About Tablut
Tablut is a classic tafl game from Lapland, played on a 9x9 board. One player commands a king and eight defenders trying to break out to the edge; the other player commands sixteen attackers trying to surround and capture the king.
It is the best documented of all the historical Viking-style tafl games, and its compact board makes for sharp, decisive battles where blockades and open lines decide the outcome.
Play Tablut vs AI
Play Tablut online against the computer and practise both roles: escaping with the king and his defenders, and weaving a net as the attackers.
Because the two sides have opposite goals, you will improve fastest by learning common escape lanes, blockade shapes, and how to use the castle and the board edge.
How to play Tablut
Tablut rules are simple: pieces move like rooks, and soldiers are captured by trapping them between two enemies or against the empty castle.
No piece may stop on the central castle. The defenders win if the king reaches any edge square; the attackers win by surrounding and capturing the king.
Improve by learning strategy
Good Tablut play depends on your side. As the defenders, open a rank or file toward the edge and create two escape threats at once.
As the attackers, keep an even blockade around the king, control the open lines, and tighten the ring without leaving a gap on the far side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tablut is a traditional Scandinavian and Saami board game from the tafl family, the same family as Hnefatafl. It was written down by Carl Linnaeus in 1732 and is the version of the game for which we have the most complete historical rules. A king and eight defenders face sixteen attackers on a 9x9 board.
Similar games you might like
If you enjoy Tablut, you will probably like these other abstract strategy board games.
Learn, Play, and Have Fun!
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