Tafl Online
Play Tafl free on JAWNA with friends in a browser, no download. Share a private table link, enjoy voice chat, or use the iPhone and Android app.
Why play Tafl on JAWNA?
- Mic and voice chat right at the Tafl table: talk to the other players while you play.
- Quick match finds you a table with new people fast, or make a private table and send your friends the link.
- No download: it runs in the browser on phone and computer, and there is a JAWNA phone app too.
- Arabic first, with English. Made for the Gulf and the Arab world.
- Free. Extras (table and card looks) are optional, with coins.
- 100+ games in one place: Baloot, Jackaroo, Kout, Tarneeb, Hand, Konkan, Ludo, Dominoes and more.
- Fair play: reports, bans and moderators.
Tafl: goal and players
Play Tafl online on JAWNA at jawna.app. Check the goal and supported player counts before inviting your group. Read the rules even if you know the game: familiar names can have different variants, and your usual house rules may differ from the selected version.
Supported table sizes: 2 players. Choose a player count in the game settings. In partner variants, check seats and teams first. In individual formats, each player competes for their own result. The in-game How to play screen provides details. Agree on the variant before your first round together.
How to play: rules
- Attackers against defenders. The attackers start on the edges and move first; the defenders guard their king in the middle.
- Every piece, the king too, moves any number of empty squares in a straight line, like a rook. No jumping.
- The throne (middle) and the four corners are only for the king. Other pieces may cross the empty throne but not stop on it.
- Capture: trap an enemy piece between two of yours in a row or column by moving one of them into place. A corner, and the empty throne, can stand in for one of your pieces. Moving in between two enemies is safe. The king helps capture too.
- Defenders win when the king reaches a corner, or builds an edge fort: the king on the board edge, able to move, inside a ring of defenders the attackers can never break.
- Attackers win by surrounding the king on all four sides, or on three sides with the throne on the fourth. A king on the edge can’t be taken. They also win by closing an unbroken ring around the king and all his defenders, so none of them can reach the board edge.
- A player with no legal move loses. The defenders may not stall: the same position three times wins for the attackers. 50 moves each without a capture is a draw.
- Shieldwall: a row of two or more pieces along the board edge is taken all at once when you close both ends of the row (a corner can close one end) and every piece in it has one of yours in front of it. The king can be in the row but is never taken this way.
- Tablut (9×9) plays the same way on the smaller board. In a 2-game match you swap sides; if you’re level, the faster win takes the match.
Scoring and winning
Defenders win when the king reaches a corner, or builds an edge fort: the king on the board edge, able to move, inside a ring of defenders the attackers can never break.
Attackers win by surrounding the king on all four sides, or on three sides with the throne on the fourth. A king on the edge can’t be taken. They also win by closing an unbroken ring around the king and all his defenders, so none of them can reach the board edge.
A player with no legal move loses. The defenders may not stall: the same position three times wins for the attackers. 50 moves each without a capture is a draw.
Tablut (9×9) plays the same way on the smaller board. In a 2-game match you swap sides; if you’re level, the faster win takes the match.
Tips and strategy
Check the win condition and the legal options before each move. Rules and results depend on the selected mode; agree on the format before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I play Tafl online with a mic?
On JAWNA (jawna.app). Every Tafl table has a mic and voice chat, so you talk to the players while you play.
Where can I play Tafl with new people?
On JAWNA pick Tafl and tap Quick match to get players fast, or make a private table for your friends.
Do I need to download an app to play Tafl?
No. Open jawna.app in the browser on your phone or computer and play right away. There is also a JAWNA phone app if you like.
Is there a free app for Tafl?
You can start on JAWNA and play in a browser for free. Optional in-app extras are available; review any purchase option before choosing it. The download page lists current mobile installation options.
How many people can play Tafl on JAWNA?
The available player counts are 2 players. Pick the format that fits your group before starting; a game with multiple supported sizes does not necessarily support every number between them.
How do you win at Tafl?
Tablut (9×9) plays the same way on the smaller board. In a 2-game match you swap sides; if you’re level, the faster win takes the match.
How do I invite friends to Tafl?
Create a private table from the game and share its link with friends. Check that everyone has chosen the same game and the seats suit your group before starting, particularly when a partner is involved.
Do I have to use my microphone?
Table voice chat is available when you allow microphone access. Check your microphone and mute state before talking, and respect the other players’ privacy and the community rules.
Are the Tafl rules the same as our house rules?
Some details or variants may differ. Read the summary and the in-game How to play screen together, then agree on the variant. The rules of the selected mode determine the round.
Can a beginner learn Tafl on JAWNA?
Start with the instructions and play with friends who know the game. Understand the goal and scoring before concentrating on advanced moves or speed.
Where can I find other games for my group?
Open JAWNA’s games directory and choose by player count and game idea. There are card games, board games and puzzles, so you can switch according to your time, group size and preferred challenge.
Start a session with friends
Use Play now, sign in, then choose a private table and share its link, or select Quick match where available.
Related games
How to play – step by step
- Guard the king – Attackers (dark) start on the edges and move first; defenders guard their king in the middle. Every piece, the king too, moves like a rook. No jumping.
- Trap to capture – Trap an enemy piece between two of yours in a row or column by moving into place. A corner or the empty throne can stand in for one of yours.
- Defenders win – The defenders win when the king reaches a corner, or builds a fort on the edge that the attackers can never break.
- Attackers win – The attackers win by surrounding the king on all four sides, or on three with the throne on the fourth. A king on the edge can’t be taken.
History & origins
Tafl games were played in medieval Scandinavia and nearby regions, and are associated with Viking-age board-game culture.
Their unequal forces distinguish them from chess: one side protects an escaping king while the other surrounds it.
Surviving descriptions are incomplete, so modern Hnefatafl rules involve reconstruction. Different escape squares and capture rules reflect that history rather than one fully preserved ancient rulebook.