GB2212068A

GB2212068A - Chess type game

Info

Publication number: GB2212068A
Application number: GB8826418A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Raymond Faulkner
Original assignee: ENNERDALE ENTERPRISES Ltd
Current assignee: ENNERDALE ENTERPRISES Ltd
Priority date: 1987-11-11
Filing date: 1988-11-11
Publication date: 1989-07-19
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-11
Also published as: GB8826418D0; GB2212068B

Abstract

A game board (10) has a circular playing area (12) and four differently coloured "home" areas (14). Four sets (26) of playing pieces (28) are provided with each set (26) being coloured to correspond to a respective one of the home areas (14). Each set (26) has nineteen pieces (28), different ones of which can move in different ways in accordance with the rules. Players take alternate turns and either when a player has predetermined ones of the pieces removed from the board by the other player's pieces or a winning area has been occupied by an opponent's piece, the player loses the game. <IMAGE>

Description

Game This invention relates to a board game of the type which can be played by one or more players, the or each player having pieces for moving on the board in accordance with rules of the game.

According to the present invention there is provided a game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each set including a plurality of different playing pieces including a winning piece, and, for play by one player, rules providing the player with turns for alternately moving a selected one of the playing pieces frown each set and determining the direction and extent of movement of the respective apiece, movement of a piece from one set onto an area occupied by a piece from another set causing the latter piece to be removed from the board, the game terminating when one of the winning pieces is moved onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing pieces from all but one of the sets have been removed from the board.

According to the present invention there is also provided a game for a plurality of players, the game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, at least one set of playing pieces for each player, the set comprising a plurality of different playing pieces including a winning piece, and rules providing each player with alternate turns for moving a selected one of allocated playing pieces and determining the direction and extent of movement of the pieces, movement of one of the pieces from one set onto an area occupied by a piece from another set causing the latter pieces to be removed from the board, and L ho q gamc tcrminating when one o F the winning pieces is moved onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing pieces from all but one set have been removed from the board.

The board preferably has a circular configuration and may have a plurality of annular sections each presenting alternate ones of the defined areas in different colours, the annular sections being arranged concentrically and radially adjacent, with alternate ones of the defined areas in the radial direction also being presented in different colours.

Preferably also the board includes a home area for each set of playing pieces. The home areas may be located outwardly adjacent the perimeter of the board and spaced from one another.

A number of the defined areas on the board at the location of each home area may be marked, for example by being enclosed within a border. The number of the defined areas so marked or enclosed at the location of each home area plus the home area may correspond to the number of playing pieces in each set.

Preferably the home areas are each differently marked , and each se L of playing pieces may also be marked in a manner corresponding to one of the home areas.

The playing pieces may each represent a type of soldier, and the rules may provide for the manner in which each soldier type may move on the playing board. Each playing piece representing a different soldier type is preferably correspondingly marked.

According to the present invention there is further provided a game playing arrangement comprising means for providing an illustration representing a layout of a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, and for providing a plurality of sets of illustrations representing playing pieces, each set including a plurality of different playing piece illustrations including a winning piece illustration, and, for play by one player, rules providing the player with turns for alternately causing to move a selected one of the playing piece illustrations from each set and determining the direction and extent of movement of the respective playing piece illustration, movement of a playing piece illustration from one set onto an area occupied by a playing piece illustration from another set causing the latter to be removed from the layout illustration, the game terminating when one of the winning piece illustrations is caused to move onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing piece illustrations from all but one of the sets have been removed from the layout illustration.

According to the present invention there is also provided a game playing arrangement for a plurality of players, the game comprising means for providing an illus tration representing a layout oF a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, and For providing at least one sot of illustrations repro:: senting playing pieces for each player, the set comprising a plurality of different playing piece illustrations including a winning piece illustration, and rules providing each player with alternate turns for causing to move a selected one of allocated playing piece illustrations and determining the direction and extent of movement of the playing piece illustrations, movement of one of the playing piece illustrations from one set onto an area occupied by a playing piece illustration from another set causing the latter to be removed from the layout illustration, and the game terminating when one of the winning piece illustrations is caused to move onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing piece illustrations from all but one set have been removed from the layout illustration.

An eml-)odilrlent oF the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the board of a game according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows part of the board with a set of playing pieces illustrated thereon; and Fig. 3 shows the different playing pieces in each set.

Referring to the drawings, a game board 10 has a circular playing area 12 and four home areas 14 each located outwardly of the area 12 on the perimeter thereof substanttally equ i spaced from each other around the perimeter. The home areas 14 are each differently coloured, respectively silver, black, gold and white.

