About Tawlbwrdd
Tawlbwrdd is a classic tafl game from Wales, played on an 11x11 board. One player commands a king and twelve defenders trying to break out to the edge; the other player commands twenty-four attackers trying to surround and capture the king.
It comes to us through a 1587 Welsh manuscript and R. C. Bell's modern reconstruction, whose diamond formation of defenders has since become a familiar sight across the tafl world. The large board makes for long, tense battles decided by blockades and open lines.
Play Tawlbwrdd vs AI
Play Tawlbwrdd 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 on the roomy 11x11 grid.
How to play Tawlbwrdd
Tawlbwrdd 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 Tawlbwrdd 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 of the large board.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tawlbwrdd is the traditional Welsh board game of the tafl family, the same family as Hnefatafl and Tablut. It is described in a 1587 manuscript by Robert ap Ifan and is usually played today in R. C. Bell's reconstruction. A king and twelve defenders face twenty-four attackers on an 11x11 board.
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Learn, Play, and Have Fun!
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