U.S. patent application number 17/505545 was filed with the patent office on 2022-06-23 for unconventional variation on game of chess.
The applicant listed for this patent is Norman Chan. Invention is credited to Norman Chan.
Application Number | 20220193534 17/505545 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220193534 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Norman |
June 23, 2022 |
UNCONVENTIONAL VARIATION ON GAME OF CHESS
Abstract
A board game roughly similar to chess, but having unconventional
game elements, is shown and described. The identities of all
playing pieces except a king are initially concealed, and revealed
after making an initial move. The initial move is predetermined,
and changes if the revealed identity differs from a corresponding
pre-assigned identity. Move characteristics of the playing pieces
are varied in most cases from their counterparts in conventional
chess. The king may not leave a certain area of the board, and is
not permitted to face an opposed king without presence of an
intervening playing piece. A new playing piece with unique move
requirements is introduced.
Inventors: |
Chan; Norman; (New York,
NY) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chan; Norman |
New York |
NY |
US |
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Appl. No.: |
17/505545 |
Filed: |
October 19, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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17125620 |
Dec 17, 2020 |
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17505545 |
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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 board game, comprising steps of: providing
a playing board displaying a plurality of playing spaces arrayed in
ten ranks and nine columns orthogonally oriented to said ranks,
such that the playing board has ninety said playing spaces, each
adjacent to at least two other said playing spaces, and a plurality
of playing pieces for use with the playing board, each said playing
piece dimensioned and configured to occupy only one said playing
space at any one time, and said playing spaces include for each
player a predetermined zone of nine said playing spaces, arrayed in
a matrix of three spaces by three spaces, each said predetermined
zone abutting an edge of the playing board, and facing the other
said predetermined zone of playing spaces; a plurality of playing
pieces each having a concealed face and a revealed face to be
placed initially on predetermined said playing spaces of the
playing board, and to move as play progresses from one said playing
space to another said playing space; among the playing pieces,
providing one king for each opponent and constraining each said
king to move one said playing space and only one said playing space
in a move along a said rank or along one said column, each said
king constrained against leaving its respective said predetermined
zone and constrained against facing an opposed said king unless
another said playing piece intervenes between said kings; providing
two queens for each opponent and constraining each said queen to
move only diagonally relative to said ranks and said columns a
distance of one said playing space for each move; providing two
bishops for each opponent and constraining each said bishop to move
only diagonally relative to said ranks and said columns a distance
of two said playing spaces for each move, and wherein said bishops
are constrained against jumping over any said playing piece when
moving; providing two rooks for each opponent and constraining each
said rook to move any number of said playing spaces, only along any
one said rank or along any one said column during any one move;
providing two cannons for each opponent and constraining each said
cannon to move any number of said playing spaces, only along any
one said rank or along any one said column during any one move,
each move by said cannon requiring a jump over one other said
playing piece; providing two knights for each opponent and
constraining each said knight to move a distance of two said
playing space along a said rank and a distance of one said playing
spaces along a said column, or alternatively, constraining said
knight to move a distance of two said playing space along a said
column and a distance of one said playing spaces along a said rank,
and wherein said knights are constrained against jumping over any
intervening said playing piece occupying a first one of said two
playing spaces along the column and are constrained against jumping
over any intervening said playing piece occupying a first one of
said two playing spaces along the rank; providing five pawns for
each opponent and constraining each said pawn to move one said
playing space forwardly along a said column until each said pawn
has entered a playing space closer to an edge of said playing board
closer to the opponent than to the player having the pawn, at which
point each said pawn is constrained to move one said playing space
along a said column or one said playing space along a said rank,
and each said pawn is further always constrained against moving
backwardly and constrained against moving diagonally; randomly
placing said the concealed face of playing pieces on predetermined
initial said playing spaces with identity of each said playing
piece except said kings concealed from view; assigning a
hypothetical identity associated with one of priorly described
types of playing pieces to each of the predetermined initial
playing spaces; having the players alternatingly move one said
playing piece from its respective said predetermined initial
playing space with move characteristics corresponding to the
hypothetical identity of the said playing piece being moved;
