Tawlbwrdd
The 11×11 Welsh tafl game. 12 defenders and their king try to escape to any edge; 24 attackers hunt them down.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does 'Tawlbwrdd' mean?
Tawlbwrdd is Welsh for 'thrown board' (from 'tawl' meaning 'throw' and 'bwrdd' meaning 'board'). It refers to the dice-throwing aspect of some early versions, though the modern game is purely strategic with no dice.
How is Tawlbwrdd different from Tablut?
Tawlbwrdd uses an 11×11 board with 12 defenders and 24 attackers, while Tablut uses a 9×9 board with 8 defenders and 16 attackers. Tawlbwrdd's larger board means longer games and more strategic depth, but the core rules — rook moves, sandwiching captures, edge escape — are the same.
Is Tawlbwrdd historically accurate?
Tawlbwrdd is documented in medieval Welsh law texts, but the exact rules are reconstructed. The 11×11 layout with 12 defenders vs 24 attackers follows the most widely accepted interpretation by tafl historians. Several rule variants exist.
Can I play Tawlbwrdd against the AI on this site?
Yes. Choose 'vs AI' mode and select a difficulty. You play as the defenders (king side), and the AI controls the attackers. You can also play two-player on the same device.
Explore Game Details
About Tawlbwrdd
Tawlbwrdd is an 11×11 Welsh tafl game recorded in medieval Welsh law manuscripts. Its name means 'thrown board' in Welsh. With 12 defenders and 24 attackers, it sits between Tablut and Hnefatafl in size — a balance of speed and strategy.
Benefits
Tawlbwrdd develops long-range strategic planning across a larger board. Players learn to coordinate many pieces, anticipate multi-move threats, and judge when to attack versus when to consolidate — skills that transfer to other abstract strategy games.
How to Play
- The board is 11×11. The king starts on the central throne with 12 defenders in a cross shape. 24 attackers line the four edges of the board.
- All pieces move like a rook in chess — any number of empty squares horizontally or vertically, without jumping over other pieces.
- Soldiers are captured by sandwiching: an enemy piece caught between two of your pieces in a straight line is removed. Moving into a sandwich yourself is safe.
- The king must be surrounded on all four sides to be captured (strong-king rule). The central throne is hostile and can substitute for an attacker when surrounding the king or flanking a defender.
- Defenders win by moving the king to any edge square. Attackers win by capturing the king.
- Only the king may stop on the central throne; other pieces may pass through it once vacated. The throne is hostile to both sides, while corner squares are ordinary squares in this variant.
Strategy Tips
Defenders: form a moving shield around the king. On 11×11 you have room to maneuver — use your 12 defenders to create escape corridors rather than turtling.
Attackers: don't break your perimeter. With 24 pieces you can afford to wait — let the defenders make the first mistake, then exploit the gap.
Control the throne square. Once the king leaves the throne, an attacker sitting next to it becomes a powerful anchor for capturing the king.
Think two moves ahead. The larger board means rook-lines stretch further — a single defender shift can open a 5-square escape route for the king in one move.
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