How to play Hnefatafl - the Viking board game

[@DragosNicolaescu]

I think this is the only videoclip presenting the competitional rules (Copenhagen Hnefatafl 11x11)

[@alexandrebour7494]

If you're interested, I've ideas to make Hnefatafl more complex to master.

[@Setright230]

Really well explained. I love playing the game have a nice wood and bone set and a set where the leather holding pieces it becomes the board as burnt into the leather. My family blood line goes back to the Viking times, my younger brother now teaches History to high school and up specialising in Viking history. I have studied and followed Norse old ways many yrs. Even when serving in the Army I told the padre as they are the religious guy for all soldiers. Don’t go giving me the last rights as I’m not one of the sheep or flock. We spoke about an hour which he said he was impressed that I knew so much about the culture and spiritual side and agreed to mark it in my file. Not Christian true follower of Pagan / Norse traditions. I’m now on a veterans pension as body has had its day, so me and my service Dog Trooper… also cost me 15yr marriage 2 great kids that don’t see me much or to see my grandkids. Yet you’ve scored a new subscriber and look forward to watching your videos. Stay strong, Skál…🫡🪖🇦🇺

[@austingrady1814]

King Canute bout to get captured by Thorfinn

[@arian6565]

The leaders should be playing Hnefatafl not Thorfinn, because there's absolutely no reason, for this many people to shed their blood.

[@kerik6380]

I've played a simplified version of these rules at markets here in Norway, easy to learn and fun to play. I didn't know much about the actual history of it, or about Tablut, always cool to learn something new

[@simonfreeman148]

I made a Hnefatafl game during lockdown 2020, ive yet to get to grips with the rules and play but its on my list. A game to play next to the fire pit with some ales me thinks.

[@CrowHavenPastures]

Rule explanation starts at 5:19

[@SavitarWasStolen]

Thanks

[@Tomara632]

Thanks for sharing. A more modern board game about kings and overtaking the opponent is draughts.

[@davidr9104]

I learned about this game reading John Gwynne's Bloodsworn Trilogy. I then later found out it's a real game! This is a great video on how to play the game and your channel is really cool! Subscribed!

[@NorseReign]

It is as real as it gets. Thanks for the sub buddy!

[@d_15745]

Thanks for the video! I’m a beginner chess player and a big fan of history so naturally I would find this very interesting

[@ericmartin927]

I'm loving this and loving your content, thank you! Love the history, Vikings are so cool, probably very misunderstood, and I'm just trying to learn this board game better so thank you!

[@NorseReign]

Thanks buddy. Well, the classic image of raiding Vikings is absolutely accurate, but there's at the same time alot more to the Scandinavian/Icelandic people/culture of the Viking Age.

[@ericmartin927]

@@NorseReign Agreed thank you!

[@spikewillow4552]

Best & most Historically accurate "how to play" I've watched , looking at your channel you defo have a new sub brother Skal 🍺

[@NorseReign]

Thanks! Much appreciated!

[@jenniferdaniel6952]

Till this video I didn’t know i needed this in my life lol excited to try! Thanks for the great video

[@clonetrooper71]

For the exit fort, the white pieces surrounding the king must be impenetrable, otherwise it won't work. In your example, it wouldn't work because the white piece at the head of the formation could technically still be captured, because there are two free spaces on its flanks which allow it to be captured, meaning that the fort is not impenetrable. You would need one more piece there in order for it to work.

[@loke6664]

I bought a board at the Wisby museum in Gotland a couple of days ago. This one doesn't have the 4 castle squares so the king just need to reach the end of the map to win, which one would think would be easier but we played it maybe 20 times on the boat home and it was still pretty even, I think in the end the king still lost more then he won. I check around and there are a bunch of different rules, it might be that the towers are best when you have a larger board since it gets too easy for the king to get to the sides then but it might also be that the rules changed depending on the time or area it was played in. It is a fun game, faster then chess (usually) and easier to learn the rules but you have the same "easy to learn, hard to master" factor in it. The board I bought is 9x9 squares but I think I will experiment and see if I can't copy a historical board or 2 that is larger and use different rulesets. Thanks for the vid. :)

[@Doomfruit]

Thanks for the info! Do you know anything about the supposed viking yard game of Kuub?

[@jim7217]

Thanks for addressing this - just downloaded a Hnefatafl game to my phone and will try it out (there were a few, so I'd like to use the best - does anyone out there have a good one they like?) BTW - my son and I will have really gotten into our Viking heritage recently and I will be making a simple leather game board for Hnefatafl, to enjoy camping, or just about anywhere. Hopefully we can get more interest in the cultural aspects of our past (while also enjoying a good whiskey/mead, or whichever alcoholic beverage of your choice).