revealing the revealed face of a the playing piece previously
concealed of the playing piece which has just been initially moved,
upon arrival of the playing piece which has just been moved to a
newly occupied said playing space of that said playing piece;
maintaining the revealed face of said playing piece during the rest
of the game after the initial move of said playing piece;
continuing play by having each player alternatingly move said
playing pieces, one playing piece moved per turn; removing from the
playing board any said playing piece which has been captured by an
opponent, wherein capture occurs when a said playing piece moves
into and occupies a said playing space currently occupied by
another player's said playing piece; and continuing play with moves
made alternatingly by the players until one said king is
stalemated, wherein said king is not directly subject to capture,
but will become obliged on a subsequent move to move to a location
subject to capture, or inescapably subject to capture by a legal
move by an opponent of the player having the king, or
alternatively, a draw defined by agreement prior to play has been
achieved.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the draw is determined by a
situation existing wherein no king can be stalemated or inescapably
subject to capture by a legal move.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the draw is determined by mutual
agreement of the players.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the draw is determined when fifty
moves by the players do not result in any said playing pieces being
captured.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the draw is determined when a
move by one player and a responsive move by another player are
repeated three times.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the draw is determined when the
game is played under auspices of a sponsor, and the sponsor
declares the game drawn.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the hypothetical identity of
plurality of playing pieces each to be randomly placed initially on
predetermined said playing spaces of the playing board include: a
said king initially occupying a center said playing space of a rank
abutting an edge of the playing board, two said queens initially
occupying two said playing spaces immediately surrounding the king,
on the rank abutting the edge of the playing board, two said
bishops initially occupying two said playing spaces adjacent said
playing spaces occupied by the two queens, two said rooks initially
occupying two said playing spaces adjacent said playing spaces
occupied by the two bishops, two said knights initially occupying
two said playing spaces adjacent said playing spaces occupied by
the two rooks, two said cannons initially occupying two said
playing spaces each on a common column as one said knight, and each
spaced apart from a respective said knight by one said playing
space, and five said pawns initially occupying five said playing
spaces each on a common column as each of the two rooks, each of
the two bishops, and the king, and each said pawn spaced apart from
a respective said rook or a respective said bishop or the king by
two said playing spaces.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of application
Ser. No. 17/125,620, which has a filing date of Dec. 17, 2020, the
contents of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to games, and more
particularly to board games such as chess.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Chess is a board game in which two opponents each have a
plurality of playing pieces on a board. The goal of the game is to
entrap the opponent's king. This is performed by advantageously
moving one's own playing pieces, with consideration given to
potential responsive moves by the opponent.
[0004] In theory, chess is a game of pure skill. That is, chess
requires knowledge of allowed moves by each type of playing piece,
plus the ability to foresee one's own potential moves and the
opponent's potential moves. When the two opponents are relatively
evenly matched in abilities, the game is usually held enjoyable by
both opponents. However, when ability levels are relatively
disparate, enjoyment of the game suffers. A need exists for a way
to offset abilities of a superior player, so as to make games
between unequals more enjoyable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is conceived with an idea towards
introducing an element of luck into otherwise generally
conventional chess. This element of luck potentially evens chances
of players of limited ability vis-a-vis players of greater ability.
This is accomplished by departing from conventional chess practice,
in which players of known identity are initially positioned on the
playing board with their identities obvious to all. In the novel
game, player pieces are placed on the board with their identities
concealed in random positions. Thus, a playing piece may occupy an
initial space conventionally occupied by a different type of
playing piece. The true nature of the concealed pieces becomes
known to the players in due course.
[0006] Simultaneously, the present invention seeks to offset the
advantage of a superior player of greater seniority than a junior,
lesser player. Notably, convention coloring of playing spaces on
the playing board is eliminated. Accordingly, moves by playing
pieces are modified such that occupancy of spaces of any particular
color by a particular playing piece, which may be limited in the
original game of chess, is allowed in the game of the present
invention. Also, a zone established in the vicinity of the king in
conventional chess imposes new requirements and situations in the
novel game, compared to conventional chess.
