GB2055589A - Board Game - Google Patents

Abstract

A game board is divided into at least two equal playing areas, each area being sub-divided into a multiplicity of playing positions arranged in a series of adjacent columns and defining from one column to the next a series of lines of playing positions. Each playing area includes a base area having a base position at the intersection of four adjacent playing positions. The playing pieces for each playing area comprise fourteen pegs of a single unit value and equally divided into those which can move diagonally between playing positions and those which can move along a line or column, and four pegs of a double unit value which can move either diagonally or along a line or column. The pegs are coloured and are darker at their base which are star-, round-, or cross-shaped. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a game The present invention relates to apparatus for playing a game.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for playing a game, which apparatus comprises a board divided into at least two equal playing areas, each area being subdivided into a multiplicity of playing positions arranged in a series of adjacent columns and defining from one column to the next a series of lines of playing positions, with a first line of playing positions running along one end of the columns, and each playing area including a base area having a base position at the intersection of four adjacent playing positions, together with a multiplicity of playing pieces for each playing area of which a number are designated as of a single unit value and are equally divided into those which can move diagonally between playing positions and those which can move along a line or a column of playing positions, and a smaller number are designated as of a double unit value which can move either diagonally or along a line or column.

Conveniently the first line of playing positions for each area is an innermost line of playing positions which is closest to an opposite playing area and the base area for each playing area is closerto the innermost line of playing positions than to the outermost line of playing positions for that playing area.

Preferably, the at least two equal playing areas are segments of approximately 90 of arc which are each sub-divided into a multiplicity of playing positions arranged in radial columns defining a series of arcuate lines of playing positions, and more preferably the board is divided into four equal areas. Conveniently in such an arrangement the board may be a circular board.

Typically there may be 64 playing positions in each area arranged as between eight columns and eight lines of playing positions, and the playing pieces may comprise eighteen playing pieces, four of double unit value and fourteen of single unit value. Preferably the playing pieces of double unit value are larger in size than those of single unit value.

Preferably, the playing positions and base position are defined by holes in the board and the playing pieces each have a peg at one end which can be inserted in at least some of the holes including that of the base position. In such an arrangement the holes and pegs may be so shaped that the playing pieces are arrangeable in a set starting configuration in the outermost and next two adjacent lines of playing positions in a symmetrically shaped configuration with single unit value pieces surrounding double unit value pieces, diagonally moving single unit value pieces on one side of the double unit value pieces, and other single unit value pieces on the other side of the double unit value pieces, each opposite playing area having the same arrangement of playing pieces from each player's left.Preferably, the single unit value playing pieces which move diagonally are arrangeable to the left of the other single unit value pieces. Preferably, the apparatus of the invention includes a marker piece for marking the base position.

The board and/or playing pieces may be made of transparent plastics material, preferably plastics material having a tinted colour, a different colour being used for the board and the playing pieces for each playing area. Preferably each playing piece is coloured so that it appears progressively lighter in colour from its base upwards.

The columns and lines of playing positions may be marked by lines engraved on the board and the board preferably includes one or more depending walls on which the board may be stood in a substantially horizontal playing position.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of a board, Figures 2 (a) to (d) show playing and marking pieces, and Figures 3 and 4 show playing situations to illustrate attack and support.

Referring to Figure 1, the board 9 comprises a disc of translucent plastics material divided into four playing areas 11 to 14 by lines 10. Each playing area 11 to 14 is sub-divided into 64 playing positions arranged in radial columns and providing a series of arcuate lines of playing positions. Each area is bounded to its sides by end columns 15 and nearest to an opposite playing area by an innermost line 16 of playing positions (inner ring).

The playing positions are marked by holes in the board which can accomodate pegs at the bottom of the playing pieces. As shown some holes 17 are star-shaped, other holes 18 have the shape of a cross and the remaining holes 19 are circular In each end column 15 and innermost line 16 the circular holes are surrounded by grooves 21 as a distinguishing feature. In each playing area 11 to 14 there is a shaded base area 22 including a base position 23 marked by a circular hole. An annular non-playing zone 24 surrounds the board and has holes 25 for spare playing pieces or markers.

The board includes (not shown) depending annular skirts positioned beneath each of lines 35 and 36.

