U.S. patent application number 12/243779 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-01 for bidirectional board game and method for playing the same.
Invention is credited to Ying-Jen Chen, Chia-Yen LIN.
Application Number | 20100078890 12/243779 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42056569 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100078890 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIN; Chia-Yen ; et
al. |
April 1, 2010 |
BIDIRECTIONAL BOARD GAME AND METHOD FOR PLAYING THE SAME
Abstract
A bidirectional board game includes a playing board, and a
plurality of playing pieces. The playing board has a matrix of
squares defined by horizontal lines and vertical lines configured
on a surface of the playing board. The squares are allocated in two
regions identified for the two players, respectively. Each square
allocated to both of the players includes a diagonal line. The
playing pieces are divided into two distinguishable families each
controlled by one of the two players. Each family includes a
sovereign piece and a plurality of numeral pieces indicating a
numeral 1 to 5. When playing the board game, the two players
alternate moving the playing piece. The numeral indicated on the
numeral piece is the maximum number of steps allowed to move in one
action. Which hostile playing pieces can be captured by the numeral
piece is determined by the numeral indicated thereon.
Inventors: |
LIN; Chia-Yen; (Taipei,
TW) ; Chen; Ying-Jen; (Taoyuan City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
42056569 |
Appl. No.: |
12/243779 |
Filed: |
October 1, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
273/261 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 3/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/261 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/02 20060101
A63F003/02 |
Claims
1. A bidirectional board game, comprising: a playing board,
configured with a matrix of a plurality of squares defined by seven
vertical lines indicated by upper-case letters A through G
respectively, and ten horizontal lines indicated by lower-case
letters a through j respectively on a surface of the playing board,
the vertical lines crossing over with the horizontal lines; wherein
a region defined from the horizontal line a to the horizontal line
e is allocated to a first player, a region defined from the
horizontal line f to the horizontal line j is allocated to a second
player, and a region defined from the horizontal line e to the
horizontal line f is a public region; each of the squares located
in the regions allocated to the players has a diagonal line; the
squares are classified into six vertically aligned files, a first
file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines (Aa-Bb), (Ab-Bc),
(Ac-Bd), (Ad-Be), (Ag-Bf), (Ah-Bg), (Ai-Bh), and (Aj-Bi), a second
file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines being mirrored to
the diagonal lines in the first file, a third file of the squares
comprises the diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines
in the second file, a fourth file of the squares comprises the
diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the third
file, a fifth file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines
being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fourth file, and a
sixth file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines being
mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fifth file; and two families
of distinguishable playing pieces controlled by the first player
and the second player, respectively, each family having: one
sovereign piece indicating a sovereign of the family represented
with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each indicating a
numeral 1 represented with a word or a symbol, three numeral pieces
each indicating a numeral 2 represented with a word or a symbol,
two numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 3 represented with a
word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 4
represented with a word or a symbol, and two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 5 represented with a word or a symbol; wherein
the playing pieces are placed at one of intersections of the lines
and the squares; when the playing pieces are placed at the
intersections of lines, the playing pieces are moved along the
lines and from the intersections to the intersections; when the
playing pieces are placed in the squares, the playing pieces are
moved from the squares to the squares.
