Tablut

Tablut is a historical Nordic strategy game from the Hnefatafl family, with asymmetric forces and objectives. One player defends the King and tries to escort him to safety, while the other player commands a larger army trying to capture the King.

King's side: Move the King to any corner square. Attackers: Capture the King.

Played on a 9x9 board. The King starts in the center (throne). 8 defenders surround the King. 16 attackers are arranged on the four edges. Only the King can occupy the throne and corners.

1. Attackers (dark pieces) move first.
2. All pieces move like a Rook in chess - any number of squares orthogonally.
3. Pieces cannot jump over other pieces or pass through the throne (center square).
4. Regular pieces are captured by being sandwiched between two enemy pieces (custodial capture).
5. The throne and corners act as enemy pieces for capture purposes.
6. The King is captured when surrounded on all four sides (or three sides against the throne).
7. Only the King may land on the corner squares or return to the throne.
8. The King wins immediately upon reaching any corner.

Defenders win if the King reaches any corner. Attackers win by surrounding the King on all four sides. If the King is next to the throne, he must be surrounded on all three open sides plus the throne.

• *Defenders: Create escape corridors for the King while keeping attackers at bay.
• *Defenders: Don't let your guards get picked off one by one.
• *Attackers: Block potential escape routes before moving in for the kill.
• *Attackers: Coordinate pieces to create multiple threats simultaneously.
• *The throne square is powerful for defenders - use it strategically.
• *Control the edges and center to restrict opponent's movement.
• *Sacrifice pieces when it advances your primary objective.

Hnefatafl games were played by Vikings and other Nordic peoples from around 400 CE until chess replaced them in the medieval period. Tablut was documented by Carl Linnaeus during his 1732 expedition to Lapland.