Hnefatafl - Board Game of the Vikings

[@logya]

it would be interesting to see you actually play this game with someone else , cool vid and cool game .

[@michalhalvonik4500]

i would love to see that

[@valdrblodorn7151]

I second that!

[@guyh.4553]

Me too!

[@MDMAx]

There are websites you can join and play vs pc or others.

[@kleko]

It's on steam too btw

[@BitestheStuff]

I won't lie, 99% of the reason I clicked on the video was to figure out how to pronounce the name of the game. Very informative video, gave me a better outlook on the game than before.

[@cymro6537]

In Wales ,we call this game 'Tawlbwrdd' -.pronounced "Towel boorrth" In was recorded as still being played in Wales as late as 1587 by a man called Robert ap Ifan. He made a diagram of the board and described the rules - it is largely from this description that today's 'Viking game' is based. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👍

[@mortsartstudio9403]

I had no idea Tawlbwrdd existed, I have a lot of history to catch up on 😅

[@tahunuva4254]

Gonna be playing this in my D&D game tonight. It's easy to learn, hard to master - perfect for dropping into a session to give that extra viking flair!

[@pippinvanriel]

I'm was thinking the same, any update on how it went?

[@tahunuva4254]

@@pippinvanrielIn typical d&d fashion, they ended up never even arriving in town due to getting embroiled in a gnoll war. [:P] Next time they'll actually reach civilisation, hopefully.

[@pippinvanriel]

@@tahunuva4254.. sure sounds like PC's to me.

[@winstonjohnson5896]

I think Brandubh is a great version to introduce new comers to the Hnefatafl family of games. It's played on a 7 x 7 square game board with only 13 game pieces vs Hnefatafl's 11 x 11 square game board and 37 game pieces.

[@benfarrell5332]

Yess rise us d&d nerds

[@paamodt7170]

Thank you, I remember my family having a board and pieces. That was brought over in the mid 1800's. However, when I was aware of the game, no one really knew how to play anymore. I was blessed to visit Trondheim and Stavanger with a US Marine and Nato exercise

[@thrix3975]

Found Hnefatafl in a second hand shop and bought it. It's really fun and easy to learn. The instructions I got with the game was quite bad so had to check out this video to get a decent instruction. Thanks!

[@Raminess]

My sister gave me a Hnefatafl board for my birthday and this video helps me to understand how to play so much better. Now I can play against my family and strain our relationships with bad sportsmanship!

[@siralvinxd1327]

I know that game before and I taught how to play to my family (in Spain). -Hey brother, do you want to play Hnefatafl? -Hne...hnefa what!? XD Now we play it more tan chess.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Yes, I like it more than chess too!

[@josephjude1290]

@@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen it's quicker and more how a man would think. I think chess involves too much overthinking.

[@juandavidrestrepoduran6007]

Joseph J chess is a man made game. I think rather that chess is less straightforward because it is a much more strategic game (I enjoy these two btw), as a result of being a game for people that would be in such position and that would have the time for a long game, this is, aristocracy. As a funny note about the original comment, chess as we know it developed so in Spain during the second half of the Middle Ages towards the Reinassance. The first famous manuals and masters of the game as we know it were spanish.

[@kursor52]

@@juandavidrestrepoduran6007 I like to think of Hnefatfl as a soldier's game that tests quick tactics similar to a small battle and Chess as a General's game testing long term strategy for an entire war.

[@alexandrebour7494]

@@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen Hnefatafl is so unbalanced in favor of the black side but I find a way to make it balanced and more complex. Do you accept I write my rules?

[@SpiritForest]

I like that your videos are different from one another. This was fun to learn. Thanks for sharing.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

I will be back to the outdoors soon. Next week I guess. But I am glad you liked it!

[@Colonelmustang11]

It would be cool to see a modified larger version played by five people where all four clans are controlled by a separate person so that they would be less organized. Of course, whichever clan kills the king would gain control of his pieces and be the new king, trying to get to a corner castle, and now the other three players would go after them and so on and so forth until only one clan is left standing. A larger board with mountain and river spaces that act like the castles, they can't be moved onto They must be moved around and can be used to trap/kill pieces, would add even more strategy and difficulty to the game. Love your videos!

