GB2114898A

GB2114898A - Board game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2114898A
Application number: GB08205063A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Francis Vause
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-02-20
Filing date: 1982-02-20
Publication date: 1983-09-01

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a board 1, having eleven ranks 2, and eleven files 3, each position may be recessed to receive a piece. One player has eighteen white pieces W and two white pieces (W), the other player has black pieces B and two black pieces (B) all the pieces may be in the form of figures. The object of the game is for each player to make an unbroken line of his pieces between the two sides of the board 1. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Board games This invention relates to a board game of skill adapted to be played by two or more players.

According to this invention, a game comprises a board sub-divided into rows of regular areas, and two or more sets of pieces for placing on said areas with each set initially occupying a starting position on the board, the object of each player being to dispose the pieces of his set, by a series of moves, in an unbroken line on adjacent areas joining two opposed sides of the board.

One form, which the game in accordance with the invention may take, will now be described by way of example only.

The board is made of plastics material, and has a series of 121 squares formed on its upper surface by square recesses, the squares being arranged in eleven ranks with 11 squares in each rank, so that there are 11 ranks and 11 files.

Two sets of pieces are provided, one coloured black and the other white, and each set comprises 16 minor pieces called "links" and two major pieces called "key links". All the pieces have square bases, each of which will fit into one of the recesses of the board, so that one piece can be pressed into each square. Projecting from the base of each piece is a small gripping portion, and the four key links have larger gripping portions by which they are readily identifiable. It will be appreciated that the projections could take the form of figures.

To commence the game, the pieces are set out as follows: The two white key links are placed on the central squares of the two end ranks (i.e. the centre square of two opposite sides of the board).

The white links are then placed on the end ranks, four on each side of each key link, so that the two end ranks are filled with white links (except for the corner squares). The black links are then set out in the same way excepting that they are placed on the end files.

The object of the white player is to dispose his pieces in an unbroken line on adjacent squares joining the two base lines from which he starts.

The links forming the line must abut each other on adjacent squares and corner-to-corner abutment is not allowed for the purposes of constructing the line. The object of the black player is to do the same with his pieces, but since the two lines must cross, it is obvious that only one player can achieve his object.

The players take one move each in turn and the pieces are movable as follows: A link can be moved one square at a time in any direction. It may step over an opponent link on an adjacent square when moving forwards, backwards or sideways, but not when moving diagonally. It may step over one of its own links only when moving diagonally.

The key link may move any number of squares in a straight line in any direction. It may step over links in the same manner as the ordinary links, but when an opponent link is stepped over by a key link, the opponent link must move back to a square as near the centre as possible in its own nearest baseline. One key link can never step over another key link.

The game can readily be adapted for three players, by having a hexagon board and three sets of pieces. It will be appreciated that the game is one of skill, and that one of the novel features is the fact that pieces are never captured as in chess or draughts.

The accompanying single diagrammatic figure illustrates a board 1 as described above, having eleven ranks 2, and eleven files 3. In a minor variation of the above described game, the white player has eighteen links W and two key links W, initially positioned as shown on the end ranks.

Correspondingly, the black player has eighteen black links and 2 black key links. The drawing also illustrates in chain line a winning line 4 of white links W.

Claims (Filed on 18 Feb 83) 1. A board game comprising a board subdivided into rows of regular areas, and two or more sets of pieces for placing on said areas, the rules of the game being that each set of pieces initially occupies a starting position on the board, and each player attempts to dispose the pieces of his set, by a series of moves, in an unbroken line on adjacent areas joining two opposed sides of the board, the winner of the game being the first of the players to do so.

2. A board game according to Claim 1, including the rule that, in its starting position, each set of pieces is arranged at a respective two opposed sides of the board.

3. A board game according to Claim 2, including the rule that, for each player, the respective said unbroken line extends between the two opposed sides of the board at which its set of pieces is arranged in its starting position.

4. A board game according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein each set of pieces includes a plurality of first pieces and at least one second piece, the first and second pieces being allowed by the rules to make different moves.

5. A board game according to Claim 4, wherein each set of piece includes only one second piece, which can make more extensive moves than the first pieces.

6. A board game according to any preceding claim, including the rule that at least one of the pieces of each set may be moved one area at a time in any direction.

7. A board game according to any preceding claim, including the rule that at least one of the pieces of each set may be moved over a piece of another set only if the first-mentioned piece is being moved in a given direction.