2. A method for playing a bidirectional board game, comprising:
providing a playing board, configured with a matrix of a plurality
of squares defined by seven vertical lines indicated by upper-case
letters A through G respectively, and ten horizontal lines
indicated by lower-case letters a through j respectively on a
surface of the playing board, the vertical lines crossing over with
the horizontal lines; wherein a region defined from the horizontal
line a to the horizontal line e is allocated to a first player, a
region defined from the horizontal line f to the horizontal line j
is allocated to a second player, and a region defined from the
horizontal line e to the horizontal line f is a public region; each
square of the regions allocated to the players has a diagonal line;
the squares are classified into six vertically aligned files; a
first file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines (Aa-Bb),
(Ab-Bc), (Ac-Bd), (Ad-Be), (Ag-Bf), (Ah-Bg), (Ai-Bh), and (Aj-Bi),
a second file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines being
minored to the diagonal lines in the first file, a third file of
the squares comprises the diagonal lines being mirrored to the
diagonal lines in the second file, a fourth file of the squares
comprises the diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines
in the third file, a fifth file of the squares comprises the
diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fourth
file; and a sixth file of the squares comprises the diagonal lines
being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fifth file; providing
two families of distinguishable playing pieces controlled by the
first player and the second player, respectively; each family
comprising one sovereign piece indicating a sovereign of the family
represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 1 represented with a word or a symbol, three
numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 2 represented with a word
or a symbol, two numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 3
represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 4 represented with a word or a symbol; and two
numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 5 represented with a word
or a symbol; setting up the sovereign pieces of the two players on
the intersections Da and Dj, respectively, setting up the numeral
pieces indicating numeral 1 of the two players on the intersections
Ad, Gd, and Ag, Gg, respectively, setting up the numeral pieces
indicating numeral 2 of the two players on the intersections Bc,
Dc, Fc, and Bh, Dh, Fh, respectively, setting up the numeral pieces
indicating numeral 3 of the two players on the intersections Ca,
Ea, and Cj, Ej, respectively, setting up the numeral pieces
indicating numeral 4 of the two players on the intersections Ba,
Fa, and Bj, Fj, respectively, and setting up the numeral pieces
indicating numeral 5 of the two players on the intersections Aa,
Ga, and Aj, Gj, respectively; and allowing the first player and the
second player to alternately make an action until one of the
sovereign pieces is captured; wherein the playing pieces are moved
from intersections of the lines to the intersections of the lines;
the sovereign pieces are allowed to move one step in one of
horizontal and vertical directions, but are not allowed to move
diagonally unless the move is along the diagonal line and for
capturing the hostile playing piece; each of the numeral pieces is
allowed to move no more than a predetermined number of steps in
each action, and the predetermined number is equal to the numeral
indicated thereon; each of the numeral pieces is allowed to move in
one of the horizontal or vertical directions, but is not allowed to
move diagonally unless the move is along the diagonal line and for
capturing the hostile playing piece; each of the numeral pieces is
not allowed to make a turn in one action; when diagonally capturing
the hostile playing piece, the numeral piece is only allowed to
move one step; the playing piece is not allowed to move in one of
vertical and horizontal directions first and then make a diagonal
capturing in one action, when moving in one of the horizontal and
vertical directions to capture the hostile numeral piece, the
numeral piece is allowed to capture the hostile numeral piece with
an equivalent numeral or a smaller numeral only; when moving along
the diagonal line to capture the hostile numeral pieces, the
numeral pieces is allowed to capture the hostile numeral piece
having an equivalent numeral or a larger numeral only; the playing
piece is allowed to capture the hostile sovereign piece, and the
sovereign piece is allowed to capture the hostile playing piece;
when a move of the playing piece of the player captures the hostile
playing piece, the move stops at where the hostile playing piece is
captured, and it is changed to the other player to make a move; the
first player who captures the hostile sovereign piece wins.
3. A method for playing a bidirectional board game, comprising:
providing a playing board, comprising twenty four squares arranged
in a matrix defined by seven vertical lines and five horizontal
lines; providing two families of distinguishable playing pieces
controlled by a first player and a second player, respectively;
each family comprising one sovereign piece indicating a sovereign
of the family represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral
pieces each indicating a numeral 1 represented with a word or a
symbol, three numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 2
represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 3 represented with a word or a symbol, two
numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 4 represented with a word
or a symbol, and two numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 5
represented with a word or a symbol; reversing all of the playing
pieces to show backsides of the playing pieces to the players so
that the players cannot identify the playing pieces; shuffling the
reversed playing pieces and then randomly placing the reversed
playing pieces in the squares of the playing board; and allowing
the first player and the second player to alternately make an
action until all the playing pieces of one of the families are
captured; wherein in each action, the player is allowed to do one
of disclosing one of the reversed playing pieces to both of the
players and moving one of the disclosed playing pieces one step;
the player who makes the first action controls the family of the
first disclosed playing piece, and the other player controls the
hostile family; after all of the reversed playing pieces have been
disclosed, the player is required to move one of the playing pieces
of his controlled family in one action; a numeral piece is allowed
to capture a hostile numeral piece indicated with an equivalent
numeral or a smaller numeral; a sovereign piece is allowed to
capture all of the hostile playing pieces except those indicated
with numeral 1; the numeral pieces indicated with numeral 1 is
allowed to capture the hostile sovereign piece; and the first
player who captures all of the hostile playing pieces wins.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to a strategic board
game apparatus and a method for playing the game, and more
particularly, to a bidirectional board game and a method for
playing the same.
