GB2254564A

GB2254564A - A board game

Info

Publication number: GB2254564A
Application number: GB9107554A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Daniel Scharf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-10
Filing date: 1991-04-10
Publication date: 1992-10-14
Also published as: GB9107554D0

Abstract

Apparatus for playing a board game comprising: a playing board (1) provided with a chequer pattern and markings representing goals (13A, 13B), two sets of playing pieces (2A-9A, 2B-9B) consisting of pieces corresponding to at least some of those used in the game of chess; a piece (10) representing a ball; and rules providing for movement of the playing pieces (2A-9A, 2B-9B) about the board (1) in accordance with the movement of the corresponding chess pieces. When a playing piece (2A-9A, 2B-9B) is moved to a position occupied by the ball piece (10), the ball piece (10) is moved in dependance upon which playing piece (2A-9A, 2B-9B) has been used whereby two players each using one of the respective sets of playing pieces (2A-9A, 2B-9B) can seek to move the ball piece (10) into their opponent's goal. <IMAGE>

Description

A BOARD GAME This invention relates to apparatus for playing a board game and more particularly to a board game providing a combination of the games of chess and football.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for playing a board game comprising: a playing board provided with a chequer pattern and an indication of areas representing goals; two sets of playing pieces corresponding to at least some of those used in the game of chess; a piece representing a ball; and rules providing for movement of the playing pieces about the board in accordance with the movement of the corresponding chess pieces such that when a playing piece is moved to a position occupied by the ball piece, the ball piece is moved in dependance upon which playing piece has been used whereby two players each using one of the respective sets of playing pieces can seek to move the ball piece into the area of the playing board representing their opponent's goal.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided electronic apparatus for playing a board game arranged to provide a visual representation of a playing board having a chequer pattern and two goal areas, of two sets of playing pieces corresponding to at least some of those used in the game of chess and of a ball piece, together with a program for controlling the representations in accordance with rules which provide for movement of the playing pieces about the board in accordance with the movement of the corresponding chess piece such that when a playing piece is moved to a position occupied by the ball piece, the ball piece is moved in dependence upon which playing piece has been used whereby two players each using one of the respective sets of playing pieces can seek to move the ball piece into the area of the board representing their opponent's goal area.

Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the subsidiary claims of the specification.

The invention will now be further described, merely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invent ion; Figure 2 is a plan view of the playing board shown in Figure 1; Figures 3 to 7 illustrate the manner in which particular playing pieces and the ball pieces are moved according to a preferred set of rules.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate special moves provided for by the rules.

The board game described herein is for two players using chess pieces (but without the pawns) to move a ball about the board and into the opponents goal area to score goals in a manner similar to the game of football (or soccer). The players take alternate turns and the playing pieces are moved in a manner very similar to the corresponding chess pieces but the rules otherwise correspond to the game of football including: kick-offs, fouls, free-kicks, throw-ins, penalties, corners, goal-kicks and sendings off.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a playing board 1 provided with a chequer pattern, two sets of playing pieces 2A - 9A and 2B - 9D, a ball piece 10, and a die D (or other random number generator).

The board comprises a conventional chequer pattern as used in the games of chess and chequers although it is preferably longer and wider than a conventional chess board, and the squares are preferably green and white or two shades of green rather than black and white. The illustrated board comprises sixteen squares in the length direction and twelve squares across (compared to 8 squares by 8 squares for a conventional chess board).

However, other size boards can be used, e.g. 12 squares by 10 squares or 20 squares by 16 squares, depending whether a slow moving, tactical game is required (using a smaller board) or a free-flowing game (using a larger board). Even larger boards may be used particularly if more playing pieces (e.g. eleven per side) are used.

The playing board 1 is also marked in the manner of an association football or soccer pitch with goal areas 11A and 11B, side lines 12, goal lines 13A and 13B, penalty areas 14A and 14B, a centre line 15 and a centre circle 16, as shown in Figure 2.

The goal areas 11A and 11B are marked at each end of the board 1. These may be variable in width, e.g. being four or six squares wide, and the squares within and adjacent the goal area are numbered as shown in Figure 2. The goal areas liA and ilB may be marked by a suitable indication on the board or by clips or other means (not shown) slidably mounted on the board to indicate the limits of the goal areas and which can be adjusted, e.g. to provide a more free-scoring game (with a wider goal area).

The two sets of playing pieces 2A - 9A and 2B - 9B preferably comprise pieces corresponding to the chess pieces listed in Table 1 and rules provide for these to be moved about the board in the manner of the corresponding chess pieces.