8. A board game according to any preceding claim, including the rule that at least one of the pieces of each set may be moved over another piece of the same set only if the first-mentioned piece is being moved in a given direction.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Board games This invention relates to a board game of skill adapted to be played by two or more players. According to this invention, a game comprises a board sub-divided into rows of regular areas, and two or more sets of pieces for placing on said areas with each set initially occupying a starting position on the board, the object of each player being to dispose the pieces of his set, by a series of moves, in an unbroken line on adjacent areas joining two opposed sides of the board. One form, which the game in accordance with the invention may take, will now be described by way of example only. The board is made of plastics material, and has a series of 121 squares formed on its upper surface by square recesses, the squares being arranged in eleven ranks with 11 squares in each rank, so that there are 11 ranks and 11 files. Two sets of pieces are provided, one coloured black and the other white, and each set comprises 16 minor pieces called "links" and two major pieces called "key links". All the pieces have square bases, each of which will fit into one of the recesses of the board, so that one piece can be pressed into each square. Projecting from the base of each piece is a small gripping portion, and the four key links have larger gripping portions by which they are readily identifiable. It will be appreciated that the projections could take the form of figures. To commence the game, the pieces are set out as follows: The two white key links are placed on the central squares of the two end ranks (i.e. the centre square of two opposite sides of the board). The white links are then placed on the end ranks, four on each side of each key link, so that the two end ranks are filled with white links (except for the corner squares). The black links are then set out in the same way excepting that they are placed on the end files. The object of the white player is to dispose his pieces in an unbroken line on adjacent squares joining the two base lines from which he starts. The links forming the line must abut each other on adjacent squares and corner-to-corner abutment is not allowed for the purposes of constructing the line. The object of the black player is to do the same with his pieces, but since the two lines must cross, it is obvious that only one player can achieve his object. The players take one move each in turn and the pieces are movable as follows: A link can be moved one square at a time in any direction. It may step over an opponent link on an adjacent square when moving forwards, backwards or sideways, but not when moving diagonally. It may step over one of its own links only when moving diagonally. The key link may move any number of squares in a straight line in any direction. It may step over links in the same manner as the ordinary links, but when an opponent link is stepped over by a key link, the opponent link must move back to a square as near the centre as possible in its own nearest baseline. One key link can never step over another key link. The game can readily be adapted for three players, by having a hexagon board and three sets of pieces. It will be appreciated that the game is one of skill, and that one of the novel features is the fact that pieces are never captured as in chess or draughts. The accompanying single diagrammatic figure illustrates a board 1 as described above, having eleven ranks 2, and eleven files 3. In a minor variation of the above described game, the white player has eighteen links W and two key links W, initially positioned as shown on the end ranks. Correspondingly, the black player has eighteen black links and 2 black key links. The drawing also illustrates in chain line a winning line 4 of white links W. Claims (Filed on 18 Feb 83)

1. A board game comprising a board subdivided into rows of regular areas, and two or more sets of pieces for placing on said areas, the rules of the game being that each set of pieces initially occupies a starting position on the board, and each player attempts to dispose the pieces of his set, by a series of moves, in an unbroken line on adjacent areas joining two opposed sides of the board, the winner of the game being the first of the players to do so.

9. A board game according to any preceding claim, including the rule that at least one of the pieces of each set may be moved any desired number of areas at a time, in a straight line.

10. A board game according to Claim 9, including the rule that, when the or each piece of each set which may be moved any desired number of areas at a time in a straight line is moved over a piece of another set, that latter piece has to be moved back to an area which is as near as possible to the centre of the nearest side of the board at which its respective set of pieces was arranged in its starting position.

11. A board game according to Claim 9 or 10, including the rule that the or each piece of each set which may be moved any desired number of areas at a time in a straight line may not be moved over a similar piece of another set.

1 2. A board game according to any preceding claim, wherein the areas are defined by recesses and the pieces have bases which are adapted to be pressed into the recesses.

13. A board game according to any preceding claim, wherein each piece comprises a base and a gripping portion projecting therefrom.

14. A board game according to any preceding claim, wherein the gripping portions of some pieces are small, and the gripping portions of other pieces are larger.

1 5. A board game according to Claim 13 or 14, wherein said projections are in the form of figures.

16. A board game according to any preceding claim, wherein said board is square, and the areas are squares.

17. A board game according to Claim 16 as appendant to Claim 7, wherein, in the rule specified in Claim 7, said given direction comprises any direction which is parallel to the sides of the areas.

18. A board game according to Claim 16 or 1 7 as appendant to Claim 8, wherein, in the rule specified in Claim 8, said given direction comprises any direction which is diagonal of the areas.

19. A board game according to any one of Claims 1 to 15, wherein said board and areas are arranged hexagonally, for three players.

20. A board game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.