[0003] 2. The Prior Arts
[0004] Xiangqi, weiqi, chess, checker are popular board games that
need strategy and tactics. However, people still need new board
games for a variety of recreation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a
new board game and a method for playing the same, which are
different from all existed board games. The board game is a
recreational and competitive game played between two players. When
playing the board game, the two players alternate moving their
playing pieces on a playing board to attack and defense each other.
In this concern, playing the board game is an excellent mental
activity that challenges the brain, and thus players might find
this game appealing and interesting.
[0006] A bidirectional board game according to a first embodiment
of the present invention includes a playing board, and a plurality
of playing pieces. The playing board has a matrix of squares
defined by a plurality of horizontal lines and vertical lines
configured on a surface of the playing board. The squares are
allocated in two regions identified for the two players
respectively. Each square in the regions includes a diagonal line.
The playing pieces are divided into two distinguishable families
each controlled by one of the two players. Each family of the
playing pieces includes one sovereign piece indicating a sovereign
of the family represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral
pieces each indicating a numeral 1 represented with a word or a
symbol, three numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 2
represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 3 represented with a word or a symbol, two
numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 4 represented with a word
or a symbol, and two numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 5
represented with a word or a symbol. When playing the board game,
the two players alternate moving one playing piece at a time. The
sovereign piece is allowed to move one step either horizontally or
vertically. The sovereign piece is not allowed to move diagonally
unless the move is along the diagonal line and for capturing a
hostile playing piece. Each of the numeral pieces is allowed to
move a predetermined number of steps each time, in which the
predetermined number is no more than the numeral indicated thereon.
The numeral piece is only allowed to move either horizontally or
vertically, and is not allowed to move diagonally unless the move
is along the diagonal line and for capturing a hostile playing
piece. When moving along the horizontal line or the vertical line
to capture the hostile playing piece, the numeral piece is allowed
to capture the hostile numeral piece with an equivalent numeral or
a smaller numeral only. However, when moving along the diagonal
line to capture the hostile numeral pieces, the numeral pieces is
only allowed to capture the hostile numeral piece having an
equivalent numeral or a larger numeral only. Any playing piece is
allowed to capture the hostile sovereign piece, and the sovereign
piece is also allowed to capture any hostile numeral piece. When a
move of any playing piece of a player capture the hostile playing
piece, the move must stop at where the hostile playing piece is
captured, and it is changed to the other player to make a move. The
first player who captures the hostile sovereign piece wins.
[0007] According to the present invention, the playing board is
configured with a matrix including a plurality of squares defined
by seven vertical lines indicated by upper-case letters A through
G, and ten horizontal lines indicated by lower-case letters a
through j on a surface of the playing board, the vertical lines
crossing over with the horizontal lines. The region defined from
the horizontal line a to the horizontal line e is allocated to a
first player, and the region defined from the horizontal line f to
the horizontal line j is allocated to a second player. The region
defined between the horizontal line e and the horizontal line f is
a public region. Each square of regions allocated to the both
players includes a diagonal line. The squares are classified into
six vertical files. A first file of the squares include diagonal
lines (Aa-Bb), (Ab-Bc), (Ac-Bd), (Ad-Be), (Ag-Bf), (Ah-Bg),
(Ai-Bh), and (Aj-Bi). A second file of the squares includes
diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the first
file. A third file of the squares includes diagonal lines being
mirrored to the diagonal lines in the second file. A fourth file of
the squares includes diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal
lines in the third file. A fifth file of the squares includes
diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fourth
file. A sixth file of the squares includes diagonal lines being
mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fifth file.
[0008] According to the present invention, before starting to play
the board game, all playing pieces are set up on the playing board
showing their front faces to the two players, so that the players
can identify each of the playing pieces from others. The sovereign
pieces of the two players are set up on intersections Da and Dj,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 1 of the two
players are set up on intersections Ad, Gd, and Ag, Gg,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 2 of the two
players are set up on intersections Bc, Dc, Fc, and Bh, Dh, Fh,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 3 of the two
players are set up on intersections Ca, Ea, and Cj, Ej,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 4 of the two
players are set up on intersections Ba, Fa, and Bj, Fj,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 5 of the two
players are set up on intersections Aa, Ga, and Aj, Gj,
respectively. After the playing pieces are set up, the board game
according to the present invention is played by following the rules
mentioned above.