The ball piece 10 may be in the form of a circular counter or may be shaped to imitate a football (but with a flat bottom so that it does not roll about the board).

The rules provide for the ball piece 10 to be moved when a playing piece is moved to the square occupied by the ball piece 10 in dependence upon which playing piece is used. The rules for movement of the ball are summarised in Table 1 and described further below in relation to Figures 3 to 7.

As will be seen, the movements of the playing pieces correspond to their movement in the game of chess and the movement of the ball piece 10 depends on which playing piece is used. It is, of course, desirable for the movement of the ball piece 10 to be related or similar to that of the playing piece, e.g. movement along diagonals when played by a bishop, movement along a file or rank when played by a castle, to assist the players in remembering the different moves. However, other movement rules may be devised if desired.

When using the queen, rook or bishop to play the ball piece, the ball piece can be moved along the relevant path as far as the edge of the playing area or until its path is blocked by another playing piece. When using the king or the knight, the ball piece can be moved along the relevant path as far as the edge of the playing area but with these playing pieces the ball piece can be lifted over any other playing pieces along its path of movement. It should also be noted that when the king is used to play the ball piece, the ball piece can only be moved as far as the half way line, i.e. within the player's own half of the board, and the king does not leave the goal area to move the ball piece. Also, only the queen and knight can change the direction of movement of the ball piece, i.e. so the ball piece is not moved in exactly the same direction as the playing piece.For instance, as shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the queen may be moved along a fiie or rank and the ball piece moved along a diagonal (or vice versa). it should also be noted that (as in chess) only the knight is able to jump over other players to play the ball piece. For this reason, the knight cannot be fouied by another playing piece (see Free-kicks described below).

The rules also provide for a number of special moves corresponding to features of the game of football and these are described below: Kick-Off Having chosen who is to take the kick-off at the start of the game (e.g.

the white team), that player positions all his playing pieces except that to be used for taking the kick-off, in his own half of the board. His opponent then positions his playing pieces within his half of the board and the first player takes the kick-off using the selected playing piece from either of the centre squares in his half of the board and must play the ball piece either sideways or forwards. It should be noted that the playing pieces are not allocated fixed positions and can be placed anywhere in the player's half at his choice except that the king must be within the goal area and no playing piece is allowed within the centre circle. It should also be noted that the playing pieces can be positioned on any colour square at the player's choice although the two bishops should be placed on different colour squares.The kings are positioned and can only move within their respective goal areas (and no other playing pieces are allowed in the goal areas).

Any player conceding a goal during the game, recommences the game with a kick-off in a similar manner.

Free Kicks A player can claim a free kick when: (1) a player commits a foul by moving a playing piece onto a square which blocks one of the opponent's playing pieces from moving to the square occupied by the ball piece, e.g. as illustrated by Figure 8 (which shows a rook fouling a queen by moving to a square which blocks the queen from moving to the square occupied by the ball piece).

(2) when a playing piece becomes offside, i.e. in the opponent's half of the board and closer to the opponent's goal line, (when the ball piece is moved forwards? than any of the opponent's playing pieces (excluding the king).

The free kick is taken from the square on which the offence occurs and each player can re- rrange all his playing pieces as he wishes but keeping a clear square between the defending player's playing pieces and the ball piece. The attacking player positions his playing pieces first (except for the playing piece taking the free kick) and then the defending player positions his playikng pieces. Any attacking playing piece in an offside position following positioning of the defending playing pieces can be placed in an onside position before the free kick is taken.

Free kicks need not be claimed if the player offended against wishes instead to play the 'advantage' rule as in soccer. Players can also agree that any playing piece committing a foul so as to prevent a shot on goal is sent off for the remainder of the game.

Throw-ins If the ball piece is played over a side line by one player then the other player can move any of his playing pieces to take a throw-in from any of the three squares adjacent the square where the playing piece was played over the side line. The rules for moving the playing piece in a throw-in are the same as given in Table 1 referred to above. It should be noted that for a throw-in, the players are not allowed to re-arrange their playing pieces (except for the playing piece taking the throw-in).

Corners A corner is awarded to a player when his opponent plays the ball piece over his own goal line (including diagonally across the corner square). The corner is taken from the relevant corner square after each player has repositioned his playing pieces in a similar procedure to that at a kick-off or free kick but keeping three clear squares between the ball piece and the defending playing pieces.