Also, extending between these skirts beneath lines 10 there are cross pieces (again not shown) depending to the same extent as the skirts. The skirts and cross pieces provide a firm platform of depending walls on which the board may be stood for playing purposes.

Referring to Figures 2(a) to (d), the playing pieces shown are respectively a single unit value playing piece (triune) which can move and act diagonally between playing positions, another single unit value playing piece (croz) which can move and act along a line or a column of playing positions, a double unit value playing piece (obli) which can move and act diagonally or along a line or a column of playing positions, and a marker piece (zen). Each playing area 11 to 14 is provided with 18 playing pieces comprising 4 oblis, 7 triunes and 7 crozes, together with 1 zen, the playing pieces and zen for each area having their own distinctive colour.

As shown each of the pieces of Figures 2(a) to (d) comprise a body portion 26 to 29 and a peg 30 to 33.

The peg 30 of the triune is star-shaped to fit holes 17 as well as any circular hole, the peg 31 of the crozis cross-shaped to fit holes 18 as well as any circular hole and the pegs 32 and 33 of the obli and zen are circular in section to fit the circular holes 19,23. If desired the triune and croz may carry on theirtop surfaces a marking (not shown) to indicate their function.

The game is for two, three or four players. With two players they play each other, preferably from opposite facing playing areas e.g. areas 12 and 14, with three players they play each other, and with four players they play each other or in pairs, preferably opposite pairs i.e. those in areas 11 and 12 play those in areas 13 and 14 respectively.

At the commencement of the game the playing pieces are arranged in the first three lines of playing positions with 7 triunes to the left and front and 7 crozes to the right and front surrounding a group of 4 oblis (acies positions). Since each playing piece has a peg 30 to 33 of a particular cross-sectional shape this is the only starting arrangement permitted by the board as illustrated, and clearly a playing piece is forbidden any playing position which it will not fit. In addition a zen occupies each base position 23.

The object of the game is to dislodge the opponents' zen from a base position 23. A zen is dislodged when an unopposed playing piece from another playing area occupies one of the four playing positions in the base area 22 and in its next move can occupy the base position 23.

Before the game commences it is decided which player shall commence e.g. by drawing lots or by colour e.g. white first, and the players then take one turn each in a clockwise direction. For each playing piece the first move i.e. out of its acies position, is to any other position within its own playing area, except for a position within the base area unless the zen is under attack as described below, orto any position within an area not being played. That is to say if playing area 11 is opposed to playing area 13 and areas 12 and 14 are not being played, the player for area 11 may make a first move for each piece to anywhere in areas 11, 12 and 14 except (unless the zen is attacked) forthe base area 22 of area 11.

Once a playing piece has been moved out of its acies position it can then move only in its designated direction(s) by one position for each move (except where the oblis are played according to the advanced rule mentioned below). In the case of a triune or croz the playing piece may, if desired, return to its acies position one position at a time from which it can again move to any other position within the limits described above.

A player can enter an opponents' playing area either from an area not being played or by moving directly from that player's inner ring 16 to a position in one ofthe opponents' end columns 15. However the outermost position in each end column 15 can only be entered by a triune or croz, not an obli, and also provided the position is a triune or croz position respectively. Again the hole and peg shapes deter mine the moves which can be made. If any end col umn 15 is fully occupied then the move may be from inner ring to inner ring Although a player may move a piece from acies to inner ring and from inner ring to an opposing end column or inner ring the reverse move is not allowed. That is to say a piece cannot return to its own.playing area by the inner ring/end column route.

When one or more playirrg pieces from other playing areas enter an opponent's playing area the playerforthe area so enteredisentitled to an additional move for each other player with one or more pieces in the entered area. Each additional move must be made with a different playing piece and the additional move or moves is taken each turn round so long as other players' pieces remain.

A playing piece is attacked and removed from the board when an opponent's playing pieces totalling in unit value twice the unit value of the piece being attacked are positioned in playing positions next to it and the attacking pieces are such that they can potentially move to occupy the playing position of the attacked piece. For example, a triune or croz is attacked and removed when it is next to an obli in any orientation, next to two crozes in playing positions along a line or column, next to a croz in a playing position along a line or column and a triune in an adjacent line or column, and soon.