[0009] According to a second embodiment of the present invention,
the playing pieces of the board game are played covertly. Before
playing the board game, all playing pieces are reversed to show
backsides of the playing pieces to the players so that the players
cannot identify the playing pieces. The reversed playing pieces are
shuffled and then randomly filled inside the squares of the playing
board. When playing the board game, two players alternate making an
action. In each action, the player can disclose one reversed
playing piece to both of the players or move one disclosed playing
pieces one step. The two families of playing pieces can be
distinguished from each other by colors indicated on their front
surfaces. The player who makes the first action controls the family
indicated by the color of the first disclosed playing piece. The
other player controls the hostile family indicted by another color.
After all of the reversed playing pieces have been disclosed, the
players have to alternate moving the playing piece one step each
time. The numeral piece is allowed to capture the hostile numeral
pieces indicated with an equivalent numeral or a smaller numeral.
The sovereign piece is allowed to capture all hostile playing
pieces except the numeral pieces indicated with numeral 1. The
numeral pieces indicated, with numeral 1 are allowed to capture the
hostile sovereign piece. The first player who captures the hostile
sovereign piece wins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in
the art by reading the following detailed description of preferred
embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in
which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a playing board
of a bidirectional board game according to the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 illustrates a first player's playing pieces according
to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a second player's playing pieces
according to the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 4 shows an initial formation of the playing pieces of
the two players before starting the board game according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] A bidirectional board game according to the present
invention includes a playing board 1 and a plurality of playing
pieces 2.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, the playing board 1 is configured with
a matrix including a plurality of squares defined by seven vertical
lines indicated by upper-case letters A through G, and ten
horizontal lines indicated by lower-case letters a through j on a
surface of the playing board. The vertical lines cross over with
the horizontal lines. The matrix includes six vertically aligned
files, a first file 11 through a sixth file 16 of the squares. The
region defined from the horizontal line a to the horizontal line e
is allocated to a first player, and the region defined from the
horizontal line f to the horizontal line j is allocated to a second
player. The region defined between the horizontal lines e and the
horizontal line f is a public region. Each square of regions
allocated to both of the players includes a diagonal line. The
first file 11 of the squares includes the diagonal lines (Aa-Bb),
(Ab-Bc), (Ac-Bd), (Ad-Be), (Ag-Bf), (Ah-Bg), (Ai-Bh), and (Aj-Bi).
The second file 12 of the squares includes diagonal lines being
mirrored to the diagonal lines in the first file 11. The third file
13 of the squares includes diagonal lines being mirrored to the
diagonal lines in the second file 12. The fourth file 14 of the
squares includes diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal
lines in the third file 13. The fifth file 15 of the squares
includes diagonal lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the
fourth 14 file. The sixth file 16 of the squares includes diagonal
lines being mirrored to the diagonal lines in the fifth file
15.
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the playing pieces 2 are divided
into two distinguishable families controlled by the first player
and the second player, respectively. Each family of the playing
pieces 2 includes one sovereign piece indicating a sovereign of the
family represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 1 represented with a word or a symbol, three
numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 2 represented with a word
or a symbol, two numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 3
represented with a word or a symbol, two numeral pieces each
indicating a numeral 4 represented with a word or a symbol, and two
numeral pieces each indicating a numeral 5 represented with a word
or a symbol. According to the present invention, the two families
can be distinguished by different colors. The two families can also
be distinguished by different types of the symbols, such as Roman
numerals and Arabic numerals.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates the playing pieces 2 of the first player
of the bidirectional board game according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 illustrates playing pieces 2 of the second player of the
bidirectional board game according to the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the sovereign piece of the first player is
represented with a word "Queen", and the numeral pieces of the
first player are represented with Arabic numerals 1 through 5,
respectively. Referring to FIG. 3, the sovereign piece of the
second player is represented with a word "King", and the numeral
pieces of the second player are represented with Roman numerals
.quadrature. through .quadrature., respectively. Of course, other
words or symbols, such as a crown or a scepter, can also be used to
represent the sovereign piece. Also, a predetermined number of
symbols can also be used to represent the numeral pieces. For
example, one diamond represents the numeral 1, and two diamonds
represents the numeral 2.
