U.S. patent application number 12/241254 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for three or more player chess game.
Invention is credited to Mike Owen.
Application Number | 20100078889 12/241254 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42056568 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100078889 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Owen; Mike |
April 1, 2010 |
THREE OR MORE PLAYER CHESS GAME
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus for playing chess
with more than two players. The apparatus implemented for playing
chess with more than two players according to the invention
includes a game board having a plurality of hexagonal playing
spaces contiguously disposed thereon, the game board having setup
areas where players position their playing pieces prior to the
start of a match. In addition the apparatus includes the hexagonal
playing spaces having three different designations, the hexagonal
playing spaces designations being alternatively arranged such that
no two adjacent hexagonal playing spaces are the same. Furthermore,
the hexagonal playing spaces being present on the game board in a
predetermined number.
Inventors: |
Owen; Mike; (Oklahoma City,
OK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden &Nelson, P.C.
100 North Broadway, Chase Tower, Suite 2900
Oklahoma City
OK
73102
US
|
Family ID: |
42056568 |
Appl. No.: |
12/241254 |
Filed: |
September 30, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/261 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 2003/00179
20130101; A63F 3/00176 20130101; A63F 2003/00192 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/261 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/02 20060101
A63F003/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for playing a three player game of chess,
comprising: a triangular shaped game board having three end points,
three sides, and a plurality of hexagonal playing spaces
contiguously disposed thereon, the triangular shaped game board
having three player setup areas where players position their
playing pieces prior to the start of a match; the hexagonal playing
spaces having three different designations, the hexagonal playing
spaces designations being alternatively arranged such that no two
adjacent hexagonal playing spaces are the same; and where the
hexagonal playing spaces are present on the triangular shaped game
board in a predetermined number, each hexagonal playing space
disposed at the end points of the triangular shaped game board have
four of six sides exposed and each hexagonal playing space disposed
at the three sides of the triangular shaped game board have two of
six sides exposed.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a plurality of
chess piece sets for being set up on the player set up areas, each
chess piece set having playing pieces including at least a king, a
queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hexagonal playing space
designations are chosen from the group consisting of contrasting
colors and different patterns.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the predetermined number of
hexagonal playing spaces is selected from the group consisting of
78 spaces, 91 spaces, 105 spaces, and 120 playing spaces.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the knights can move two
hexagonal playing spaces in any direction through any flat hex side
of a pre-move hexagonal playing space and one hexagonal playing
space in any direction through any flat hex side of an inter-move
hexagonal playing space other than either flat hex side in the same
or opposite direction the knights moved prior to landing on the
inter-move hexagonal playing space.
6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the pawns have a first move
option and an in-game move option.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first move option of the
pawns includes moving the pawns one or two hexagonal playing spaces
in any direction, the two hexagonal playing spaces moved not
restricted to the same direction.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the in-game move option of the
pawns can be one hexagonal playing space in any direction.
9. An apparatus for playing chess with three or more players,
comprising: a star shaped game board having six star points, six
star point transition areas where each one of the six star points
transitions into another one of the six star points, and a
plurality of hexagonal playing spaces contiguously disposed
thereon, each of the six star points of the star shaped game board
having an end point, the star shaped game board having six player
setup areas where players position chess pieces prior to the start
of a match; the hexagonal playing spaces having three different
designations, the hexagonal playing spaces designations being
alternatively arranged such that no two adjacent hexagonal playing
spaces are the same; and where the hexagonal playing spaces are
present on the star shaped game board in a predetermined number,
each hexagonal playing space disposed at the end point of each of
the points of the star shaped game board have four of six sides
exposed, each hexagonal playing space disposed at the six joint
areas of the star shaped game board have one of six sides exposed,
and every other hexagonal playing space disposed on the star shaped
game board have two of six sides exposed.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: a plurality of
chess piece sets for being set up on the player set up areas, each
chess piece set having playing pieces including at least a king, a
queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the predetermined number of
hexagonal playing spaces is selected from the group consisting of
181 spaces, 253 spaces, and 337 playing spaces.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the knights can move two
hexagonal playing spaces in any direction through any flat hex side
of a pre-move hexagonal playing space and one hexagonal playing
space in any direction through any flat hex side of an inter-move
hexagonal playing space other than either flat hex side in the same
or opposite direction the knights moved prior to landing on the
inter-move hexagonal playing space.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the pawns have a first move
option and an in-game move option.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first move option of the
pawns includes moving the pawns one or two hexagonal playing spaces
in any direction, the two hexagonal playing spaces moved not
restricted to the same direction.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the in-game move option of
the pawns can be one hexagonal playing space in any direction.
