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Help For Hnefatafl
Introduction
Welcome to the network Hnefatafl server. The rules of Hnefatafl are below. The Hnefatafl "challenge" command is described here. Other commands are the same for all pbmserv games.- hnefatafl challenge userid1 userid2 [ -small | -medium | -large ] [ -weak | -strong ] [ -edge ]
- Start a game between userid1 and userid2.
By default, the game is played on an 11x11 board.
The -small option will create a 9x9 board.
The -medium option will create a 13x13 board.
The -large option creates a 19x19 board.The -weak option is the default. The king is captured like a normal man, unless he in on or next to the throne. (see below)
The -strong option requires the king to be surrounded on four sides to be captured.The -edge option allows the king to escape by merely reaching any space on the edges of the board, rather than only the corners. This gives the king's side an advantage, especially in the smaller games, but some versions are played this way historically.
Tablut (or talbut) is a popular variant of Hnefatafl. The -tablut option has the same effect as the -small option, but may be easier to remember if you are mainly interested in tablut.
- hnefatafl challenge userid1 userid2 -tablut
Rules of Hnefatafl
Object of the Game
The object of the game is different for each player.The object for player 1 (Ohs) is to prevent the opponent's king from escaping, and ultimately to capture it.
The object for player 2 (Eks) is to help his king escape, by moving the king from the throne in the center of the board to one of the four corner spaces.
The opening setup for each size is shown below:
A B C D E F G H I
9 = . . o o o . . = 9
8 . . . . o . . . . 8
7 . . . . x . . . . 7
6 o . . . x . . . o 6
5 o o x x k x x o o 5
4 o . . . x . . . o 4
3 . . . . x . . . . 3
2 . . . . o . . . . 2
1 = . . o o o . . = 1
A B C D E F G H I
Figure 1: Hnefatafl -small or -tablut Board
A B C D E F G H I J K
11 = . . o o o o o . . = 11
10 . . . . . o . . . . . 10
9 . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8 o . . . . x . . . . o 8
7 o . . . x x x . . . o 7
6 o o . x x k x x . o o 6
5 o . . . x x x . . . o 5
4 o . . . . x . . . . o 4
3 . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . o . . . . . 2
1 = . . o o o o o . . = 1
A B C D E F G H I J K
Figure 2: Hnefatafl default Board
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
13 = . . . o o o o o . . . = 13
12 . . . . . . o . . . . . . 12
11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
10 . . . . . . x . . . . . . 10
9 o . . . . . x . . . . . o 9
8 o . . . . . x . . . . . o 8
7 o o . x x x k x x x . o o 7
6 o . . . . . x . . . . . o 6
5 o . . . . . x . . . . . o 5
4 . . . . . . x . . . . . . 4
3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
2 . . . . . . o . . . . . . 2
1 = . . . o o o o o . . . = 1
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
Figure 3: Hnefatafl -medium Board
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S
19 = . o . . o . . . . . . . o . . o . = 19
18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
17 o . . . . o . . . . . . . o . . . . o 17
16 . . . . . . . o . o . o . . . . . . . 16
15 . . . . . . o . x . x . o . . . . . . 15
14 o . o . . o . . . . . . . o . . o . o 14
13 . . . . o . . . . x . . . . o . . . . 13
12 . . . o . . . . x . x . . . . o . . . 12
11 . . . . x . . x . x . x . . x . . . . 11
10 . . . o . . x . x k x . x . . o . . . 10
9 . . . . x . . x . x . x . . x . . . . 9
8 . . . o . . . . x . x . . . . o . . . 8
7 . . . . o . . . . x . . . . o . . . . 7
6 o . o . . o . . . . . . . o . . o . o 6
5 . . . . . . o . x . x . o . . . . . . 5
4 . . . . . . . o . o . o . . . . . . . 4
3 o . . . . o . . . . . . . o . . . . o 3
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1 = . o . . o . . . . . . . o . . o . = 1
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S
Figure 4: Hnefatafl -large Board
Movement Rules
Each turn, a player moves one piece horizontally or vertically any number of spaces. (like a chess rook)Only the king may land on the throne or corner spaces. Either player's pieces may pass over the throne as part of a move.
Capturing
Pieces are captured by flanking an opponent's piece on two opposite sides (custodial capture). Up to three pieces can be captured in a single turn. The corner and throne (when unoccupied) count as a piece for capturing men. Pieces can safely move between two other pieces.In figure 5, the X is captured when O moves B2-B4. Figure 6 is an example of a multiple capture of three pieces. In figure 7 the X is captured when the O moves C3-C1. In figure 8, the O moving C1-C3 is not captured.
Examples of Captures.
A B C D E A B C D E
5 . . . . . 5 . . o . .
4 . . x o . 4 . . x . .
3 . | . . . 3 o x . x o
2 . o . . . 2 . . | . .
1 . . . . . 1 . . o . .
Figure 5 Figure 6
B2-B4 C1-C3
A B C D E A B C D E
5 . . . . . 5 . . . . .
4 . . . . . 4 . . . . .
3 . . o . . 3 . x . x .
2 . . | . . 2 . . | . .
1 = x . . . 1 . . o . .
(NOT a capture)
Figure 7 Figure 8
C3-C1 C1-C3
The king is captured like other men, except when he is on the throne or in one of the four spaces next to the throne. When he is on or next to the throne he must be surrounded on four side to be captured, either by four enemy pieces when he is one the thrown (figure 9) or by three enemy pieces and the throne itself (figure 10) when he is next to the throne. The -weak option is the same as the default behavior.
If the -strong option is used, the King must always be surrounded on four sides to be captured. The edge of the board also counts for surrounding the king. This has the side effect that the move in figure 12 is a capture with the -strong option, but not with the default (-weak) option.
Various ways to capture a King.
A B C D E A B C D E
5 . . . . . 5 . . . . .
4 . . o . . 4 . . . . .
3 . o k o . 3 . . = . .
2 o---. . . 2 . o k o .
1 . . . . . 1 o---. . .
Figure 9 Figure 10
C1-C3 A1-C1
A B C D E A B C D E
5 . . . . . 5 . . . . .
4 . . . . o 4 . . . . o
3 . . . . k 3 . . . . k
2 . . o---. 2 . . . | o
1 . . . . . 1 . . . o .
(-strong only)
Figure 11 Figure 12
C2-E2 D1-D3
Hnefatafl Links:
http://www.gamecabinet.com/history/Hnef.htmlhttp://user.tninet.se/~jgd996c/hnefatafl/hnefatafl.html