[0007] Also, moves are varied from those of conventional chess, new
pieces are incorporated, and the number of pieces is varied as
well.
[0008] The present invention provides improved elements and
arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which
is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing
its intended purposes.
[0009] These 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
[0010] 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:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a representation of a board according to the novel
game, the board populated by playing pieces as they would appear
immediately before a first move is made; and
[0012] FIG. 2 is a representation of a hypothetical layout of the
pieces shown in FIG. 1, arrayed according to an arbitrary scheme
roughly approximating initial layout of playing pieces in the
conventional game of chess.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, according to at least one
aspect of the invention, there is shown a playing board 100, shown
occupied by playing pieces 102. Most playing pieces 100 are shown
in FIG. 1 inverted from a position they come to assume in play.
This is done to conceal their actual identity at the start of the
game, where identity refers to move characteristics of each playing
piece 102. An exception to identity concealment is seen with king
104. King 104 is visually identified the entire duration of play.
The remaining playing pieces 100 become visually identified upon
being moved during the course of play.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a non-realistic, artificial representation of the
identities of remaining playing pieces 100, shown in initial
positions on playing board 100 if the novel game were played in the
manner of conventional chess. In conventional chess, identity of
playing pieces is never concealed, and the playing pieces are
initially placed in a conventional array roughly similar to the
depiction of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is presented herein only to introduce
specific types of playing pieces 100, and to represent certain
similarities to the conventional game of chess, to expedite
understanding of the novel game.
[0015] In the novel game, playing pieces 100 include, in addition
to king 104, the following: queens 106, bishops 108, knights 110,
rooks 112, cannons 114, and pawns 116. It should be noted here that
designation of playing pieces 100 as king 104, queens 106, bishops
108, knights 110, rooks 112, cannons 114, and pawns 116 is only for
brevity and semantic convenience, and does not demand that such
labels actually be applied. This also promotes quicker grasp of the
novel principles by those accustomed to conventional chess. What
truly distinguishes one playing piece 100 from another is move
characteristics, and not semantic labeling.
[0016] In the novel game, playing pieces 100 are positioned with
their identities concealed, as shown in FIG. 1, scrambled into a
random order unknown to the game players, and placed on playing
board 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The novel game includes a number of
elements of conventional chess, as will become apparent, yet has
new and unobvious departures from conventional chess.
[0017] The novel game may be thought of as a method of playing a
board game, the method comprising a step of providing playing board
100 displaying a plurality of playing spaces 118 arrayed in ten
ranks and nine columns orthogonally oriented to the ranks, such
that playing board 100 has ninety playing spaces 118. Each playing
space 118 is adjacent to at least two other playing spaces 118. The
method further comprises providing a plurality of playing pieces
102 for use with the playing board 100. Each playing piece 102 is
dimensioned and configured to occupy only one playing space 118 at
any one time. Playing spaces 118 include for each player a
predetermined zone 120 (FIG. 2) of nine said playing spaces 122
(FIG. 1), arrayed in a matrix of three spaces by three spaces. Each
predetermined zone 120 abuts an edge 124 of playing board 100, and
faces the other predetermined zone 120 of playing spaces 118.
[0018] The method includes providing a plurality of playing pieces
102 each to be placed initially on predetermined playing spaces
(e.g., the array depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2) of playing board 100,
and to move as play progresses from one playing space 118 to
another playing space 118.
[0019] The method further includes, among playing pieces 102,
providing one king 104 for each opponent and constraining each king
104 to move one playing space 118 and only one playing space 118 in
a move along a rank or along one column (not diagonal). Each king
104 is constrained against leaving its respective predetermined
zone 120 and is constrained against facing an opposed king 104
unless another playing piece 102 intervenes between kings 104.
[0020] The method includes providing two queens 106 for each
opponent and constraining each queen 106 to move only diagonally
relative to the ranks and columns a distance of one playing space
118 for each move.
[0021] The method includes providing two bishops 108 for each
opponent and constraining each bishop 108 to move only diagonally
relative to the ranks and columns a distance of two playing spaces
118 for each move. Bishops 108 are constrained against jumping over
any playing pieces when moving.
