Compact 25-piece Hnefatafl Game

This little gem proves that it is possible to fit a quart into a pint pot! Emulating the stylish elegance of the larger Deluxe 25-piece game, the Compact game uses smaller squares and pawns to fir the same playability into a smaller package. Its neat proportions make it a great book shelf ornament, as well as making it easy to carry around with you.

The board is made of birch plywood, with a decorative border of American walnut veneer. It measures 8" square (200mm), and uses 3/4" squares to fit nine rows of nine squares for the playing area. In common with other games in The Hnefatafl shop, only the central square and the corner squares are marked. The starting positions are not marked - this allows you to play games with different starting layouts, without irrelevant markings making the setup look untidy. The board is finished with a cellulose lacquer and polished with beeswax to give an attractive finish.

The pieces are small wooden pawns. The brown king in the centre of the board is surrounded by his eight brown defenders. He must escape from the board, but his way must be blocked by the sixteen white attackers who lie in wait for him at the edges of the board. The pieces are supplied in a wooden box, finished and polished to the same quality as the board.

The booklet included with the game gives the history of hnefatafl in brief. It contains the rules for three different versions of hnefatafl: tablut, the best documented version of hnefatafl from 18th century Lapland; tawlbwrdd, a simple version from mediaeval Wales; and sea battle tafl, a modern variant which is simple, elegant and balanced, making it especially suited to tournament play.

The game comes with the same after-sales service you expect from The Hnefatafl Shop. Before and after the sale, you'll find here a passion for the game: strategic tips and alternative rules for the board on the web site, and a readiness to answer any questions about history, rules and strategy that you may have.

The game is hand-made in a rustic style. Please do not expect machine-made precision; there may therefore be blemishes in the work. Not suitable for young children due to small pieces.

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