[@mcmastergi]

Love this game. Didn't know about all these Copenhagen rules. It's cool to have different objectives depending of the chosen team. I'm really into abstract strategy games. Here are some other 2-player games I enjoy: Pente, Dao, Shobu, Tak, Onitama, Kamisado.. Hnefatafl is kinda new for me but I sure love it ! 🤘

[@majamrk4139]

you did god explaining. Triped over your side. Lok forward to see the stuff your realy god at😊

[@mariadyrlund6584]

Thank you for the information!

[@joe7587-f1v]

great explanation of the game!

[@helenedumoulin9092]

Hi! I have a question: from the first eight moves, on my turn, can I place two attackers on each side of the corner to prevent the king access to them..?

[@rujon288]

yes but white can recapture due to corner rule no?

[@AFaragher]

I love this!!

[@fbzz64]

The game looks really interesting to play, and the rules are not especially difficult to learn compared to modern chess for example... you can see some similarities with Chaturanga! It is incredible to see the value that was given to strategy in ancient times.

[@dohayala3851]

I didn't know it's good to know 🤗

[@lishahaischer695]

Love this!!

[@christophermurphy5599]

But how many pieces can be captured at a time...if I sandwich two together do I take both?

[@TantricBioHacker]

1.Can the King capture pieces according to Cph rules? In Birka rules he can 2. Some rules mention that you are not allowed to move your pieces in a position so that they can be captured does that include when capturing the oppoistion pieces? since capturing an opposing piece usually means that one of your piece is also flanked right before the capture. 3. 3 piece flanking of the king serves as a win I heard from another walkthrough but he mentioned when all the other pieces were gone wouldn't that lose technically be because you can not move. If you can not move you also lose in the game right?

[@TheDigitalInferno]

I love watching youtube captions try to transcribe hnefatafl

[@NorseReign]

Lol! Good luck YT captions!

[@princewaesen154]

Thank you mr Beard!

[@4reiziger]

When i place my piece and doing so i enclose 2 of my oposing figures, are both of them captured? When playing i could even enclose 3 by placing my piece.

[@JimmieCochran]

good video thanks

[@allenscott228]

Hnefatafl - Table Battle/Fight

[@bohunes]

Like because I love Hnefatafl, nice content and great beard ;)

[@bowloflight2201]

I use the Pfefferkorn rules!

[@bowloflight2201]

Basically same, it’s just that you commit suicide by moving in between two pieces!

[@hollysegroves1717]

Where did c you get your game peices?

[@TheDigitalInferno]

There’s some at ad gefrin in northumberland

[@AntonioGarcia-en9yf]

I play allowing the king just to move one square per turn, but he is allow to kill. However if the king moves than one square, he won’t be allowed to kill.

[@rm2kking]

I just got a set recently

[@TheShortYautja]

I knew you looked familiar hello there Agnarr my friend

[@danieljarvis3125]

Auspect's of "GO"

[@legionplays513]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@werewolf74]

battle board.... ?

[@ProleCenter]

I find it almost impossible to win as the attacker. The game is way too easy for the defense. To make things more fair and even I think the king should only be allowed to move one space at a time.

[@aSandwich.13]

Even in real life battles, the defenders usually have the advantage.

[@codewordslinkydog]

l can't win attacking but always win defending

[@rustyshackleford3917]

I always win attacking but really struggle defending

[@PyroPsycho95]

​@@rustyshackleford3917 The duality of man.

[@RolandWebster-l1u]

Davis George Thompson Mark Clark Kevin

[@vladislavshevchenko9970]

This game is super unbalanced depending on the set of rules its either a guaranteed win for black or a guaranteed win for white. I tested it with a computer. I was unable to find a variant which gives approximately equal chances for both players. I understand that in chess white pieces have an advantage of about 1/3 of a pawn, but still a chess game of played perfectly is either a draw or a win for white. Hnefatafl if played perfectly (computer) leaves no chance to one of the players.

[@JomilaHosan]

Jones Robert Miller Scott Thomas Mark

[@MarcanMC]

Irl Reaper leviathan

[@Afganro]

Odal Tyr Joy

[@JosephWilliams-v9x]

Jones Dorothy Lee Jennifer Jackson Brian

[@reneemayer124]

You need to buzz your bread in to shap . Handsome work on your appearance🎉

[@SvhwCsnsj]

Lee Dorothy Perez Mary Young Dorothy

[@Afganro]

Heil Odin og Thor his son.Mvh Bjørn Egil Ragnarson

[@zion5390]

🤪 P r o m o s m!