About Brandubh
Brandubh is a classic Irish tafl game, played on a 7x7 board. One player commands the king and four defenders trying to break out to a corner province; the other commands eight Viking raiders trying to surround and capture the king.
It is one of the smallest and quickest of the historical Viking-style tafl games, where every move counts and the king's dash for a corner can swing the game in an instant.
Play Brandubh vs AI
Play Brandubh online against the computer and practise both roles: escaping with the king and his princes, and weaving a net as the raiders.
Because the two sides have opposite goals, you will improve fastest by learning the corner escape lanes, the blockade shapes, and how to use the throne and the corners as hostile squares.
How to play Brandubh
Brandubh rules are simple: pieces move like rooks, and soldiers are captured by trapping them between two enemies or against a hostile square.
Only the king may stop on the central throne or in a corner. The defenders win if the king reaches a corner province; the attackers win by surrounding and capturing the king.
Improve by learning strategy
Good Brandubh play depends on your side. As the defenders, open a rank or file toward a corner and create two escape threats at once.
As the attackers, seal all four corners with an even blockade, control the open lines, and tighten the ring without leaving a quadrant undefended.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brandubh is a traditional Irish board game from the tafl family, the same family as Hnefatafl and Tablut. An Irish king and four defenders face eight Viking raiders on a 7x7 board. The king tries to escape to a corner while the raiders try to capture him.
Similar games you might like
If you enjoy Brandubh, you will probably like these other abstract strategy board games.
Learn, Play, and Have Fun!
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