Description
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0001] Not Applicable.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates to a chess game and the unique
apparatus incorporated to provide a chess game that is playable by
three or more people.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] The traditional chess games are limited to two players.
Thus, it is desirable to have a chess game where more than two
people would be able to participate. Having three or more people be
able to play chess would add additional strategy elements to an
already strategic game.
[0007] Other three or more person chess games have been provided
but all have deficiencies. Examples of these deficiencies include
extra playing pieces, shape of the board is insufficient, the size
and shape of the board is insufficient, and the integrity of the
original playing piece's movements were not captured.
[0008] Accordingly, there remains a need for three or more player
chess game that solves the insufficiencies of the prior three or
more person chess games disclosed in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides an apparatus for playing
chess with up to three players. An exemplary apparatus implemented
for playing chess with up to three players according to the
invention includes a triangular shaped game board having three end
points, three sides, and a plurality of hexagonal playing spaces
contiguously disposed thereon, the triangular shaped game board
having three player setup areas where players position their
playing pieces prior to the start of a match. In addition the
apparatus includes the hexagonal playing spaces having three
different designations, the hexagonal playing spaces designations
being alternatively arranged such that no two adjacent hexagonal
playing spaces are the same. Furthermore, the hexagonal playing
spaces are present on the triangular shaped game board in a
predetermined number, each hexagonal playing space disposed at the
end points of the triangular shaped game board have four of six
sides exposed and each hexagonal playing space disposed at the
three sides of the triangular shaped game board have two of six
sides exposed.
[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus
is provided for playing chess with up to six players. An exemplary
apparatus implemented for playing chess with up to six players
according to the invention includes a star shaped game board having
six star points, six star point transition areas where each one of
the six star points transitions into another one of the six star
points, and a plurality of hexagonal playing spaces contiguously
disposed thereon, each of the six star points of the star shaped
game board having an end point, the star shaped game board having
six player setup areas where players position chess pieces prior to
the start of a match. Additionally, the hexagonal playing spaces
having three different designations, the hexagonal playing spaces
designations being alternatively arranged such that no two adjacent
hexagonal playing spaces are the same. Furthermore, the hexagonal
playing spaces are present on the star shaped game board in a
predetermined number, each hexagonal playing space disposed at the
end point of each of the points of the star shaped game board have
four of six sides exposed, each hexagonal playing space disposed at
the six joint areas of the star shaped game board have one of six
sides exposed, and every other hexagonal playing space disposed on
the star shaped game board have two of six sides exposed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an one embodiment of a game
board constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a game
board constructed in accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a setup area portion of a game
board showing chess pieces setup in their initial positions.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of a game board
showing the movement options of Pawns in accordance with the
present invention.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a portion of a game board
showing the movement options of Knights in accordance with the
present invention.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a portion of a game board
showing the movement options of Bishops in accordance with the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of a game board
showing the movement options of Rooks in accordance with the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a portion of a game board
showing the movement options of a Queen in accordance with the
present invention.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of a game board
showing the movement options of a King in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention relates to a chess apparatus 10
playable by three or more people. Referring now to FIG. 1 is one
embodiment of the present invention. The chess apparatus 10 shown
in FIG. 1 is a triangular shaped game board 12 having three end
points 14, 16, and 18, three sides 20, 22, and 24 and a plurality
of hexagonal playing spaces 26, only three of the hexagonal playing
spaces 26 being labeled in FIG. 1 by reference numerals 26a, 26b,
and 26c for purposes of clarity. The chess apparatus 10 is also
provided with three player setup areas 28, 30, and 32 where players
position their playing pieces prior to the start of a match.