[@TheClassicdog]

Just picked this game up in Shetland. I'm thinking an interesting variation would be to allow king only one square move at a time and maybe any direction (he is king after all😊)

[@fekinuhhh3495]

Your clear and soft-spoken delivery is much appreciated. It’s easy to see your passion for the history and to talk about it in an unpatronising way really makes it easy to watch. You just earned a new subscriber, keep up the good work!!!

[@jr7077]

Thank you. This, along with Tak, are amongst our favourite games by far.

[@ColinBrown85]

I've played this game with all of my Grade 8 Social Studies students for the past decade or more. It's easy to learn and the kids love it- it's a good way to hook them on the Early Middle Ages unit!

[@V9bct7]

How did you afford all of those board game sets? Thats an awesome idea

[@ColinBrown85]

@@V9bct7 I made them! Made a grid on poster paper with the rules and then just laminated it. Poker chips make great pieces.

[@carsonbarrett2529]

I've never know about this till now, but man do I want one of these boards now to play this game.

[@authunhx3129]

Good video. I have ordered the game and will be playing it on sea days during a cruise to northern norway.

[@ybrueckner5589]

authunhx how sublime

[@mattcolumbia7948]

My six year old daughter and I have been playing this game for a while. We absolutely love it and share with everyone that is interested. Thank you Sausage Theif of the Woods.

[@nancysalerno7036]

Very interesting. The only Nordic game I have played was a dice game s friend brought back from Denmark. Two players each with dice in a leather cup slam them down on bar simultaneously. We played it a lot in the 70’s , but cannot remember the rules of play at all now, just that it was great fun….

[@terrisawatson]

The best part about playing Tafl for me is that it teaches you to think several steps ahead, and that the strategy is constantly changing. It very much applies to life, and business.

[@Acidica18]

I read of this game once in a viking history book for kids when I was 11 years old. I adapted the game using a checkerboard and checker pieces, and presented it as a school project for one of our major assignments (claiming I had invented the game all on my own). The teacher of our small-town school was blown away (troglodytes don't know their viking history) and I got 100% on the project. After seeing this video, I realize the way I had designed the game was completely wrong. I had used a 7x7 version of a checkerboard (one square cut off the width and height), had placed the attacking soldiers one space apart all along the edge of the board, and had made the goal of the defenders to get their king to ANY tile on the edge of the board. Naturally, it was far easier to win as the defender. Great blast from the past. I'm glad I stumbled across this video.

[@DDAWGtheredrevo]

👍 Top notch mo chara! Cleared a few rules up for me and the missus! Much obliged!

[@polynomics1981]

Damn I’ve been watching you since convid but didn’t realise you did a video on this…

[@JoseSerrano-ct2rf]

Thank you Bjorn. I just acquired a Hnefatafl game. I really appreciate your video explaining how to play. Best regards.

[@kristheoldonemarczy3622]

Gods be with you Bjorn. I have acquired a King's Board like the the one you showed in this video. I was not so sure how to play this game with the instructions that was provided with it. However you have explained it with clarity. I am humbly satisfied. Thank you so much.

[@caseywarrer]

Your board and pieces are so beautiful. I love it. Your voice is really relaxing too! Like a father's voice. Thank you for explaining in a calming way.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Wow, so many comments already! Thanks, everybody! Btw, if you use different rules or variations of these, feel free to share those with us. Also, subscribe to this channel and help it reach the 20.000 subs milestone!

[@stefanodogg280]

Thanks so much for this, I never knew of this game. Now I'll have to make a set (woodworker/artist)

[@joeybickley4877]

Is this a precursor to chess?

[@jamessheehan2694]

I was sailing in the merchant navy and got this game in the UK from an Historic game company. learned it 25 plus years ago but had know one to play. thanks for the video.

[@gardenguster5271]

Sickkk

[@beaulieuonnp593]

I am getting this for Christmas 2020 it has been a game I have been waiting for ages, used to see it in the British Museum. I am now a member of a boardgame group in the UK and I am the only one who comes up with historical games. I am sure I have Viking Ancestry.

