_Hnefa-tafl_ was played with black and white pieces; one of them, probably the most important, was called _Hnefi_, from which the name of this peculiar game is probably derived. _Skak_, or _Skak-tafl_, was played on a board divided into squares, and seems to have been most like the present chess.[250] The board was like the chessboard of our day. To learn the game was part of the education of the high-born, and was considered idróttir. It must have been a great pastime on board ship, for in many of the pieces found are little holes in the centre for pegs, which made them fast and prevented them from being upset or changing place when the vessel rolled. The placing of the pieces was decided by the throwing of dice. “After the battle at the river Helga, Ulf jarl made a feast for Knut at Roiskelda. They played skaktafl, but the king was very gloomy.... When they had played for a while, the jarl took one of the king’s knights; the king put the piece back, and told him to make another move. The jarl got angry, upset the chessboard (taflbord), and went away” (St. Olaf’s Saga, ch. 163). The board itself was often very costly, being sometimes made of gold, and was counted among valuable inheritances, and as worthy of adorning the temple of the gods; it was such a treasure that Hrolf Nefia, at the risk of his life, sought to capture one in the temple of Bjarmaland. Sturlaug went to Bjarmaland, and with his men walked up to a temple. “He looked into the temple and saw a very large (image of) Thor sitting in a high-seat; in front of him was a splendid table covered with silver.... He saw a chessboard and chess-pieces of bright gold”[251] (Sturlaug’s Saga Starfsama, ch. 18). The people often spent their time during the long winter evenings in playing chess. [Illustration: Fig. 1332.—Chess piece of bone.—Norway. ⅔ real size. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1333.—Chess piece of bone, found with two other pieces.—Norway. ⅔ real size. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1334.—Chess piece of clay, found with three others.—Norway. ⅔ real size. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1335. ] [Illustration: Fig. 1336. ] Chess, backgammon, or draughtsman, of bone, showing hole for peg, found with fragments of a double-edged sword, iron spurs, &c.—Norway. ⅔ real size. [Illustration: Fig. 1337.—Draught piece of bone.—Ultuna find. Real size. ] “In Brattahlid (a farm), in Grœnland, during the winter, they often amused themselves with chess-playing (_tafl_), and saga-telling, and many things that could improve their homelife” (Thorfinn Karlsefni, c. 7). It was customary for women, as well as men, to play at the game. “He (Gunnlaug Ormstunga) and Helga often amused themselves with chess; they soon liked each other well, as was afterwards seen. They were almost of the same age” (Gunnlaug Ormstunga, 4).