[0021] The hexagonal playing spaces 26 are provided with three
different designations, or indicia. The designations of the
hexagonal playing spaces 26 are arranged such that no two adjacent
hexagonal playing spaces 26 are of the same designation. Examples
of designations for the hexagonal playing spaces 26 can include
three different colors, textures or patterns. It should be
understood and appreciated that any designation can be used for the
hexagonal playing spaces 26 so long as the three designations are
distinguishable from one another.
[0022] The triangular shaped game board 12 can be provided with any
number of hexagonal playing spaces 26 such that the triangular
shaped game board 12 is provided in a substantially symmetrical
from. In one embodiment of the present invention, the triangular
shaped game board 12 is provided with 78 hexagonal playing spaces
26. In another embodiment of the present invention, the triangular
shaped game board 12 is provided with 91 hexagonal playing spaces
26. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the
triangular shaped game board 12 is provided with 105 hexagonal
playing spaces 26. In yet another embodiment of the present
invention, the triangular shaped game board 12 is provided with 120
hexagonal playing spaces 26.
[0023] The hexagonal playing spaces 26 are provided with six flat
hex sides 34 and six hex corners 36. For purposes of clarity, three
of the six flat hex sides 34 and the six hex corners 36 are labeled
in FIG. 1 by reference numerals 34a, 34b, and 34c and 36a, 36b, and
36c.
[0024] The three end points 14, 16, and 18 and the three sides 20,
22, and 24 are defined by a plurality of the hexagonal playing
spaces 26. Each of the hexagonal playing spaces 26 making up the
three end points 14, 16, and 18 have four of their six flat hex
sides 34 on the outside of the triangular shaped game board 12.
Furthermore, each of the hexagonal playing spaces 26 making up the
three sides 20, 22, and 24 of the triangular shaped game board 12
have two of their six flat hex sides 34 positioned on the outside
of the triangular shaped game board 12.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 2 which shows another embodiment of
the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 2 shows another
chess apparatus 10a playable by three to six players. The chess
apparatus 10a shown in FIG. 2 is a star shaped game board 112
having a plurality of star points 114, a plurality of star point
transitions 116 for designating the area where one star point 114
transitions into another star point 114, and a plurality of
hexagonal playing spaces 118, only three of the star points 114,
the star point transitions 116, and hexagonal playing spaces 118
being labeled in FIG. 2 by reference numerals 114a, 114b, and 114c,
116a, 116b, and 116c, and 118a, 118b, and 118c, for purposes of
clarity. The chess apparatus 10a is also provided with a plurality
of player setup areas 120 where players position their playing
pieces prior to the start of a match, only three of the player
setup areas 120 being labeled in FIG. 2 by reference numerals 120a,
120b, and 120c, for purposes of clarity. While a six pointed star
shaped game board is shown in FIG. 2, it should be understood and
appreciated that any number of star points could be used so long as
the integrity of the game and symmetry are maintained. Also, it
should be understood and appreciated that for every star point 114
there is a star point transition 116 and a player setup area
120.
[0026] Similar to the hexagonal playing spaces 26 described herein,
the hexagonal playing spaces 120 are provided with three different
designations, or indicia. The designations of the hexagonal playing
spaces 120 are arranged such that no two adjacent hexagonal playing
spaces 120 are of the same designation. Examples of designations
for the hexagonal playing spaces 120 can include three different
colors, textures or patterns. It should be understood and
appreciated that any designation can be used for the hexagonal
playing spaces 120 so long as the three designations are
distinguishable from one another.
