Tawlbwrdd Strategy: Tips, Tactics & Openings
Tawlbwrdd is the Welsh member of the ancient tafl family, described by Robert ap Ifan in a 1587 manuscript and reconstructed in the modern era by R. C. Bell. A king and his twelve defenders sit at the centre of an 11x11 board, hemmed in by twenty-four attackers. The king tries to break out to the edge of the board, while the attackers try to surround and capture him.
Tawlbwrdd Strategy: Tips, Tactics & Openings
Tawlbwrdd is the Welsh member of the ancient tafl family, described by Robert ap Ifan in a 1587 manuscript and reconstructed in the modern era by R. C. Bell. A king and his twelve defenders sit at the centre of an 11x11 board, hemmed in by twenty-four attackers. The king tries to break out to the edge of the board, while the attackers try to surround and capture him.
Fight for Open Ranks and Files
Because the king wins at the edge, an empty rank or file is a highway to safety. If the king reaches an open line that offers routes to two opposite edges at once, he usually wins, since the attackers cannot block both ends in a single move. On the wide 11x11 board these long open lines are the defenders' main weapon; attackers must occupy or cut them quickly.
Keep the King Sheltered
The king is relatively safe on or beside the castle, where three or four attackers are needed to take him. Out in the open field he falls to just two. Do not send him into the open until you have a clear, defended path toward the edge.
Build a Blockade
Twenty-four attackers are enough to wall off the defenders completely if they are spread evenly. As the attacker, form a ring that denies the king every edge, then tighten it patiently. Avoid clustering on one side and leaving the opposite edge open, because the larger board gives the king more room to slip away.
Use Defenders Boldly
A defender can attack and even be sacrificed to win tempo or break a wall, because only the king's safety decides the game. The king cannot take such risks, so let the twelve defenders do the dangerous work of clearing a lane to the edge.
Mind the Castle
The empty castle is hostile: it acts as a wall that helps capture pieces of either side pinned against it. Use it to trap enemy soldiers, but be careful not to let your own pieces get caught beside it.
Fight for Open Ranks and Files
Because the king wins at the edge, an empty rank or file is a highway to safety. If the king reaches an open line that offers routes to two opposite edges at once, he usually wins, since the attackers cannot block both ends in a single move. On the wide 11x11 board these long open lines are the defenders' main weapon; attackers must occupy or cut them quickly.
Keep the King Sheltered
The king is relatively safe on or beside the castle, where three or four attackers are needed to take him. Out in the open field he falls to just two. Do not send him into the open until you have a clear, defended path toward the edge.
Build a Blockade
Twenty-four attackers are enough to wall off the defenders completely if they are spread evenly. As the attacker, form a ring that denies the king every edge, then tighten it patiently. Avoid clustering on one side and leaving the opposite edge open, because the larger board gives the king more room to slip away.
Use Defenders Boldly
A defender can attack and even be sacrificed to win tempo or break a wall, because only the king's safety decides the game. The king cannot take such risks, so let the twelve defenders do the dangerous work of clearing a lane to the edge.
Mind the Castle
The empty castle is hostile: it acts as a wall that helps capture pieces of either side pinned against it. Use it to trap enemy soldiers, but be careful not to let your own pieces get caught beside it.
Learn, Play, and Have Fun!
Ready to play Tawlbwrdd online? Start a match against the computer now. No signup, no friction.