Tawlbwrdd, with a twist

Only a handful of medieval manuscripts give us information on 'tawlbwrdd', but it is very clear from those manuscripts that tawlbwrdd was a Welsh version of hnefatafl, played on either a 9 x 9 or an 11 x 11 board. Tawlbwrdd as marketed under the title 'The Celtic Game' is a very basic 11 x 11 version. To fit in the small box, the board comes as four 'jigsaw' cardboard pieces which interlock to create the full board. The pieces are simply plastic (black and red) discs, with a black cube representing the king.

There is some controversy regarding whether or not tawlbwrdd was played with dice. According to some, the word 'tawlbwrdd' translates as 'throw-board', suggesting the use of dice. This would make tawlbwrdd unique among hnefatafl variants. However, none of the manuscripts mentioning tawlbwrdd specifically talk about dice, or suggest they played a role in the game.

Nevertheless, 'The Celtic Game' is marketed as a game played with dice. Or rather, with a die, as one is included.

And, in case you're wondering, the die determines how many squares a piece can move every time. Remember, this is not based on any historical evidence ....