Tablut

Objective of the game

Tablut is a traditional board game from the Tafl family, originating in Scandinavia. It is played by two players: one defender and one attacker. The defender's goal is to get the king safely to one of the corners of the board, while the attacker's goal is to capture the king.

Materials

• A 9x9 board
• 1 king (white piece)
• 8 defenders (white pieces)
• 16 attackers (black pieces)

Setup

1. Place the king in the center of the board.
2. Position the 8 defenders in a cross formation around the king.
3. Place the 16 attackers around the defenders, in the four rows leading from the corners to the center.

Gameplay

1. The defenders begin the game.
2. Players move alternately. Both the king and all other pieces move like rooks in chess:
3. They move horizontally or vertically but cannot jump over other pieces.
4. The defender's goal is to move the king from the central position to one of the board's corners.
5. The attacker's goal is to capture the king by blocking it simultaneously on two opposite sides (which can be vertically or horizontally).

Rules

• Capturing: A piece is captured by being flanked between two opposing pieces. A captured piece is removed from the board.
• King captured: To capture the king, he must be surrounded on two non-diagonal opposite sides.
• Escape: The king can escape by reaching one of the board's four corners.
• Movement Rules: Players cannot make a move that results in their own pieces being captured.

Strategic Tips

• Defend the King: As a defender, be cautious not to place the king in a position where he can be easily captured.
• Block advances: As an attacker, try to control the borders and corners of the board to restrict the king's escape routes.

Tablut is an exciting strategic game that requires a balance between offensive and defensive strategy. Enjoy the duel!