Irish Archaeological Research Digital Magazine

What is known of the Irish variant, Brandubh, is mostly known through the few surviving boards found, and a few
scattered references to the game in Irish poetry of the 12 th to 16 th century which speak of a branán (a common term
for chief) and his band of four, and “five men of white silver and eight of gold”. The boards themselves seem to vary
little in layout – either a 7 x 7 grid, or a 6 x 6 grid with the game played on the intersections of the lines rather than
on the squares. The quality and workmanship of the boards discovered ranges from high quality boards,
exemplified by the ornately carved wooden board from Ballinderry Crannog 1 in County Westmeath, to what seem
to be 'throwaway' graffiti boards roughly carved into stones and later discarded, much like the double‐sided board
found during excavations at Cathedral Hill in Downpatrick. It seems likely that the game was played by high and low
classes alike given the differences in quality of the boards, though whilst the graffiti boards seem to be carved as
needed and discarded, the Ballinderry board at least seems to have been made with portability in mind. The heads
protruding from two opposing sides of the board seem to have been intended for use as handles, suggesting
portability was a concern, but also allowing two players to hold the board between themselves where flat or
unstable surfaces were unavailable. In common with many modern travel games, the Ballinderry board was laid out
with holes for pegged pieces, rather than a plain grid for counters.
Replica coins used as counters
on the game board.
The exact rules for brandubh are unknown, as are those for hnefatafl in general. The closest record to the actual
rules for hnefatafl were recorded by Carl von Linneaus in his diary of his travels through Lapland in 1732. The game
he records and sketches the board for, closely resembles known hnefatafl and brandubh boards, save for having a 9
x 9 layout. The king sits in the centre, protected by eight Swedes and attacked by sixteen Muscovites. Those that
follow are assembled from a variety of sources – the rules that Linneaus records, those suggested by Walker for
adapting the common Tablut and tafl rules to the brandubh board, and much practice and playtesting on the past of
the author, both with and without the addition of mead for added authenticity. Whilst it cannot be claimed that the
following rules definitely represent the most likely style of play, they do represent a relatively balanced style.
Experimentation is encouraged though, particularly with players of opposing skill levels – changing the method of
capturing the branán to surrounding on all four sides will swing the odds greatly in the favour the the defender,
whilst allowing the centre square, once vacant, to count as a friendly square for the purposes of capture, will make
the job of the attacker that much easier. In games where the balance is noticeably in favour of one side or the other
good practice, and good manners, would suggest the players take turns at each side and count a game as consisting
of two rounds, swapping sides between.
Irish Archaeological Research Issue 2 Jan 2012
36