>Hnefatafl (NOT Hnefatalf)> King's Corner or King's Table> Nefatavl> Tablut> Taflstart here:
http://aagenielsen.dk/overview.phpExplore the site for history, several different rule sets, links to other resources, other similar games, and/or join a community to play other people or computers.
"Tafl" is an old game, and the "original rules" have been lost. Today we have several different sets of rules (and names), and there are several possible boards (some use different names). Also, the starting position of the pieces have variations, and the type of pieces for each side can be different depending on which set of rules you are using.
Example, this board is
>>7693463 the 9x9 grid variation called Tablut. These
>>7693461 >>7693466 11x11 grid boards are considered 'more traditional' Hnefatalf (generic 'common best' rules
http://aagenielsen.dk/hnefatafl_rules_en.html, but the "Berserk Rules" are really interesting
http://aagenielsen.dk/berserk_comments.php &
http://aagenielsen.dk/berserk_rules.php even though they require special pieces, moves, and board markings. Berserk Hnefatafl is much more complex and balanced gameplay).
Different rules applied in different regions, and it was played for over 1000 years all over Europe. So different rules were used at different times, also, in all the different locations. We have some fragments of written rules, but sometimes they contradict each other or are not clear. So, there is a bit of debate and historical reconstruction to try and figure out the best sets to play today for balanced games. It seems to have been developed from a Roman game around the beginning of the first millennium and imported back to Northern Europe by mercenaries/vikings that served in Roman armies. 'Sister' games exist in Africa with similar rules (and some different rules that have been adapted into some versions of modern Hnefatalf).
I played this a bit in Latvia & Lithuania. It's fun, if you think chess is fun.