The playing area 12 is divided into nine concentric and radially adjacent annular sections 16 around a centre area which is designated the "centrepoint" 16A and is marked accordingly. In a radially outwards direction, the adjacent section 16B is plain and preferably coloured yellow. The next two sections 16C are each provided with sixteen substantially equal sized playing areas 18A, which are defined by the colours black and white used alternately. Each section 16C is so marked that each area 18A is radially adjacent an area 18A of the other colour on the other ring 16C.

The six outermost sections 16D are each provided with thirty two substantially equal size playing areas 18B, which are defined by the colours black and white used alternately with again each playing area 18B being adjacent similar such playing areas 18B of the other colour.

However, in view of the transition from sixteen to thirty two areas, each playing area 18A in the radially outermost section 16C is adjacent two of the playing areas 18B in til radially innermost section 16D.

Each of the home areas 14 is radially aligned with a radial line of the playing areas 18A,18B. A boundary 20, in this example coloured yellow, is associated with each home area 14 and is drawn around a plurality of the playing areas 18B including the four radially outermost areas 18B in the radial line, the four radially outermost areas 188 in the two adjacent radial lines on respective sides, and the three radially outermost areas 188 in each of the next two adjacent radial lines on respective sides. The areas enclosed by these boundaries 20 are referred to as the "start areas".The playing area 12 may be referenced with each annular section 16C,16D being allocated a respective letter A-H and each playing area thereon being allocated a number 1-32 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

Four sets 26 of playing pieces 28 are provided. Each set 26 is coloured to correspond to a respective one of the home areas 14 and has nineteen pieces 28 consisting of five Runners 28A, one Standard 288, four Scouts 28C, four Archers 28D, one General 28E, and four Lancers 28F.

The game may be played by any of one to four players and the basic rules are the same for each number of players. In the game played by two players, one of the players is allocated the gold home area 14 and the gold set 26 of playing pieces. The other player is allocated the silver home area 14 and the silver set 26 of playing pieces. Prior to the game commencing, the players arrange their respective sets 26 of playing pieces in their respective start areas 14, with their respective standards 26B in their respective home areas 14. The playing pieces 26 are arranged in the formation shown in Fig. 2, in which the playing pieces 26 have been coloured to contrast with the playing area upon which they stand, for clarity.

The player allocated the gold pieces commences the game, and the players take alternate turns. Each turn involves a player moving any selected one of his pieces 28 as desired in accordance with the rules. The object of the game is for a player to move his Standard 288 onto the centrepoint 16A, thereby winning the game.

Each of the pieces 28 may be moved as described belo. one of the the pieces 28 may be moved over the top of a playing area 18 that is occupied by another playing piece 28. If a playing piece 28 is moved onto a playing area 18 which already has a playing piece 28 thereon, the latter is removed from the board 1 0.

Each playing piece 28 may move as follows : the Standard 288 can move one playing area only at a time in any direction, i.e. forwards, backwards, sideways or diagonally. The Standard 288 is the only playing piece that can cross the yellow section 168 to reach the centrepoint 16A. Moving across the section 168 onto the centrepoint 1 6A is counted as one move; the General 28E can move up to four playing areas in any one direction; the Runner 28A can move one playing area only in any direction, but can only remove another playing piece 28 from the board 10 at the end of a turn when the Runner has been moved diagonally; the Archer 20D can move any number of playing areas in any one direction;; the Scout 28C can move up to three spaces in a diagonal direction only but must remain on playing areas of the same colour as that of the start area; and the Lancer can move two spaces in a diagonal direction, but again must remain on playing areas of the same colour as that of the start area.

If during the game a player has his Standard 288 and all of his Runners 28A removed from the board, the player loses the game. If one of a player's playing pieces other than a Runner 28A has been removed from the board 10, the removed playing piece may be brought back into play by being exchanged for one of that player's Runners 28A upon the latter being moved into the player's home area 14. If a player's Standard 288 has been removed from the board 10, this must be the first playing piece 28 exchanged for a Runner 28A as described above. After a playing piece has been replaced on the board (on the respective home area 14) this playing piece may be moved one complete move before the piece can again be removed from the board 10.

A further feature of the game is that if the Standard 288 of a player is removed from the board 10, that player may bring into play one of the other two sets 26 of pieces 28 (not presently on the board 10). This may be done by the player moving one of his Runners 28A onto the respective home area 14 of the set 26 that is not in play. When this is achieved, all the playing pieces in the respective start area are removed from the board. This start area is now filled with the respective set 26 of playing pieces w h i c h were previously not being mused. This new set 26 of playing pieces may then be used by this player alongside his remaining original pieces.

The game may be played solo or by four people, and in these instances all four sets 26 of pieces are placed on the board 10 and play starts with the gold set 26 of playing pieces and goes around the board 10 in a clockwise direction.

