U.S. patent application number 17/125620 was filed with the patent office on 2022-04-21 for modified chess game.
The applicant listed for this patent is Norman Chan. Invention is credited to Norman Chan.
Application Number | 20220118348 17/125620 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-04-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220118348 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Norman |
April 21, 2022 |
Modified Chess Game
Abstract
Apparatus and method of a variation of the game of chess are
shown and described. The playing board is conventional. Playing
pieces have two exposable faces including an initial face
concealing identity of that playing piece, and a subsequently
exposed face identifying identity of that playing piece. Initially,
all playing pieces occupy conventional starting positions on the
board, but with the face concealing identity visible to the
players. The king is an exception, and is identified and placed in
the conventional position for a king. Initial moves by each playing
piece have move characteristics of that playing piece which
conventionally occupies its space on the board. Upon completion of
a first move, the face identifying identity of the playing piece is
exposed. Moves subsequent to the initial moves have move
characteristics of playing pieces identified by exposing the
identity. The game may then be played according to conventional
rules.
Inventors: |
Chan; Norman; (New York,
NY) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chan; Norman |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/125620 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2020 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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62929567 |
Nov 1, 2019 |
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International
Class: |
A63F 3/02 20060101
A63F003/02; A63F 3/00 20060101 A63F003/00; A63F 11/00 20060101
A63F011/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a game based on conventional game of chess
by one or more players, the method comprising: providing apparatus
corresponding to the conventional game of chess, the apparatus
including playing pieces that are based upon conventional chess
game playing pieces, including one or more pawns, bishops, knights,
rooks, queens, and kings, wherein each of the playing pieces has a
first exposable face corresponding to one of the conventional
playing chess pieces and a second exposable face concealing the
identity of the respective playing piece, a conventional chessboard
having spaces occupiable by said playing pieces; setting up the
playing pieces randomly on the conventional chessboard in spaces
conventionally occupied by conventional chess playing pieces at the
beginning of a conventional game of chess, but with only the second
exposable face initially visible to the one or more players, such
that each one or more players has no knowledge of the identity of
the randomly placed playing pieces; obliging a first move by each
playing piece to have move characteristics of a conventional
playing piece occupying a space on the chessboard which would
actually be occupied by the conventional chess playing piece in the
conventional game of chess; exposing the first exposable face of
each playing piece after termination of the initial move thereof;
and obliging all subsequent moves by each playing piece which has
had its first exposable face exposed after the initial move to have
move characteristics of the conventional chess playing piece
identified by exposure of the first exposable face.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein in the step of setting up the
playing pieces on the conventional chessboard randomly in spaces
conventionally occupied by playing pieces at the beginning of a
conventional game of chess with only the second exposable face
initially visible to the one or more players, with the exception
that the one or more king playing piece is placed with its first
exposable face exposed, such that each one or more players has no
knowledge of the identity of the randomly placed playing pieces
except for the one or more king piece which is placed in its
conventional beginning chess game position with its first exposable
face exposed.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising a step of capturing
pieces in a conventional manner during a conventional game of
chess.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein if the captured piece has its
second exposable face visible to the one or more players upon its
capture, the playing pieces first exposable face remains concealed
from the one or more players.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein if the captured piece has its
second exposable face visible to the one or more players upon its
capture, the first exposable face is revealed to the one or more
players.
6-8. (canceled)
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to games, and more
particularly, to a modified form of the game of chess.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Chess is a game of skill wherein players may be at vastly
different levels of skill. Games between players of different
levels are less appealing to players both with greater skill and
with less skill. This discourages games between players with
disparate skill levels. There exists a need for a mechanism to
bring parity to the game of chess, to thereby re-establish
enjoyment of games between players of different skill levels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention modifies the conventional game of
chess in the following manner Chess playing pieces are placed in a
conventional arrangement on a conventional chess board. However,
the playing pieces have an initial unidentified face, and a second
face displaying an identity (i.e., pawn, rook, knight, bishop,
queen, or king). Initially, the unidentified face is visible to the
chess players, and the identified face is concealed. The king is
placed with its identified face exposed, in the conventional
location for a king. All other playing pieces have the unidentified
face visible, and are moved randomly such that neither player knows
which playing piece is in each position (except of course for the
king). For its initial move, each playing piece is moved according
to its location on the playing board. For example, a playing piece
in a pawn position is moved as a pawn, despite its identity. Upon
the initial move being completed, the initially concealed face is
revealed. From that point, the playing piece will be obliged to
have move characteristics of the revealed identity of the second
face, rather than moving according to its original position on the
board. Game play for each playing piece thereafter is conventional
until the conclusion of the chess game.
[0004] This situation creates a random element which offsets
ability of one player to dominate the game by virtue of greater
skill, although obviously, superior skill will matter as the game
proceeds. However, the random element better enables lesser players
to compete with vastly superior players to the point where
meaningful competition is established.
