Hnefatafl Board Game - Viking Chess
The family of Tafl games is at least 1,500 years old and is most closely associated with the Vikings who brought it to all parts of Scandinavia, Britain and many parts of Europe and Russia. The game is a fascinating game of unequal forces and different objectives. The attackers aim to surround and kill the enemy King while the defenders must protect their King as he tries to escape to a corner of the board. The game is simple to learn but can require deep thought - a classic game of strategic warfare. The etymology of the word Hnefatafl is disputed but 'hnefi' translates as 'fist' and often referred to the king-piece and tafl in old Norse came to be a generic term for board game. Therefore a likely interpretation is King's Board or King's Table.
Hnefatafl Board Game - Viking Chess Set - Masters Edition
Click any picture for a large version
Hnefatafl Board Game - Viking Chess Set - The Masters Edition with Cloth Board & Detailed replica Resin Pieces
Ref: 00H720
Was: £29.99
£27.90
£23.25 (Ex.VAT)
ETA: 1 working day + transit time
Hnefatafl is a fascinating board game of Viking origin that is at least 1500 years old. Also known as Viking Chess, It is a deeply strategic war game of unequal sides with the king and his guards outnumbered by the attacking forces. The 'white' player must move their King to one of the corner squares to win, whilst the 'dark' player must hinder the progress and capture / kill the King.
Approx. Dimensions:
Box: 29.5 x 15 x 3.5cm. Weight: 0.41kgBox: 11.6x5.9x1.4 inch. Weight: 14oz
- Hnefatafl Viking Board Game - a fascinating game of Viking origin that's at least 1500 years old
- Also known as Viking Chess, Hnefatafl is a strategic war game of unequal forces. It is an authentic Viking game that's relatively easy to learn, but with good strategic depth
- Two Player Board Game - The defenders (lighter pieces) must protect and move their King to safety whilst the attackers (darker pieces) attempt to capture the King
- Full set of accessories included - The Masters Hnefatafl set includes a cloth linen board, high quality resin pieces with exceptional levels of detail (12 defenders, 24 attackers and 1 King) and a set of rules
- Perfect gift - This set is presented in a decorated cardboard box and will make a great present for any games enthusiast
![Made in Britain]( "Made in Britain")
Made in Britain- Language of Rules/Instructions: German, Spanish, French, English, Japanese, Norwegian
- For ages: 14+
- Number of players: 2
- Average game time: 20 minutes
Made in BritainThis premium quality Hnefatafl set contains beautiful, moulded resin pieces with exceptional levels of detail. There are 37 playing pieces in total - 12 defenders, 24 attackers and 1 King. The Viking Chess pieces are in two different designs and finished in simulated wood and cream colours. They are based on the famous 12th century Lewis Chessmen.
The game board is made from natural linen and is nicely decorated with typical Viking patterns and symbols. The linen Hnefatafl board is lightweight, practical and can be folded / rolled up for easy storage.
The game is presented in a decorated cardboard box and comes with a set of multi-lingual rules based on those played in the 9th and 10th centuries and using the Hnefatafl board of 11 x 11 squares.
Contains small parts. Unsuitable for people vulnerable to choking hazards..
Tablut, Viking Tafl Game with Wooden Cabinet Board & Painted Pieces
Click any picture for a large version
Tablut, Viking Tafl Game with Wooden Cabinet Board & Painted Pieces
Ref: 0006HW
Was: £39.99
£29.99
£24.99 (Ex.VAT)
ETA: 1 working day + transit time
The family of Tafl games is at least 1,500 years old and Tablut, this version of the game, is based upon a game found in Lapland in 1732. This type of game is most closely associated with the Vikings who brought it to all parts of Scandinavia, Britain and many parts of Europe and Russia.
Approx. Dimensions:
Board: 225 x 225 x 54mmBoard: 8.9x8.9x2.1 inch
- Tablut belongs to the family of Tafl games that date back at least 1,500 years and are closely associated with the Vikings
- This Tablut set is based upon a game found in Lapland in 1732 - Tablut translates as 'Kings Table' in Icelandic
- Similar to Hnefatafl or Viking Chess, but played on a 9 x 9 board
- Includes a hinged hardwood cabinet board with internal storage and painted wooden pieces
- A fascinating game of unequal sides - relatively simple to learn, but with good strategic depth
- Language of Rules/Instructions: English
- For ages: 14+
- Number of players: 2
- Average game time: 20 minutes
Tablut translates as "Kings Table" in Icelandic and it is a fascinating game of unequal forces and different objectives. The dark Muscovites aim to surround and kill the enemy King while the blonde Swedes must protect their King as he tries to escape to a corner of the board. The game is simple to learn but can require deep thought; some believe it is a forerunner of chess. Tafl games, most notably Hnefatafl, are now commonly known as Viking Chess.
The Tablut box is made from hardwood and measures 22.5 x 22.5 x 5.5cm (9 x 9 x 2.25 inches). The top is hinged and opens so that the pieces and rules can be stored inside the box.
Contains small parts. Unsuitable for people vulnerable to choking hazards..
Games of the Tafl family are distinguished by the unequal size of the opposing forces. The objective is usually for the force of fewer numbers to take all the members of the larger forces whose aim is generally to stop them doing so. A fragment of a gaming board of 18 x 18 squares, found in Wimose, Fyn, Denmark dated prior to AD400 is the first evidence of a game called Tafl, which also regularly appears in the early Icelandic sagas. Tafl apparently developed into Hnefatafl (which literally translates as 'Kings Table'), which was played by the Saxons as well as other Northern Europeans on the same size board and which is mentioned in Icelandic sagas from the beginning of the fourteenth century. The Vikings took the game with them on their forages which helped it to spread far and wide. It isn't known exactly how either Tafl or Hnefatafl were played but evidence shows that the game of Tablut, described by a traveller called Linnaeus during his trip to Finland in 1732, is likely to have been very similar to Hnefatafl. The later British game Fox & Geese, still played today is an ancestor of the game converted to use a chessboard. You can learn more about the History of Tablut from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.
