GB2196541A - Board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game comprises a board having a plurality of equi-spaced holes 12, the holes being arranged in groups of four in a coloured rectangle 14, there being a number of different colours to designate the rectangles and the rectangles being laid out in a pattern on the board. The holes are arranged to receive coloured pegs. The object of the game is for each player to receive a number of coloured pegs and for the player to move the pegs around the board according to values indicated by two dice and the player has to occupy one or more of the coloured rectangles by such movements in order to win the game. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Game This invention relates to a board game involving the use of a board divided into a number of coloured squares, the squares having holes arranged to receive pegs, and a pair of dice which are used to determine the movement of pegs over the board.

According to the present invention, there is provided a board for playing a game, the board being provided with a plurality of equispaced holes arranged to receive coloured pegs, the board being marked out with a plurality of designated rectangles, each said designated rectangle including at ieast one hole, the rectangles being arranged in a predetermined manner.

The rectangles can be designated by colour and each rectangle can include four holes arranged to receive the coloured pegs.

The board can comprise rectangles each including four holes each arranged to receive a coloured peg, the rectangles having six different designations, there being more than one rectangle for each different designation.

The board can also include a border surrounding the designated rectangles, the border also having holes to receive the coloured pegs.

The board can be formed as a sheet printed with the design of designated rectangles, the sheet being preferably mounted on a support, such as a card, the printed sheet being overlaid with a sheet of clear plastics material, such as PERSPEX (Registered Trade Mark) plastic sheet, the sheet having a plurality holes each in register with a rectangle, or sub-division of a rectangle.

The pegs can be moved over the board by using two dice, one of which indicates the number of moves which can be made in a vertical direction whilst the other one indicates the number of moves which can be made in a horizontal direction.

Alternatively, the pegs can be moved from left to right, or up and down the board, in any combination, the total number of moves equailing the total value indicated by the two dice.

The pegs can be moved diagonally only when the values on the dice are equal.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the ac; companying drawing which shows one form of board for playing the game according to the present invention.

The board 10 is shown marked out with one hundred and forty four equally spaced holes 12. The board is also marked out with a plurality of the coloured rectangles of varying colours. In the examples shown, the board is marked out with six colours, white, red, yellow, green, blue and orange each of which occupies twenty four rectangles (14), each including four of the holes 12. Whilst there is an equal distribution of the coloured rectangies, they are placed on the board in a predetermined pattern.

The game includes two dice (not shown) one marked V, the throw of which represents the number of moves which can be made in a vertical direction, and the other one being marked H, the throw of which represents the horizontal moves which can be made. Also (not shown) are coloured pegs corresponding to the colours of the squares which the players use to move across the board.

The object of the game is with a chosen colour of peg, a player, by the throw of the dice V and H, has to move the coloured pegs into a number of the correspondingly coloured rectangles 14.

In order for two players to play the game, both players roll the two dice V and H and the player who rolls the highest total from the two dice can start. Each player then has to choose the colour of peg which he or she is to play, and this can be done by placing a peg of each colour into a closed bag and the players take it in turn to withdraw one of the pegs from the bag. The colour chosen is the colour which has to be played by that player.

Each player then takes twelve pegs of a chosen colour.

The players take it in turn to place their opponents pegs anywhere on the board but with no more than any two of the same colour peg in any one rectangle. A spare peg of the players' colour can be placed in one of the reminder holes 16.

The players then take it in turn to roll the dice V and H and the pegs can then be moved horizontally and vertically according to the throws shown on the two dice. For example, if dice V shows four and dice H shows three, one peg can be moved three positions across and four positions up or down the board. Alternatively, two pegs can be moved separately one peg going three positions across and the other going four positions up or down. In making the move, a peg cannot jump over any obstructing peg of any colour.

If a double is thrown, then the player must first carry out the chosen move and as a bonus, move any one of the sticks in a diagonal from where it is positioned to a vacant position of the players choice. In doing so, the players must not jump over any obstructing sticks. Alternatively, a player making a bonus move, can move any one of his opponents' sticks except those in a completed rectangle to a vacant position anywhere on the board.