[0027] The star shaped game board 112 can be provided with any
number of hexagonal playing spaces 120 such that the star shaped
game board 112 is provided in a substantially symmetrical from. In
one embodiment of the present invention, the star shaped game board
112 is provided with 181 hexagonal playing spaces 120. In another
embodiment of the present invention, the star shaped game board 112
is provided with 253 hexagonal playing spaces 120. In a further
embodiment of the present invention, the star shaped game board 112
is provided with 337 hexagonal playing spaces 120.
[0028] The hexagonal playing spaces 120 are provided with six flat
hex sides 122 and six hex corners 124. For purposes of clarity,
three of the six flat hex sides 122 and the six hex corners 124 are
labeled in FIG. 2 by reference numerals 122a, 122b, and 122c and
124a, 124b, and 124c.
[0029] Each star point 114 is provided with an end point 126
signifying the outermost end of the star point 114, only three end
points 126 are labeled in FIG. 2 by reference numerals 126a, 126b,
and 126c for purposes of clarity. The end points 126, the star
points 114, and the star point transitions 116 are defined by a
plurality of the hexagonal playing spaces 120. Each of the
hexagonal playing spaces 120 making up the end points 126 have four
of their six flat hex sides 122 on the outside of the star shaped
game board 112. Each of the other hexagonal playing spaces 120
making up the star points 114 of the star shaped game board 112
have two of their six flat hex sides 122 positioned on the outside
of the star shaped game board 112. Further, each of the hexagonal
playing spaces 120 of the star point transitions 116 have one of
their six flat hex sides 122 positioned on the outside of the star
shaped game board 112.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 3, shown therein is the player setup
area 28, 30, 32, and 120 showing a chess piece set disposed
thereon. The chess piece set includes various playing pieces
210-226. In one embodiment of the present invention, the playing
pieces include all the playing pieces of a traditional chess piece
set, which includes a King 210, a Queen 212, two Rooks 214 and 216,
two Bishops 218 and 220, two Knights 222 and 224, and eight Pawns
226, only three of which are labeled in FIG. 3 by reference
numerals 226a, 226b, and 226c for purposes of clarity. It should be
understood and appreciated that the chess piece sets can include
any number and any type of playing pieces included in the
traditional chess piece set.
[0031] In one embodiment of the present invention, each player
setup area 28, 30, 32, and 120 is comprised of the 16 hexagonal
playing spaces 26 and/or 118 upon which the playing pieces 210-226
are disposed prior to starting a chess match. The playing pieces
210-226 set up as shown in FIG. 3 provides the King 210 with a
position that is extremely defensible. Five of the eight Pawns 226
shown in FIG. 3 are positioned on a single row referred to as a
pawn starting row 228. It should be understood and appreciated that
the playing pieces 210-226 can be setup in any configuration and in
any position.
[0032] The movement of the playing pieces 210-226, described
herein, across the hexagonal playing spaces 26 and/or 118 is
dictated by the different playing piece to be moved, the position
of the other playing pieces on the board, and each player's
intent.
[0033] In FIG. 4, the moves of the Pawns 226 are shown. Note that
in the present invention, Pawns 226 are not limited to a single
direction as they are in traditional chess. Similar to traditional
chess and in accordance with the present invention, Pawns 226 have
a first move option and an in-game move option. Pawns 226 are
allowed to move backwards, forwards, and sideways subject to the
limitation that they cannot move rearward behind the pawn starting
row 228 unless they are making a capture of another player's
playing piece. On the first move option (initial move of any of the
Pawns 226), Pawns 226 are allowed to move through any one or two
flat hex sides 34 and 122, examples of potential first moves are
indicated by reference numerals 230, 232, and 234, and on
subsequent moves, they are allowed to move through one flat hex
side 34 and 122, as indicated by reference numerals 236, 238, and
240. A Pawn's 226 progress can be blocked by moving a playing piece
onto an adjacent space. Pawns 226 cannot directly attack the
playing piece used to block the Pawn's 226 movement unless
responding to a capture of any player's playing piece by the
playing piece used to block the Pawn's 226 movement. If an opposing
player's piece is moved onto an adjacent space to block the
movement of a Pawn 226 in that direction, then the Pawn 226 can
move (or circle) the opposing player's piece and attack the
opposing player's piece if the opposing player's piece is not
moved. If a Pawn 226 is placed into an adjacent space to an
opposing player's piece, then the Pawn 226 can attack that piece if
the opposing player's piece is not moved. If a Pawn 226 reaches
another player's King's starting position in the course of play,
then it may be exchanged for any other playing piece.