[0022] The method includes providing two rooks 112 for each
opponent and constraining each rook 112 to move any number of
playing spaces 118, only along any one rank or along any one column
during any one move.
[0023] The method includes providing two cannons 114 for each
opponent and constraining each cannon 114 to move any number of
playing spaces 118, only along any one rank or along any one column
during any one move. Any attack move by cannon 114 requires a jump
over one other playing piece (and not more than one playing piece)
118.
[0024] The method includes providing two knights 110 for each
opponent and constraining each knight 110 to move a distance of two
playing spaces 118 along a rank and a distance of one playing space
118 along a column, or alternatively, constraining knight 110 to
move a distance of two playing spaces 118 along a column and a
distance of one playing space 118 along a rank, essentially forming
the shape of a "L". Knights 110 are constrained against moving if
the resulting move would require the knight to "jump over" any
intervening playing piece 102 occupying the first space of the long
leg of the "L".
[0025] The method includes providing five pawns 116 for each
opponent and constraining each pawn 116 to move one playing space
118 forwardly along a column until that pawn 116 has entered a
playing space 118 closer to an edge 124 of playing board 100 closer
to the opponent than to the player having pawn 116, at which point
each pawn 116 is constrained to move one playing space 118 along a
column or one playing space along a rank. Each pawn 116 is further
always constrained against moving backwardly and constrained
against moving diagonally.
[0026] The method includes randomly placing playing pieces 102 on
predetermined initial playing spaces 118 with identity of each
playing piece 102 except kings 104 concealed from view.
[0027] The method includes assigning a hypothetical identity
associated with one of priorly described types of playing pieces
102 to each of the predetermined initial playing spaces. Meaning
the initial move allowed for of each concealed piece is the move
characteristic of the playing piece that would traditionally be
placed at the playing space in a conventional game of chess. For
example, the concealed piece in FIG. 1 placed in the rook position
in FIG. 2 would initially move as a rook.
[0028] The method includes having the players alternatingly move
one playing piece 118 from its respective said predetermined
initial playing space 118 with move characteristics corresponding
to the hypothetical identity of the playing piece 118 being moved
as described above.
[0029] The method includes revealing a previously concealed actual
identity of the playing piece 118 which has just been initially
moved, upon arrival of the playing piece 118 which has just been
moved at a newly occupied playing space 118 of that playing piece
118. The revealed playing piece remains revealed during the
remainder of the game.
[0030] The method includes continuing play by having each player
alternatingly move said playing pieces 118, one playing piece 118
moved per turn.
[0031] The method includes removing from playing board 100 any
playing piece 118 which has been captured by an opponent. Capture
occurs when a playing piece 118 moves into and occupies a playing
space 118 currently occupied by another player's playing piece
118.
[0032] The method includes continuing play with moves made
alternatingly by the players until one king 104 is stalemated,
wherein king 104 is not directly subject to capture, but will
become obliged on a subsequent move to move to a location subject
to capture, or inescapably subject to capture by a legal move by an
opponent of the player having king 104, or alternatively, a draw
defined by agreement prior to play has been achieved.
[0033] Playing board 100 refers to the matrix of playing spaces
118, and does not necessarily encompass a border extending beyond
or outside playing spaces 118.
[0034] In FIG. 1, some but not all playing spaces 118 are labeled
by reference numeral. Similarly, some but not all playing pieces
are labeled by reference numeral.
[0035] Predetermined zones 120 occupied by kings 104 have been
identified by reference numeral only in FIG. 2. Predetermined zones
120 have been indicated by large scale cross hatching in both FIGS.
1 and 2.
[0036] Edges 124 are the outermost perimetric bounds of two opposed
sides of playing board 100, and form outermost bounds of that rank
initially occupied by king 104, queens 106, bishops 108, knights
110, and rooks 112. These playing pieces are called out by
reference numerals only in FIG. 1.
