GB2147509A

GB2147509A - Board game apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2147509A
Application number: GB08326955A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Francis Stephen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-07
Filing date: 1983-10-07
Publication date: 1985-05-15
Also published as: GB8326955D0

Abstract

The apparatus comprises a square bard marked-off in 100 squares, with twenty-five barrier members or "gates" having pegs for insertion into hole in the board allowing the barriers to be rotated during play, and pieces or counters, ten for each of the two players, which are moved across the board and impeded by the barriers. The pieces of each player are enabled to drive the opponent's pieces backwards according to specified rules, the object of the game being to move all of one's pieces from the back row of ten squares on one's own side of the board to the opposite back row often squares, the first player to do so being the winner. Some of the barriers may be non-rotatable while the rotatable ones may be pivoted at one end rather than centrally and may extend over only one square rather than two. The counters may be in the form of pegs, each of the squares then having a central hole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a board game This invention relates to apparatus for playing a board game.

According to the present invention apparatus for playing a board game comprises a playing surface having a plurality of 'squares' in ranks and files, at least two sets of counters distinctive of each other for moving over the playing surface in accordance with the rules of the game and a plurality of barrier members located on the board each to lie across at least one square to block movement of a counter past that square, at least some of said barriers being position-adjustable in accordance with the rules of the game.

Preferably, each barrier lies across two squares and is adjustable to lie along a rank or a file.

Preferably also each barrier has a pivot which locates at the junction of four squares, the barrier being pivotal through go,.

Preferably also, the pivot is central of the barrier so that its pivotal movement affects only the four squares over which it is pivotally adjustable.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of a board laid out for the start of a game.

The board is square and the playing surface is squared-off to form a number of ranks and files; in this embodiment there are ten of each, so there are 100 squares.

For the purpose of the game, groups of four squares form 'large squares' of which there are twenty five and at the centre of each large square there is a hole in the board. A barrier member or 'gate' is pivotally mounted in each hole and comprises an upright plate whose length is slightly less than the width of two small squares and a central downwardly extending pivot which locates in the hole. The barrier can be rotated through 90 so as to lie along a rank or along a file.

Two sets of counters or 'pieces' are provided, distinctive of each other, for example by colour, one white set and one black; one player moves the white counters and the opponent moves the black set.

There are ten counters in each set and they are lined up along the two ranks at opposite sides of the playing surface.

The object of the game is to move all the counters of one set to the rank at the opposite side of the playing surface, and the winner is the first player to do so.

Each player plays in turn, a 'turn' comprising first moving one of that player's counters and then rotating a barrier in accordance with the following rules: MOVES 1. Each counter may be moved any unobstructed distance along a rank or file.

2. a) A counter may attack an opponent's counter providing that the opponent's counter can be moved backwards one or more squares. Attacker occupies opponent's square.

b) The opponent's counter must then be moved backwards as far as it can go after which the player whose turn it is alters a barrier.

c) A player whose counter is attached and moved back may at his next turn immediately attack the attacking counter if the way is clear to do so, but the first player at his next turn can not repeat the previous attack with the same counter.

3. No counters are removed from the playing surface during play.

4. A barrier may not be rotated if it had been rotated by the opponent in the immediately previous turn.

5. A barrier may not be moved if it is obstructed by two or more counters.

6. A barrier may not be rotated if it would then close-off a rank or file, that is, making 5 barriers in a Straight Line.

7. Once a counter has reached the opposite rank it cannot be moved out of that rank, or attacked, but it may be moved along the rank.

8. For a shorter game less than 10 counters per set may be used. Instructions as to the positioning of less than 10 counters in their rank will be provided.

The counters may be plastics, wood or metal or any other hard material, and may be conveniently shaped like chess pawns for easy handling, or as cylinders as used in Backgammon, draughts, etc.

For a small board the counters may take the form of pegs in which case, each of the small squares will have a hole drilled at its centre.

The game lends itself to varied tactics and strategy.

Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention; for example, some barriers may be non-rotatable; the barriers may be pivotal at one end rather than centrally; the barriers may extend over only one small square instead of two, or over more than two.

1. This is a board game which incorporates adjustable barriers, a feature not found in any existing board game.

2. A board game with a board of any convenient size, being square, and marked-off in smaller squares, preferably 100 in number.

