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Tom Scott vs Irving Finkel: The Royal Game of Ur | PLAYTHROUGH | International Tabletop Day 2017

The British Museum · demo · Watch on YouTube

Chess, board games & puzzlesWorld history

What it is

Tom Scott plays the Royal Game of Ur against British Museum curator Irving Finkel, who deciphered its rules from a cuneiform tablet. Finkel teaches the game and explains its history as the oldest playable board game.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended in threads on ancient games and cuneiform as a charming match with an enthusiastic expert.

  • 6 people recommended it
  • 5 different months
  • 2 strong recommendations
  • first 2019, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “He's got two incredible videos with Tom Scott”

    Irving Finkel teaches Tom Scott the Royal Game of Ur

    jedimastert, 2019-12 · Strong recommendation · in “How writing began, and other unexpectedly funny stories about cuneiform [video]”

  2. “he also did a fantastic video on with Tom Scott”

    Finkel's fantastic video on the Royal Game of Ur with Tom Scott

    sothatsit, 2025-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Why I'm Learning Sumerian”

  3. “I like much better the Royal Game of Ur-”

    Playthrough of the Royal Game of Ur

    jhallenworld, 2020-02 · Recommendation · in “Senet: the original board game of death?”

  4. “There’s a great video on YouTube of Irving Finkel (quite an interesting guy) playing the Royal Game of Ur.”

    Finkel playing the Royal Game of Ur

    acheron, 2021-07 · Recommendation · in “Senet”

  5. “This is an interesting video from Dr. Irving Finkel on it and its playing rules.”

    Finkel explains Ur and its playing rules

    mabub24, 2021-07 · Recommendation · in “Senet”

  6. “I enjoyed the interaction.”

    Finkel and Tom Scott play the game of Ur

    yreg, 2023-06 · Recommendation · in “Turn dumb tweets into cuneiform tablets”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: royal game of ur, irving finkel, tom scott, british museum, mesopotamia

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