[@danamaennchen]

I just bought this game on a trip to Iceland. It's super interesting and enjoyable. Me and my son daughter have had a few games together. They love it.

[@judeross3875]

Thannk you so much for sharing. At a viking reenactment group one of the ladies taught my son and me nine mens morris am not sure the norse translation of this. He picked it up quickly!! Can look in to this game for him too. Muchlove and blessings Bjorn xx

[@jacobduenas6408]

I love this game I have been playing for about 6months thanks for making a great video on it

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thank you, Jacob.

[@andybelcher1767]

I have had this game for about 25 years. As you say, it is exciting to play, and I used to play it a lot. As with most early games it is a tactics and leadership teaching tool. I can imagine that the reason for the increasing popularity of chess was the change in the way that wars were fought with armies made up of different elements increasingly facing each other. I suppose that it might be fair to say that the the early small 'battles' with a definitive outcome turned into wider scale political wars and that is what is reflected in the popularity of each game. Just a thought.

[@quintenberry2111]

Hnefatafl is one of my favorite ancient strategy games.

[@edwatson1991]

I have played this a bit, my family studied Norse history, and this cool game came up. With games like chess, and checkers, things are the same on both sides. With this game, the strategy employed by each side has to be different, because the goals are different. Haven't played it for a while now because my boys are older, but had lots of fun doing so.

[@critical_mass6453]

I have that exact set. My brother got it for me when he was in Scotland several years ago. We all love playing it. Nice video.

[@alleycatjack4562]

I picked up this game a couple years ago. A lot of fun.

[@markcash2]

I have purchased this game for myself, but my son and the rest of his Boy Scout troop have taken a great liking to it. I have just noticed that I have the exact same set that you have!

[@JeKeScy]

Thank you, dude. I bought this very set at the Arkeologisk Museum in Stavanger this summer and wasn't totally sure if I understood all the rules, but you made it all clear so I can finally play a game now

[@lindseymaxwell2258]

One of the better videos on how to play that I've seen. Thank you, I enjoyed it.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thank you, Lindsey!

[@DataJuggler]

I have played chess for 45+ years and studies all kinds of strategy games and I have never heard of this until today. Thanks for the video.

[@MrTrilbe]

I think i've found where Terry Pratchett got his inspiration for his game Thud from

[@trentonarney6066]

I was just thinking that. Dwarves and Trolls.

[@RudyMessex]

I really appreciate you putting this together. I'm just getting started try to learn this game.

[@bushcraftsurvivalslovenia5241]

I have heard about this game before but I never found a super great explanation of how to play. Thanks for this explanation. -Matej

[@2Oldcoots]

Bjorn: Thank you so much for this tutorial on a beautiful game. I'm not a board game enthusiast but this seems to have a characteristic of GO (surrounding) and looks fascinating!

[@KingHazard]

I'd learned of this game before hand, but randomly played it for the first time on a flight to East Asia... brilliant game!

[@kevinv2927]

I have no enemies.

[@heathen637]

I was going to ask where I could buy one...but I've decided to carve my own pieces....thanks Bjorn keep doing what you're doing...I believe the gods are pleased.

[@janneman7710]

in the game bannerlord, there are mini games ( board games) you can play in the taverns of the cities . the board game you can play in the empire is a version of Hnefatafl.

[@stevenjohnsrud4655]

I love this game. The price for the game is very high. I am going to the Philippines and they have so many amazing wood carvers. I am going to have a board and pieces made. It is a very fun game for all ages and is so analog. I love it.

[@winstonjohnson5896]

I've been playing Tablut and Brandub (both are members of the Tafl family of games) for two months now. I've custom made numerous game boards and game pieces. I've just recently started to sell my hand-crafted games on ebay. I haven't tried the 11 square version yet but I really enjoy playing on the 9 and 7 square boards.

[@taogoat27]

Thanks! I just learned about this from The Last Kingdom and got a tafl board for Christmas.

[@mizukarate]

Helpful. I play Hnefatafl, Go, and regular Chess. They are great. Thanks for the information.

[@lukehickey388]

Great vid! I have an assignment on the Vikings and what they did in the Viking Age and this was extremely helpful! Keep up the great work!

