Alquerque and hnefatafl

Looks like the blog is back on the menu everyone! After a small hiatus I'm back working on not one, but multiple blogposts. Not only this one about board games, but also one about my visit to PreHistorischdorp in Eindhoven! But more about that later, first we start with the games.

I currently have Alquerque and Hnefatafl: two games also played during the viking-age. Played during the dark evenings of the winter or during off time whenever. Alquerque is a precursur to checkers and plays quite the same. You have 12 stones on each side, they are placed at the crossing of the lines. You can hit a opponents stone by hopping over it, and if there is space, this can be multiple stones too. Just like in checkers.

Alquerque

.The start of the game has four choices, this first set will always lose stones, depending on which start you choose this can be four stones or two. As fast as the start can go, after this it usually slows down, for there is a lot more to think about. The game ends when all the opponent stones are wiped out, or stuck at the other side. I really love this game! And every time we go to events I take it with me and ask people to play.

the board after five rounds.

The second game I have, that is on the other side of this board, is hnefatafl or kingstable. this game is a lot more strategic and very different. you have two teams with an unequal amount of stones. As disclaimer I will say that I don't think I have made the right amount of stones for this one. Now is it also true that the full game rules are not known, which also does not really help either. The two teams are defense and offense: one group protecting the king, and one team attacking. You hit a stone by enclosing it with two or four stones. The game is won when you enclose the king with four stones or if the attacking team is wiped out.

Hnefatafl

I bought the board a couple of years ago at my first Viking market. It had only the alquerque side, and different stones. I made more natural stones for it, and burned the Hnefatafl board on the other side. Now I always have something to do on markets!

Hope you liked this little post, and if you ever see me at an event, do ask about the games! Thats's it for now, stay tuned for the next posts and the one about Prehistorischdorp! Bye!