[0037] It should be noted that FIG. 2 illustrates the hypothetical
identity of playing pieces 118 shown inverted in FIG. 1, with all
identities except that of kings 104 concealed. Playing spaces 102
shown occupied in FIG. 2 are the predetermined initial playing
spaces referred to previously. As previously mentioned,
characteristics of an initial move of each playing piece 118 from
its original position shown in FIG. 1 is determined by the type of
playing piece 118 identified in the initial or original positions
shown in FIG. 2. For example, a playing piece 118 having its
identity concealed and occupying a playing space 118 shown in FIG.
2 as occupied by a knight 110 would be initially moved in the
manner of knight 110 regardless of the concealed identity. Upon
landing at a final playing space 118, playing piece 102 is inverted
to reveal the previously concealed identity. That playing piece
will in subsequent turns have move characteristics of the revealed
identity.
[0038] Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "first", "second",
etc., are used herein merely as labels, and are not intended to
impose ordinal, positional, or hierarchical requirements on the
items to which these terms refer. Moreover, reference to, e.g., a
"second" item does not either require or preclude the existence of,
e.g., a "first" or lower-numbered item, and/or, e.g., a "third" or
higher-numbered item.
[0039] It should be noted at this point that orientational terms
such as forwardly, backwardly, diagonally, vertical, and horizontal
refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. Columns
refer to linear arrays of playing spaces 118 extending vertically,
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Ranks refer to linear arrays of playing
spaces 118 extending horizontally, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The
term forwardly refers to a direction away from that king 104
associated with (on the same team as) the playing piece 118 said to
move forwardly. Similarly, the term backwardly refers to a
direction towards that king 104 associated with the playing piece
said to move backwardly. Therefore, orientational terms must be
understood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description,
and do not limit the invention in any particular way.
[0040] Knights 110 move similarly to knights in conventional chess
in that they typically move in the shape of a "L", with the
exception that knight 110 in the novel game does not have the
ability to jump over a playing piece 118 on the first space of the
of the long leg of the "L" in a path of knight 110 being moved. If
the final playing space 118 in the move of knight 110 is occupied
by a playing piece 118 of the opponent, that playing piece 118 is
captured by knight 110. If a playing piece 118 of the same team as
knight 110 occupies the final playing space 118, the intended move
is not permitted.
[0041] In the method, the draw may be determined by a situation
existing wherein no king 104 can be stalemated or inescapably
subject to capture by a legal move.
[0042] In the method, the draw may be determined by mutual
agreement of the players.
[0043] In the method, the draw may be determined when fifty moves
by the players do not result in any playing pieces 102 being
captured.
[0044] In the method, the draw may be determined when a move by one
player and a responsive move by another player are repeated three
times.
[0045] In the method, the draw may be determined when the game is
played under auspices of a sponsor, and the sponsor declares the
game drawn.
[0046] In the method, for each team, the plurality of playing
pieces 102 each to be placed initially on predetermined playing
spaces 118 of playing board 100 include a king 104 initially
occupying a center playing space 118 of a rank abutting edge 124 of
playing board 100; two queens 106 initially occupying two playing
spaces 118 immediately surrounding king 104, on the rank abutting
edge 124 of playing board 100; two bishops 108 initially occupying
two playing spaces 118 adjacent playing spaces 118 occupied by the
two queens 106; two rooks 112 initially occupying two playing
spaces 118 adjacent playing spaces 118 occupied by the two bishops
108; two knights 110 initially occupying two playing spaces 118
adjacent said playing spaces 118 occupied by the two rooks 112; two
cannons 114 initially occupying two said playing spaces 118 each on
a common column as one knight 110, and each spaced apart from a
respective said knight 110 by one said playing space 118; and five
said pawns 116 initially occupying five said playing spaces 118
each on a common column as each of the two rooks 112. Each of the
two bishops 108, and king 104, and each pawn 116 is spaced apart
from a respective rook 112 or a respective bishop 108 or king 104
by two playing spaces 118.
[0047] Each playing piece may be assigned a point value. Point
values may be utilized for example to determine the winner of the
novel game as of a specific time interval of play, or to break what
would otherwise be a draw, or for still other purposes.
[0048] 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.
* * * * *