[@Broddrskegg]

This game is so much fun! I have an app on my phone, but I'm going to buy the board game as soon as I can! Great video!

[@valdrblodorn7151]

I love the tafl games! I just made a tablut set that I carved and wood burned, its crude but it works. I've played it with rocks and the board drawn in the dirt, so the one I made is my first inside game.

[@cacheteinflado1]

Greetings from Costa Rica 🇨🇷 great channel i admire your culture

[@eloryosnak4100]

Quite interesting the similarities to Circular Chess, which in my knowledge was popular in the Middle East

[@NorwegianWoods]

That is a fun game. I bought one just like yours a couple of years ago :) Thanks for sharing - Martin

[@elQueFaltaba]

I was tempted to buy a set of this game in Dublin the other day. Seems like a good straightforward strategy game.

[@mezidvemastromy5546]

Thank you very much for this good description. I'm absolutely gonna to buy this game in the near future.

[@MitchWild-kx1tx]

I have owned a set just like this for a very long time. 30 years or more. More complex than it first appears.

[@MrAshleysPlace]

Love this board game, learned to play a few year ago and taught it to my students at primary school and they love it too. Great video!! Will share this video with others to help share and explain such an awesome game!! Thanks heaps

[@chrisdavid1410]

I've played this game for decades and it is a beautiful game. I will always recommend people to learn it.

[@Fireandaxes]

Thank you Bjorn.. Really enjoy all your vids. I actually found this game in a charity shop here in England last week and you have inspired me to learn to play. Cheers my friend 👍🐺

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thank you. Glad to hear you found one!

[@dmh0667ify]

Thanks, Bjorn, for this overview! Several things I'd like to say: 1.) From my play of some versions I've played on my phone, it appears to be a very "simple" game, rules-wise, but difficult to master. 2.)It represents, to me, the Scandinavian culture's contribution to notions of basic strategy that the various versions of Chess (Chess, Shogi, Changi, etc.) also give, and lastly, 3.) I believe it provides a window into why Dane and Norwegians were so comfortable with fighting from a surrounded position against more numerous opponents, whenever their Viking raids might get cornered in Wessex, Frankia, or other European locales.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Very wise observations! Thanks for sharing.

[@12yearoldscotch]

I love the Jorvik Viking Festival in York, UK every February, I don’t recall any mentions of this game, maybe you can come to the next festival and change that

[@ronniegibbard8158]

I'm a reanacter in England and have been playing this game for many years East game to play but a hard game to master

[@happymonk4206]

Good video as always, I have always been curious about this game

[@pesarirooni62]

out of the ordinary? when I was searching for Hnefatafl, I specifically clicked on your video because to me, this is THE Viking channel so 😁❤ thank you for explaining

[@cimbrerbushcraft-vikingheritag]

Interesting video and great board game 👍🏻 Didn’t know that game. Thanks for your introduction to this old game play 👌🏻😊

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thank you, Tom!

[@silentwitness7132]

Thanks a lot for this video Bjorn, I always wanted to look this awesome game up and play it, but I always forget to look it up in the end, now I've finally seen it. Love your channel!

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thank you!

[@CIA-M]

Love this game! Made a board and pieces myself :) My group and i often play it at events

[@guyh.4553]

Thanks for the video... I have been wondering how to play this game. Pretty easy yet very strategic. Thanks...

[@steveclamp4488]

I've had this game in my cupboard for years and have never known how to play it. Thanks for explaining the rules.☺

[@Tipi_Dan]

I saved this to my playlist "Heritage Home & Hearth". One day. Thank you.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Awesome!

[@spelldeck]

This game looks fun definitely would play this game.

[@jarlwikberg1553]

Hnefatafl is fornnordic which translated into contemporary Swedish is "tavla för näven" which in English translates to "table for the fist" or "table for the hand" - that is a table you play with the hand. The name does not include king as claimed in the clip.

[@saevarkiller]

This checks out. Hnefatafl is "Fist chess" in Icelandic without being translated at all. No mention of kings.

