.
2. Historical Hnefatafl 9x9 (Saami Tablut)
3. Sea Battle 9x9
and 4th not part of the triathlon:
4. Berserk Hnefatafl 11x11

  09-03/12:40 freeDom-:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-03/12:08 Ytreza:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  09-03/12:08 Ytreza:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  08-29/19:58 Hagbard:  New in gallery: Adam Bartley's Alea Berserk game set.

  08-29/15:54 Wesley Alves:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  08-29/15:30 Wesley Alves:  Registers for the World Championship Tournament 2019.

  08-29/14:44 hnefihunter:  It is interesting to compare Old Tawlbwrdd and Tablut. "In the Ancient Laws and Institutes of Wales, dating before 1250, costings are given for a game with a king, eight defenders and sixteen attackers." Linné's Tablut has the same.

  08-29/05:27 sqAree:  Potentially interesting discussion about the Copenhagen rules in the large forum (topic name: "Rule variant between "Old hnefatafl" and Copenhagen"). I'm not a fan of the proposed changes, but maybe it's an opportunity to resume thinking about the rules as they're still somewhat flawed (in my opinion).

  08-28/09:58 Hagbard:  My 2 cents:
Doc. for corner escape: Ockelbo Runestone, Ballinderry board and the Alea Evangelii document.
Doc. for edge escape: Linné diary, the Tawlbwrdd document and all other boards found.

  08-27/23:16 ChaolAibhne:  The esoteric Alia Evangelii looks like it may have had corner escape.

  08-27/23:11 ChaolAibhne:  @Hagbard I understand there's some dispute over whether the stone depicts tafl or another game, but even if we take it to be tafl then, as you say, there's no indication of the size. I'm interested in what the historical evidence tells us about the prevalence of corner escape.

  08-27/21:05 Hagbard:  There's the Ockelbo Runestone, Sweden, it shows marked corners and center, but it does not show the board size.

  08-27/19:42 ChaolAibhne:  Is there any archaeological or historical record of tafl boards other than 7x7 with marked corners?

  08-27/16:18 Hagbard:  New user registering for the large forum opened for some days.
Full contents of the small forum.
World Tafl Federation Hnefatafl Championship tournament 2018.
Hnefatafl is also known by the names Nefatavl, The King's Table, The Viking Game, Viking Chess, Tablut or simply Tafl.
History of this site.
Comments on Hnefatafl.
The origin of the Viking board game Hnefatafl and the Berserk rules.
Links to more information on the Viking board game Hnefatafl.
Tafl Shops.
Viking word of wisdom: The Hávamál.
(Havámál på dansk).
Здесь можно играть в тавлеи и против компьютера, и против людей. Можно использовать кириллицу.
Many thanks to Adam Bartley ("Adam"), Tim Millar ("crust"), Gregory Binns ("Torc"), John C. Ashton, Nicolas Cartier, Jonas Lööf ("conanlibrarian"), Olli Salmi, Damian Walker ("cyningstan"), Sten Helmfrid, Rene Gralla, Olga Mudrichenko, Gary and Christa (Germany), Ludovic Antoine, Nikolas Lloyd, Jeffrey Westcoat ("Sigurd"), Rasmus Holbroe, Thore Nissen, Lucho Panchev ("OdinHimself"), Alexander Steiger Dis ("Steiger"), Dmitry Pashkov, Delray Curtis ("jrton80") and David Zolli ("branan") for their contribution to this site. And not least the more than 400 players the world over who played here more than 15000 real tafl games humans against humans and thus created a vast, practical experience with this intriguing, historical board game.
Updated 21.11.2019