Only one playing piece can be attacked and removed in any one turn, and a playing piece when attacked may be supported in defence by one or more of its own playing pieces, again acting along a line in which each piece is allowed to move. When there is a chain of playing pieces defending another piece the support extends along the chain of defending pieces and each of the defending pieces must be neutralised by other attacking pieces of the same or a higher unit value before the supported piece can be successfully attacked and removed. In any such supporting configuration no praying piece may pass between the pieces in that configuration.

Attack and defence of a playing piece is illustrated in Figure 3 where a white triune 41 is attacked by a black obli 40. Since the black obli is twice the unit value of the white triune there is potentially a successful attack on the white piece However, the triune is supported by otherwhite pieces in two chains of playing pieces comprising in one chain a triune 45, a croz43 and an obli 42, and in another chain a croz 44rand an obli 42. It is not until all of the supporting pieces are neutralised by other black pieces as shown in Figure 4 that the attacked triune can be removed.

A player is not allowed to move any of his playing pieces into his own base area unless an opponent has a playing piece in a playing position next the base area. In addition, if a playing piece is moved into the base area for the purpose of defence against a playing piece in a playing position next to the base area it must be removed the turn next round after the attacking piece has ceased to occupy such a playing position.

The game is won when a playing piece from one playing area enters the base area of another playing area and is not in that move attacked and removed from the board, thus allowing the attacker in his next move to dislodge the zen and to place his own piece in the base position 23. The move into the base position from an adjacent position within the base area can be made by any playing piece.

The game can be made more interesting for advanced players if the obli moves two moves in each turn one move diagonally and one move along a line or column, or vice versa, provided the position through which it moves is not occupied by another playing piece. The obli will still act on adjacent pieces along a line of movement i.e. on a piece in a playing position next to its own playing position either diagonally or along a line or column.

Furthermore, a more challenging game results where it is a rule that for an obli in its own playing area the two playing positions along the same column on either side of the playing position which it occupies are forbidden to other playing pieces.

Although the invention is illustrated with reference to a circular board with playing positions defined by radial and arcuate lines it will be understood that other topologically equivalent arrangements may be used.

Claims (17)

1. Apparatus for playing a game, which apparatus comprises a board divided into at least two equal playing areas, each area being subdivided into a multiplicity of playing positions arranged in a series of adjacent columns and defining from one column to the next a series of lines of playing positions, with a first line of playing positions running along one end of the columns, and each playing area including a base area having a base position at the intersection of four adjacent playing positions, together with a multiplicity of playing pieces for each playing area of which a number are designated as of a single unit value and are equally divided into those which can move diagonally between playing positions and those which can move along a line or a column of playing positions, and a smaller number are designated as of a double unit value which can move either diagonally or along a line or column.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first line of playing positions for each area is an innermost line of playing positions which is closest to an opposite playing area and the base area for each playing area is closer to the innermost line of playing positions than to the outermost line of playing positions for that playing area.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the at least two equal playing areas are segments of approximately 90 of arc which are each sub-divided into a multiplicity of playing positions arranged in radial columns defining a series of arcuate lines of playing positions.

4. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the board is divided into four equal areas.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are 64 playing positions in each area arranged as between eight columns and eight lines of playing positions.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein there are eighteen playing pieces, four of double unit value and fourteen of single unit value.

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the board is a circular board.

8. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the base position is on a line bisecting the first line of playing positions.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the playing positions and base position are defined by holes in the board and the playing pieces each have a peg at one end which can be inserted in at least some of the holes including that of the base position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the holes and pegs are so shaped that the playing pieces are arrangeable in a set starting configuration in the outermost and next two adjacent lines of playing positions in a symmetrically shaped configuration with single unit value pieces surrounding double unit value pieces, diagonally moving single unit value pieces on one side of the double unit value pieces, and other single unit value pieces on the other side of the double unit value pieces, each opposite playing area having the same arrangement of playing pieces from each player's left.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the single unit value playing pieces which move diagonally are arrangeable to the left of the other single unit value pieces.

12. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims including a marker piece for marking the base position.

13. Apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the board and/or playing pieces are of transparent plastics material.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the plastics material has a tinted colour, a different colour being used for the board and the playing pieces for each playing area.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the columns and lines of playing positions are marked by lines engraved on the board.

16. Apparatus according to any on ofthe preceding claims, wherein the board includes one or more depending walls on which the board may be stood in a substantially horizontal playing position.

17. Apparatus according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.