The game may also be played by three players and in this case the gold, black and white sets 26 of playing pieces are used. As the player with the gold set 26 of playing pieces is at the disadvantage of having other sets 26 of playing pieces on either side of his start area, only this player may bring the spare set 26 (silver) into play as described above.

There is thus described a game which may be played by a different number of players. It is a game of strategy which offers considerable scope for serious play. If the board 10 has been referenced as described above, this game is also suitable for postal games.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example a different layout of board may be used, different shapes and/or numbers of playing areas could be used and the board and/or playing pieces could be coloured differently and differing numbers of playing pieces could be used.

It is envisaged that the game playing arrangement may be an electrical or electronic arrangement. In one example there may be provided apparatus having a display screen and electronic circuitry, the latter having appropriate controls for operation by the or each player whereby there can be displayed illustrations representing the game board and the playing pieces and the latter can be moved on the board illustration in accordance with the rules of the game. Such equipment may be controlled by dedicated circuitry.

As an alternative there may be provided a computer program in the form of software provided for interaction with suitable computer hardware to enable the game to be represented in a similar way as described above on a suitable visual display unit.

Claims

Clairns :

1. A game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, a plurality of sets of playing pieces, each set including a plurality of different playing pieces including a winning piece, and, for play by one player, rules providing the player with turns for alternately moving a selected one of the playing pieces from each set and determining the direction and extent of movement of the respective apiece, movement of a piece from one set onto an area occupied by a piece from another set causing the latter piece to be removed from the board, the game terminating when one of the winning pieces is moved onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing pieces from all but one of the sets have been removed from the board.

2. A game for a plurality of players, the game comprising a board having thereon a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, at least one set of playing pieces for each player, the set comprising a plurality of different playing pieces including a winning piece, and rules providing each player with laternate turns for moving a selected one of allocated playing pieces and determining the direction and extent of movement of the pieces, movement of one of the pieces from one set onto an area occupied by a piece from another set causing the latter pieces to be removed from the board, and the game terminating when one of the winning pieces is moved onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing pieces from all but one set have been removed from the board.

3. A game according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the board has a circular configuration.

4. A game according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the board has a plurality of annular sections each presenting alternate ones of the defined areas in different colours, the annular sections being arranged concentrically and radially adjacent, with alternate ones of the defined areas in the radial direction also being presented in different colours.

5. A game according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the board includes a home area for each set of playing pieces.

6. A game according to Claim 5, wherein the home areas are located outwardly adjacent the perimeter of the board and spaced from one another.

7. A game according to Claim 5 or 6 , wherein a number of the defined areas on the board at the location of each home area are marked by being enclosed within a border.

8. A game according to any of Claim 7, wherein the number of the defined areas so marked or enclosed at the location of each home area plus the home area corresponds to the number of playing pieces in each set.

9. A game according to Claim 7 to 8, wherein the home areas are each differently marked.

10. A game according to Claim 9, wherein each set of playing pieces is marked in a manner corresponding to one of the home areas.

11. A game according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the playing pieces each represent a type of soldier.

12. A game according to Claim 11, wherein the rules provide for the manner in which each soldier type moves on the playing board.

13. A game according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein each playing piece representing a different soldier type is correspondingly marked.

14. A game playing arrangement comprising means for providing an illustration representing a layout of a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, and for providing a plurality of sets of illustrations representing playing pieces, each set including a plurality of different playing piece illustrations including a winning piece illustration, and, for play by one player, rules providing the player with turns for alternately causing to move a selected one of the playing piece illustrations from each set and determining the direction and extent of movement of the respective playing piece illustration, movement of a playing piece illustration from one set onto an area occupied by a playing piece illustration from another set causing the latter to be removed from the layout illustration, the game terminating when one of the winning piece illustrations is caused to move onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing piece illustrations from all but one of the sets have been removed from the layout illustration.

15. A game playing arrangement for a plurality of players, the game comprising means for providing an illustration representing a layout of a plurality of defined areas adjoining one another and including a winning area, and for providing at least one set of illustrations representing playing pieces for each player, the set comprising a plurality of different playing piece illustrations including a winning piece illustration, and rules providing each player with alternate turns for causing to move a selected one of allocated playing piece illustrations and determining the direction and extent of movement of the playing piece illustrations, movement of one of the playing piece illustrations from one set onto an area occupied by a playing piece illustration from another set causing the latter to be removed from the layout illustration, and the game terminating when one of the winning piece illustrations is caused to move onto the winning area or when a predetermined selection of the playing piece illustrations from all but one set have been removed from the layout illustration.

16. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

17. A game arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

18. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed in the foregoing Specification or Claims and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding Claims.