3. A board game as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, with a board made of wood or plastic or glass or metal or any suitable hard material.

4. A board game as claimed in all preceding claims, with a number of movable coun

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

Claims

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

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for playing a board game This invention relates to apparatus for playing a board game.

According to the present invention apparatus for playing a board game comprises a playing surface having a plurality of 'squares' in ranks and files, at least two sets of counters distinctive of each other for moving over the playing surface in accordance with the rules of the game and a plurality of barrier members located on the board each to lie across at least one square to block movement of a counter past that square, at least some of said barriers being position-adjustable in accordance with the rules of the game.

Preferably, each barrier lies across two squares and is adjustable to lie along a rank or a file.

Preferably also each barrier has a pivot which locates at the junction of four squares, the barrier being pivotal through go,.

Preferably also, the pivot is central of the barrier so that its pivotal movement affects only the four squares over which it is pivotally adjustable.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a plan view of a board laid out for the start of a game.

The board is square and the playing surface is squared-off to form a number of ranks and files; in this embodiment there are ten of each, so there are 100 squares.

For the purpose of the game, groups of four squares form 'large squares' of which there are twenty five and at the centre of each large square there is a hole in the board. A barrier member or 'gate' is pivotally mounted in each hole and comprises an upright plate whose length is slightly less than the width of two small squares and a central downwardly extending pivot which locates in the hole. The barrier can be rotated through 90 so as to lie along a rank or along a file.

Two sets of counters or 'pieces' are provided, distinctive of each other, for example by colour, one white set and one black; one player moves the white counters and the opponent moves the black set.

There are ten counters in each set and they are lined up along the two ranks at opposite sides of the playing surface.

The object of the game is to move all the counters of one set to the rank at the opposite side of the playing surface, and the winner is the first player to do so.

Each player plays in turn, a 'turn' comprising first moving one of that player's counters and then rotating a barrier in accordance with the following rules: MOVES 1. Each counter may be moved any unobstructed distance along a rank or file.
2. a) A counter may attack an opponent's counter providing that the opponent's counter can be moved backwards one or more squares. Attacker occupies opponent's square.

b) The opponent's counter must then be moved backwards as far as it can go after which the player whose turn it is alters a barrier.

c) A player whose counter is attached and moved back may at his next turn immediately attack the attacking counter if the way is clear to do so, but the first player at his next turn can not repeat the previous attack with the same counter.
3. No counters are removed from the playing surface during play.
4. A barrier may not be rotated if it had been rotated by the opponent in the immediately previous turn.
5. A barrier may not be moved if it is obstructed by two or more counters.
6. A board game as claimed in all preceding claims, where in a smaller 'travelling' version, the movable pieces may take the form of pegs which fit into holes drilled or cast in the centres of the small squares making up the playing surface.

6. A barrier may not be rotated if it would then close-off a rank or file, that is, making 5 barriers in a Straight Line.

7. Once a counter has reached the opposite rank it cannot be moved out of that rank, or attacked, but it may be moved along the rank.

8. For a shorter game less than 10 counters per set may be used. Instructions as to the positioning of less than 10 counters in their rank will be provided.

The counters may be plastics, wood or metal or any other hard material, and may be conveniently shaped like chess pawns for easy handling, or as cylinders as used in Backgammon, draughts, etc.

For a small board the counters may take the form of pegs in which case, each of the small squares will have a hole drilled at its centre.

The game lends itself to varied tactics and strategy.

Modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention; for example, some barriers may be non-rotatable; the barriers may be pivotal at one end rather than centrally; the barriers may extend over only one small square instead of two, or over more than two.

1. This is a board game which incorporates adjustable barriers, a feature not found in any existing board game.

2. A board game with a board of any convenient size, being square, and marked-off in smaller squares, preferably 100 in number.

3. A board game as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, with a board made of wood or plastic or glass or metal or any suitable hard material.

4. A board game as claimed in all preceding claims, with a number of movable coun ters or 'pieces', preferably 20 in number (10 of one colour 8 10 of another colour), whose progress across the board can be impeded by rotation of the barriers mentioned in Claim 1.

5. A board game as claimed in all preceding claims, with holes drilled or cast in the board, preferably 25 in number, to accommodate the pegs projecting from the bases of the rotatable barriers, or an an alternative arrangement, there may instead be pegs sets in the board, to fit into holes in the bases of the barriers.