[0019] The two players embattle with their playing pieces in a
certain formation before starting the game. FIG. 4 shows an initial
formation of the playing pieces of the two players before starting
the board game according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. As shown in FIG. 4, before starting to play the board
game, all playing pieces 2 are set up on the playing board 1
showing their front faces to the two players, so that the players
can identify each of the playing pieces from others. The sovereign
pieces of the two players are set up on intersections Da and Dj,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 1 of the two
players are set up on intersections Ad, Gd, and Ag, Gg,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 2 of the two
players are set up on intersections Bc, Dc, Fc, and Bh, Dh, Fh,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 3 of the two
players are set up on intersections Ca, Ea, and Cj, Ej,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 4 of the two
players are set up on intersections Ba, Fa, and Bj, Fj,
respectively. The numeral pieces indicating numeral 5 of the two
players are set up on intersections Aa, Ga, and Aj, Gj,
respectively.
[0020] Terms used in the method for playing the bidirectional board
game is defined as follows: [0021] 1. when making a move with the
playing piece 2, a distance from an intersection to an immediate
adjacent intersection along horizontal, vertical or diagonal lines
is defined as a "step"; [0022] 2. moving a playing piece 2 either
horizontally or vertically to an intersection occupied by a hostile
playing piece and removing the hostile playing piece from the
playing board is defined as "capturing"; [0023] 3. moving a playing
piece 2 along a diagonal line is defined as a "diagonal move"; and
[0024] 4. moving a playing piece 2 along a diagonal line to an
intersection occupied by a hostile playing piece and removing the
hostile playing piece from the playing board is defined as
"diagonal capturing".
[0025] When playing the bidirectional board game, the first player
and the second player alternately make an action. In each action,
the sovereign piece is allowed to move one step either horizontally
or vertically. The sovereign pieces are not allowed to move
diagonally unless the move is along the diagonal line and for
capturing the hostile playing piece. Each of the numeral pieces is
allowed to move no more than a predetermined number of steps in
each action, in which the predetermined number is equal to the
numeral indicated thereon. The numeral piece is only allowed to
move either horizontally or vertically, but is not allowed to move
diagonally unless the move is along the diagonal line and for
capturing the hostile playing piece. The numeral piece is not
allowed to make a turn in one action. When diagonally capturing a
hostile playing piece, the numeral piece is only allowed to move
one step only. The playing piece is not allowed to move along a
vertical line or a horizontal line first and then make a diagonal
capturing in one action. For example, a playing piece indicating a
numeral 3 is allowed to move one, two, or three steps in one
action. In each action, when a move of any playing piece of a
player captures a hostile playing piece, the move has to stop at
where the hostile playing piece is captured, and it is changed to
the other player to make a move. When moving along the horizontal
line or the vertical line to capture the hostile playing piece, the
numeral piece is allowed to capture the hostile numeral piece with
an equivalent numeral or a smaller numeral only. However, when
moving along the diagonal line to capture the hostile numeral
piece, the numeral piece is allowed to capture the hostile numeral
piece having an equivalent numeral or a larger numeral only. Any of
the playing pieces is allowed to capture the hostile sovereign
piece, and the sovereign piece is also allowed to capture any of
the hostile playing pieces. The first player who captures the
hostile sovereign piece is the winner.
[0026] According to a second embodiment of the present invention,
the playing pieces of the board game are played with another
method. When playing the board game in this method, only a region
for one of the two players is required. In other words, a playing
field of the board game includes twenty four squares. Before
starting to play the board game, all playing pieces are reversed to
show backsides of the playing pieces to the players so that the
players cannot identify the playing pieces. The reversed playing
pieces are shuffled and then randomly filled in the twenty four
squares of the playing board. When playing the board game, the
first player and the second player alternately make an action. In
each action, the player can disclose any one reversed playing piece
to both of the two players or move any disclosed playing piece one
step. The player who makes the first action controls the family of
the first disclosed playing piece. The other player controls the
hostile family. After all of the reversed playing pieces have been
disclosed, the players is required to move one of the playing
pieces of his controlled family in one action. In each action, a
numeral piece is allowed to capture a hostile numeral pieces
indicated with an equivalent numeral or a smaller numeral. A
sovereign piece is allowed to capture any hostile playing piece
except the numeral piece indicated with numeral 1. The numeral
pieces indicated with numeral 1 are allowed to capture hostile
sovereign piece. The first player who captures all of the hostile
playing pieces is the winner.
[0027] Although the present invention has been described with
reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to
those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and
changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present
invention which is intended to be defined by the appended
claims.
* * * * *