[@derekp9737]

Thank you for the time to explain it, looks like a cool game :)

[@veronikapalikova2714]

I just got the game, looking forward to play it soon! Never heard of it before. By the way, you do look like a viking! (A compliment :))

[@lukeeeeeeeeee3613]

3:48 wouldn't the white life also be out since it is also "squeezed" between a kings square and an enemy piece?

[@lukeeeeeeeeee3613]

@TCB Ok thank you!

[@reberlin]

I never knew how to actually saw the name, thank you. My kids love this game.

[@coffeelovesyarnbycarolina2398]

Thanks for sharing! This game looks like fun!

[@jesusdiazflores5328]

I will try and make an digital version of this game since I have yet to find one so look around for it and if ya can’t find it then message me on updates

[@haydenfrost2692]

Hey how's the update

[@Fearofthemonster]

looking forward to it

[@GorgonDrageil]

Did you make it?

[@jonahchoco9170]

theres an app for android, search for Hnefatafl

[@randynicholson539]

They are available on Amazon.

[@urbannpa]

After I watched the Viking series I've been reading about their culture especially weapons and war tactic. My Daughter's and I European trip plans ended with the Covid outbreak.

[@tomwaite4594]

Just bought last week and really enjoy.

[@brwhyon]

Thank you so very much for the video, great explanation of the game. Having one parent who is of Norwegian (100%) ancestry, I am drawn to the history and culture, again, Thank you !

[@patrickbrennan1317]

My ancestry is more Celtic than Nordic but Norse culture has a lot going for it.

[@leifbruton]

Thank you for sharing. I have been curious about that board game.

[@mobilecivilian6124]

The use of fixed fortifications is pretty cool.

[@MaestroRigale]

Love this game! My 8th grade math teacher had a set and would play with us before class.

[@Catastrofius]

Loved this video. Will be making a set for myself. Thanks!

[@dianeteeter6650]

Thanks for this video. I have been planing to buy that game the next available time.

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

I think you'll love it!

[@elizabethwelch985]

My Nephew made one from cloth to carry easily on his travels, Now when i see him i know how to play Thank you :)

[@ronschramm9163]

Looks like a fun game! Thanks, Bjorn for the video!

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thanks, Ron!

[@grimmgod4805]

I've played this game it wasn't as nice as the one you have. Just with simple light and dark stones those pieces were very nice.

[@manicmechanic448]

I'd like to try playing this game.

[@rjofur]

Fist chess... excellent. A direct translation in Icelandic, Hnefi (fist) and tafl (board game or chess). I had to click when I saw the title!

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

I don't like to be absolute about these things, but commonly it is translated as "King's table". But fists were certainly involved sometimes!

[@rjofur]

Bjorn Andreas Bull-Hansen I was just being tongue-in-cheek. It is a fantastic name, hnefatafl

[@robertcorbell1006]

The old "earthquake checkmate" reaction of any bad sport, lol. Likely the reaction to the board of many a warrior when losing (likely with his Birka whittler or seax in hand that impales the board), leading to a mead-fueled drunken brawl egged on by heartily laughing warriors full of drink and meat, punching and puking. Then again, it's all fun and games until someone gets an axe in the head, which leads to a duel for honorable vengeance at dawn while hungover and the winner ends up gloating as the loser's family has to bury the poor idiot who started it and repay the loss of his friend to the other guy's family via wereguild, but ultimately a week or so later sets off a century-long blood-feud that they will sing sagas of for another century after that (include THAT in your next novel). :)

[@fredriks5090]

I made an uneducated guess that the translation would be fist-board due to the western-norwegian feel i got from the word that would be Nevatavla in todays writing. Interesting to see that the Icelandic language supports my guesses.

[@spencerdixon4011]

This looks amazing, I’ll show my friends and see if I can beat them!

[@robodude678]

Another great video Bjorn! I've always wanted to play this and to learn how to play it, thank for for the video! I think i will look at purchasing a set in the near future to play with some friends! Thanks again Bjorn and i hope you're keeping well!

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

Thank you. I think you and your friends will really like this game.

[@laurena227]

Really glad to get a breakdown of how we believe it was played, I'm getting it for my mum on her birthday :)

[@BjornAndreasBull-Hansen]

That's a great gift!

[@smithythetank817]

Awesome video! Really want to get a board for myself now.