Hnefatafl Rules

Fornebei Herfólk Hnefatafl Rule Book

Background notes

Hnefatafl, has been around for some 1600 years and predates Chess. It was especially popular during the Viking Age as the game would have been played during their long voyages and adventures, before a battle or on those long winter nights to pass the time. More than likely there would have been some form of gambling attached to the game giving it an additional element of excitement.

Being a simple game to set up and learn Vikings would have used what ever was available to hand, such as stones, glass fragments or animal bones for the playing pieces and a gaming area that would have been etched on a piece of wood, marked out on a rock surface, or even scored on leather if they could afford it. This made Hnefatafl and its variants accessible to all ranks and may explain why remnants of the game have been found across different parts of Northern Europe.

This app has been created as an aid for the tournament players and watchers during the Viking event Formby Oct 2013

Rules are varied - These have been set up local to the event. If used please provide feedback and we will try to improve the app, hopefully as the interest in Hnefatafl grows and spreads.