[0034] In FIG. 5, the moves of the Knights 222 and 224 are shown.
The Knights 222 and 224 of the present invention retains its
characteristic L-shaped movement. The Knights 222 and 224 can move
two hexagonal playing spaces 26 and/or 118 across two flat hex
sides 34 and/or 122 in any direction from a pre-move hexagonal
playing space 236 to an inter-move hexagonal playing space 238. The
Knights 222 and 224 can then move one hexagonal playing space 26
and/or 118 across one flat hex side 34 and/or 122 in any direction
from the inter-move hexagonal playing space 238 except in the same
or opposite direction the Knights 222 and 224 traveled from the
pre-move hexagonal playing space 236 to the inter-move hexagonal
playing space 238. Examples of the available movements of the
Knights 222 and 224 are labeled by reference numerals 240 and 242.
Similar to the traditional chess game, the Knights 222 and 224 are
allowed to leap, or jump over, any friendly or unfriendly
intervening pieces in its path.
[0035] In FIG. 6, the movement of the Bishops 218 and 220 is shown.
The Bishops 218 and 220 are subject to blockage by friendly or
opposing player's pieces and they travel across the hex corners 36
and/or 124 in a diagonal manner shown by arrows indicated by
reference numerals 244. Thus, as in traditional chess, the Bishops
218 and 220 are limited to the colored (or patterned or textured)
hexagonal playing spaces 26 and/or 118 that they originally began
on.
[0036] In the traditional chess game, each player has a bishop for
each playing space color, which it is limited to for the entirety
of the game. In accordance with the present invention, each player
will have at least one hexagonal playing space 26 and/or 118 color
in common with at least one other player.
[0037] In FIG. 7, the movement of the Rooks 214 and 216 is shown.
The Rooks 214 and 216 can move, limited by the interference of
other pieces on the board, across any number of flat hex sides 34
and/or 122 as the player wishes. The directions of movement of the
Rooks 214 and 216 are shown by directional arrows indicated by
reference numerals 246.
[0038] In FIG. 8, the movement of the Queen 212 is shown. The Queen
212 can move, limited by the interference of other pieces on the
game board, across any number of flat hex sides 34 and/or 122 as
the player wishes and across the hex corners 36 and/or 124 any
number of hexagonal playing spaces 26 and/or 118 in a diagonal
manner shown by directional arrows indicated by reference numerals
248. It should be understood and appreciated that, similar to the
traditional chess game, the Queen's 212 movements are a combination
of the movements of the Bishops 218 and 220 and the Rooks 214 and
216.
[0039] In FIG. 9, the movements of the King 210 are shown. The King
210 can move one adjacent hexagonal playing space 26 and/or 118 in
any direction so long as the space 26 and/or 118 is not occupied by
another playing piece or the King 210 could be put into check by
another player's playing piece.
[0040] From the above description, it is clear that the present
invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and to attain
the advantages mentioned herein as well as those inherent in the
invention. While presently preferred embodiments of the invention
have been described for purposes of this disclosure, it will be
understood that numerous changes may be made which will readily
suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and which are
accomplished within the spirit of the invention disclosed and
claimed.
* * * * *