Play Hnefatafl Against AI
How to Play Hnefatafl Board Game
Hnefatafl is an asymmetric board game of pursuit and escape. The larger attacking force moves first and tries to seal all four corners. The defenders win by clearing a route for their king to reach one. Every piece slides like a rook. Choose an AI level, pick a side, and make the opening move.
How a Game Begins
The board has eleven squares on each side. Twenty-four black attackers begin along the edges, while twelve white defenders surround the king at the centre. Attackers move first. Soldiers and the king slide along ranks or files without jumping. Trap an enemy soldier between two friendly pieces to capture it; the king can also complete this sandwich.
The defenders win when the king reaches any corner. The attackers win by surrounding him on four sides, or on three when he stands next to the empty throne. The throne and corners are hostile to soldiers: they can complete a capture, but soldiers cannot occupy them. A long run of moves without a capture ends in a draw.
Attackers Move First
Black begins along all four edges, while White gathers around the throne. The empty corners are the king's exits, so the attackers must control them early. Before chasing a capture or tightening the net, check which ranks and files still give the king a clear route to safety.
Sandwich to Capture
You never capture by landing on an occupied square. Instead, move beside an enemy soldier so that a friendly piece or hostile square traps it from the other side. The empty throne and four corners can act as those hostile walls. Capturing the king is different: he must be surrounded.
Hints Follow Your AI Level
Choose from multiple AI levels, then play Black to hunt the king or White to escort him. Hints use your selected level, and undo rolls back both your move and the AI reply. After the game, replay the moment a corner opened or the surrounding net broke. All AI calculations run in your browser.
11×11Fetlar board
24 vs 13attackers against king and defenders
Cornerthe king's escape goal
4 sidesneeded to surround the king
Questions
Which hnefatafl rules does this site use?
Fetlar rules on an 11×11 board. Black's 24 attackers move first; White has 12 defenders and a king. The king wins by reaching a corner, and the attackers win by surrounding him on all four sides. There are no shieldwall captures or exit forts, and two pieces can't sandwich the king.
Should a beginner start as the attackers or the defenders?
Start with White and defend. The goal is simple: open a lane for the king to reach a corner, and a few games will show you how fast a clear line can be. Attacking means watching four corners at once while you tighten the net, which takes more patience. Play both sides before you decide you know the game.
My king had pieces all around him. Why didn't I lose?
Only the four squares directly above, below, left and right of the king count. Diagonal pieces don't. If any of those four is empty or held by a defender, the king is still free. The one shortcut: when the king sits next to the empty throne, the throne fills that side and three attackers are enough.
The king reached the edge of the board. Why isn't that a win?
The edge isn't an exit. Only the four corners are. The king has to land on a corner square for the defenders to win, and a king hugging the edge is easy to box in from both ends. Look for a line that runs straight into a corner instead.
I moved a soldier between two enemy pieces. Why wasn't it captured?
A capture only happens when your opponent moves to close the sandwich. Stepping in between two enemies yourself is safe for that turn. It may well get trapped from another direction next move, so check the squares around it first.
How strong is the AI, and is the hint stronger than my opponent?
There are multiple AI levels, and you can switch in the side panel at any time. Hints use the same search as the level you picked, so a beginner game gets beginner-level advice, not a secret top-strength answer. Everything runs in your browser.
How do I use hints, undo and replay without just copying moves?
Decide first whether your move is closing a corner, setting up a capture or opening a lane for the king, then check the hint. Undo takes back the AI's reply too, so you land right back at the fork and can try another idea. After the game, replay it from the start to find the move that gave up a corner or let the net slip.
If I switch sides or close the tab, is my game still there?
Games against the AI are saved in this browser on this device, so you can close the tab and pick up later. Switching between attackers and defenders starts a fresh game. Clearing this site's browser data wipes the saved game too.
Do I need an account or an app?
No. Open the page on a phone or computer and play, with no account, email or password. You can add the site to your home screen for quicker access, but you don't have to.
How can I play with a friend?
If you're in the same room, use the two-player mode: one device, turns back and forth, with undo and replay but no hints. If you're apart, create an online room and send your friend the link. Online games have no hints or one-sided undo, but either player can resign or offer a draw.