A diagonal move as a result of the bonus cannot be taken unless the initial move has been completed.

Any move or part of a move that cannot be made is forfeited.

A move must be made if it is possible to do so.

The first player to complete three matching colour rectangles with his twelve matching pegs is the winner.

A player may break a completed colour rectangle if it is the only move possible or because of a tactical move. A move cannot be re-taken, and a time limit can be set for each move.

In order for three to six players to play, the rules are basically as set out above, but each player has only eight pegs. When commencing a player takes the sticks from the player to his or her left and places them anywhere anywhere on the board all eight pegs being placed at a time. This is repeated until the starting player is reached.

The winner needs to complete only one full colour rectangle with the respective matching pegs.

When five or six players are playing, players can jump over any obstructing sticks to make the diagonal move.

In an alternative arrangement, the designations V and H on the two dice are removed and the game can be played by up to six players as explained below.

In order for two players to play the game, both players choose their peg colour from an enclosed hand, and the players can sit anywhere around the board. The players take it in turns to roll both dice. The player who throws the highest total starts.

The players each take fourteen pegs of their chosen colour and each player takes it in turn to place the others pegs one at a time anywhere in the outer border (18) which is also part of the playing area.

Each player takes it in turn to throw both dice. A player moves their own colour pegs according to the number of moves indicated by the two dice. For example, if one dice shows 3 and the other dice shows "4',, this means that one peg may be moved "3" places, and "4" places; up or down and across in any order, or two pegs may be moved, one "3" places and other other "4" places, one peg moving up or down and the other across in any order.

The players cannot jump over any obstructing pegs at any time. If a double is thrown a player has a bonus move and can either; a) move any one of their own pegs in a straight diagonal from where it stands to a vacant place using any number of moves, or b) move any one of their opponents pegs to a vacant place anywhere on the board.

The bonus move can be taken in any sequence with the move shown on the two dice.

The first player to complete three full squares (14) with their own colour is the winner.

A move must be made if it is possible even if the move means removing pegs from the player's own full square, or taking only part of a move sequence.

A player cannot break up an opponents full square at any time.

A move cannot be re-taken once a peg has been placed in position.

A time limit of e.g. 30 seconds can be set on each move if necessary.

The key to the game is keeping an eye on an opponent's moves and by stopping their full squares being made.

In order for three to six players to play the game, the rules are the same as for two players except that each player has eight pegs and the player who throws the highest total starts and their pegs are placed first by their opponent.

The player to the left of the starter takes the eight pegs and places all in one go. The outer border can be used or the full squares in any number but pegs of the same colour are not allowed in any one full square. Once all the pegs have been placed, the game commences and the pegs are moved to any vacant position on the board as dictated by the values indicated by the thrown dice.

Claims (9)

1. A board for playing a game, the board being provided with a plurality of equi-spaced holes arranged to receive coloured pegs, the board being marked out with a plurality of designated rectangles, each said designated rectangle including at least one hole, the rectangles being arranged in a pre-determined manner on the board.

2. A board as claimed in claim 1) in which the rectangles are designated by colour.

3. A board as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 which each designated rectangle includes four holes.

4. A board according to any one of the preceeding claims in which there are six differently designated rectangles, each said rectangle including four holes, their being more than one rectangle for each different designation.

5. A board as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims including a border surrounding all of the designated rectangles, the border including a plurality of holes to receive the coloured pegs.

6. A board as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims comprising a printed design upon a support overlaid with a sheet of clear plastic material, the plastic material being provided with a plurality of holes in register with the respective rectangles on the printed sheet.

7. A game played on a board as claimed in any one of the preceeding claims in accordance with the rules as designated herein.

8. A board constructed and arranged for use substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.

9. A game played on a board as claimed in claim 8) in accordance with any of the rules as herein described.