Brandubh rules
How to play Brandubh
Brandubh is the Irish branch of the Tafl family, played on a small 7×7 board with a king and 4 defenders against 8 attackers. It is the quickest Viking Chess variant and the easiest to learn — but the small board makes every move count.
Setup, moving and capturing
The king sits in the centre with its 4 defenders in a cross; the 8 attackers form four pairs on the edges. Defenders move first. Pieces move like a rook — straight lines, any distance, no jumping — and capture by flanking an enemy between two friendly pieces.
Winning
The defenders win if the king reaches a corner; the attackers win by surrounding the king on all four sides. With so few pieces, a single mistake can decide the game.
The history of Brandubh
Brandubh — “black raven” — is named in old Irish poems and legends, where it appears as a royal board game. Like the other Tafl games its precise historical rules weren’t preserved, and the modern 7×7 form is a reconstruction based on the surviving references and on the better-documented Scandinavian variants.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Brandubh good for beginners?
- Yes — at 7×7 with only 13 pieces it is the fastest Tafl game, so you can learn the core ideas (flanking, king escape) in a few short games.
- What does Brandubh mean?
- Brandubh means 'black raven' in Irish. The game appears in early Irish legend and poetry as a board game of kings.