How to play Viking Chess (Hnefatafl)

Learn the rules to the board game Viking Chess (Hnefatafl) quickly and concisely - This video has no distractions, just the rules.

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RULES:
The object of the game for the attacker is to capture the king. The object of the defender is to get their king to one of the 4 corner spaces. Layout the board and place the king on the center cream space. Place the red pieces on the red squares and the teal pieces on the teal squares. One player is the defender and controls the king and red pieces while the other is the attacker and controls all the teal pieces. The attacking player goes first then turns alternate. On your turn you may move any of your pieces any number of spaces in a horizonal or vertical straight line. Pieces may not move off the edge of the board, they may not pass through other pieces nor share a space with another piece. Pieces may not move diagonally.

If you move a piece so that is sandwiches an opponent’s piece in between two of your pieces, so that they are across from each other with the opposing piece in between, then you capture that opposing piece and remove it from the board. Pieces may travel through a sandwich without being captured, but pieces may not stop inside a sandwich. You can also capture an opponent’s piece if you sandwich it between the kings starting space and your piece, or a corner space and your piece.

A king may only be captured by completely surrounding it on all four sides. If the king is on the edge of the board, and it is the defender’s only piece on the board, then 3 pieces may be used to capture it instead. You must make a legal move on your turn, if a player cannot make a legal move, then they lose the game. If the king gets to one of the corner spaces, then the defending player wins. If the king gets trapped surrounded by opposing pieces, then the attacking player wins.