[0005] The present invention provides improved elements and
arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which
is fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
[0006] This and other objects of the present invention will become
readily apparent upon further review of the following specification
and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the
present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a depiction of a playing board and novel playing
pieces in an initial arrangement prior to any of the playing pieces
being moved;
[0009] FIG. 2 depicts the playing board of FIG. 1, but reflects an
opening move by a playing piece;
[0010] FIG. 3 depicts the playing board of FIG. 1, but reflects an
opening move by the opponent of the player to move first;
[0011] FIG. 4 depicts a further stage of play of the playing board
of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective detail view of an exemplary playing
piece, drawn to enlarged scale; and
[0013] FIG. 6 shows the reverse of the playing piece of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] Referring first to FIG. 1, according to at least one aspect
of the invention, there is shown a conventional chess board 100
having spaces 102 occupiable by playing pieces 104, 106, 108, 110,
112, 114. As seen in FIG. 1, playing pieces 104, 106, 108, 110, 114
all have a blank face 116 exposed. Playing piece 112 representing
the king has an identified face 118 exposed, and is placed in the
conventional location for a king. For the initial move of each
playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or 114, the move has move
characteristics of a conventional playing piece (e.g., pawn, rook,
knight, bishop, or queen) that would conventionally occupy its
space 102. Each playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or 114 (see FIG.
4) is moved to a new space 102 as would be conventional. Upon
arriving at the new space 102 due to its initial move, the moved
playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or 114 is manipulated so that the
blank face 116 initially exposed is replaced by another face 118.
The other face 118 reveals an identity corresponding to one of the
conventional types of playing pieces (i.e., pawn (P), rook (R),
knight (N), bishop (B), queen (Q), or king (K)). For each move
after the initial move, each piece is obliged to move according to
conventional moves corresponding to the exposed identity. The
modified chess game is then played to a conventional
conclusion.
[0015] In an actual game, spaces 102 will have conventional
alternating colors. These colors are omitted in the Drawings.
Similarly, playing pieces 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 will be
provided in contrasting colors to signify the two adversarial
sides, but are not so shown herein.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows board 100 and playing pieces 104, 106, 108,
110, 112, 114 after an exemplary initial move. Notably, upon making
a move of a pawn which would conventionally occupy space 102A,
playing piece 104 is manipulated to reveal an identity. In the
present example, and as shown in enlarged detail in FIGS. 5 and 6,
playing pieces 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 may comprise discs
having a blank face 116 and another face 118. Playing piece 104
reveals identity of a rook. For the balance of the game, playing
piece 104 is limited to moves legal for conventional rooks.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows a further exemplary move made by the first
player's opponent, wherein a playing piece 106 is moved from its
conventional initial position of a pawn, and once again, may only
be moved as a conventional pawn. Upon completion of the initial
move, playing piece 106 is manipulated to reveal face 118. In the
present example, a knight is revealed. For the balance of the game,
playing piece 106 is obliged to have move characteristics of a
conventional knight.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary further move made by "white", the
first player to move. In this further move, playing piece 108 is
moved from its conventional initial position of a pawn, and is once
again constrained to move as a conventional pawn. Upon completion
of the move of playing piece 108, blank face 116 is manipulated to
reveal face 118. Playing piece 108 is revealed to be a knight, and
will for the balance of the game, be obliged to have move
characteristics of a conventional knight.
[0019] In the illustrated example of FIGS. 1-4, playing pieces 104,
106, 108, 110, 112, 114 may comprise discs each having opposed
faces 116 and 118. At the end of the first move, blank face 116 of
each playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or 114 is concealed by
inverting playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, or 114, thereby
exposing face 118. The discs may be appropriately colored (e.g.,
white and black) to distinguish the opponents' playing pieces 104,
106, 108, 110, 112, 114. Identities (e.g., pawn, rook, knight,
bishop, queen, and king) may be signified by indicia, by three
dimensional depiction, or in any other suitable way. When setting
up playing pieces 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 initially, all
playing pieces 104, 106, 108, 110, 112, 114 are to be moved around
randomly with blank face 116 revealed so that no player is aware of
the identity of any playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, 114 prior to
exposure of its identity after the first move thereof.
[0020] In play, each playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or 114 lacks
defensive power. That is, should a playing piece 104, 106, 108,
110, or 114 of the opponent land on a playing space 102 occupied by
a playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or 114, the latter shall be
deemed captured. In an option, identity of the playing piece 104,
106, 108, 110, 114 captured in this manner may be concealed by the
moving player from the player losing the playing piece 104, 106,
108, 110, or 114.
[0021] Where a player moves a playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110, or
114 and reveals an identity of a bishop, and that opponent already
has revealed one of his or her respective playing pieces 104, 106,
108, 110, or 114 to be a bishop, then the player revealing the
identity of the second bishop is given the right either to accept
that the newly exposed bishop occupy the same playing space color
as the first bishop, or alternatively, to move the newly exposed
second bishop to an adjacent playing space 102 of a color different
from that occupied by the first identified bishop. If accepting the
option to move the second bishop to a space colored oppositely from
that of the first bishop, the player may elect to move the second
bishop to a space occupied by a playing piece 104, 106, 108, 110,
or 114 of the opponent. This would result in "taking" the
opponent's piece, which ordinarily be a favorable result.
[0022] In an option which should be agreed prior to the start of
play, if a player's second exposed bishop is on a playing space 102
of the same color of the same player's first exposed bishop, then
the second exposed bishop must be moved to an adjacent playing
space 102 of color different from that of the playing space 102 of
the first exposed bishop. In a further agreed upon option where the
second bishop is compelled to occupy a different colored playing
space 102, the player moving the second bishop must select an open
or unoccupied playing space 102, or in a further alternative
pre-agreed option, may elect to take an opponent's playing piece
104, 106, 108, 110, or 114 occupying the selected differently
colored playing space 102.
[0023] The invention may be thought of as the method of play
described herein, and also as chess apparatus as described
herein.
[0024] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is
not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to
cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and
scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended
claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent
arrangements which are possible.
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