Goal Kick If a player plays the ball piece over his opponent's goal line, a goal kick is awarded to his opponent. All playing pieces are re-arranged in the same procedure as for free kicks etc., although all playing pieces must be outside the relevant penalty area. The king is then used to take the goal kick from any of the three squares at the relevant side of the goal area as illustrated by Figure 9.

Penalty-Kicks A penalty is awarded to an attacking player if his opponent commits a foul in his own penalty area (in the same manner as for free kicks described above). All playing pieces are re-positioned outside the relevant penalty area (the attacking player's playing pieces being re-positioned first as before). The defending player then places his king on any of the squares within the goal area. The attacking player then throws the die D. With a goal area four squares wide as illustrated a throw of a i or a 6 represents a miss resulting in a goal-kick, throwing the number of the goal area square on which the king is placed represents a save and throwing any of the numbers of the other squares in the goal area represents scoring a goal. Following a save, the king may play the ball piece along the respective file up to the half-way line.

It should be noted that any playing piece taking a kick-off, free-kick, throw-in or corner cannot play the ball piece again until the ball piece has been played by another playing piece (of either player).

The apparatus and rules descri'oed above may, of course, be varied whilst still maintaining the idea of combining the games of chess and football. As mentioned above, the length and width of the playing board can be varied depending whether a slow tactical game or a free-flowing game is required.

The illustrated board comprising twelve squares by sixteen squares is designed to accommodate a range of playing styles. The width of the goal area may also be adjusted to make it more or less difficult to score goals (and this will also affect the chances of scoring a goal when taking a penalty kick).

A different number and selection of chess pieces may also be used to provide the playing pieces, including the possibility of using a greater or smaller number of the respective pieces than used in the game of chess.

The rules regarding movement of the playing piece may also be varied, e.g.

by allowing all playing pieces to move the ball over other playing pieces (whether for any distance or within a predetermined number of squares), by restricting the maximum distance the ball piece can be moved (e.g. five squares per turn), or altering the movements of the ball piece specified in Table 1 and illustrated in Figures 3 to 7.

The above game thus combines many of the features of the game of football with the strategic and tactical thinking required in the game of chess.

If in addition to the apparatus described above, the remaining chess pieces may be provided (ie the pawns in the case described above), so the apparatus may also be used for playing the conventional game of chess (using only an 8 square by 8 square section of the playing board).

Electronic apparatus may also be provided for playing the game described above, e.g. in the form of computer or video apparatus with a program arranged to display representations of the various components of the game on a visual display unit CVDU) and to control movement of the components in accordance with a predetermined set of rules and inputs provided by the players or by one player and the eiectronic apparatus acting as another player.

TABLE 1

PLAYING MOVEMENT OF MOVEMENT OF LIFT BALL PIECE PIECE PLAYING PIECE BALL PIECE OVER OTHER PLAYING PIECES? KING 1 square at a Along a file or YES (2A,2B) time restricted diagonal extending to goal area from the King's position (but only within own half of board) QUEEN Any number of Along a file, rank NO (3A, 3B) squares, diagon- or diagnonal extend ally or along files ing from the Queen's ano ranks position so as to move the ball piece forward with respect to the Queen ROOK Any number of Along a file or rank NO (or CASTLE) squares along in the same direction (4A, SA, 4B, files or ranks as the Rook 5B) only BISHOP Any number of Along a diagnonal in NO (6A,7A,6B, squares along the same direction 7B) diagonals only as the Bishop KNIGHT 2 squares along A Knight move in any YES (8A,9A,8B file or rank then direction 93) 1 square at right angles thereto (and can be moved over other playing pieces.

Claims

Apparatus for playing a board game comprising: a playing board provided with a chequer pattern and an indication of areas representing goals; two sets of playing pieces corresponding to at least some of those used in the game of chess; a piece representing a ball; and rules providing for movement of the playing pieces about the board in accordance with the movement of the corresponding chess pieces such that when a playing piece is moved to a position occupied by the ball piece, the ball piece is moved in dependence upon which playing piece has been used whereby two players each using one of the respective sets of playing pieces can seek to move the ball piece into the area of the playing board representing their opponent's goal.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the playing board has a playing area iO to 16 squares wide and 12 to 20 squares long, and preferably 12 squares wide by 16 squares long.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the playing board is provided with an indication representing the markings of a football (or soccer) pitch.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which each set of playing pieces includes pieces representing the following chess pieces: a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops and two knights.
5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the rules provide for the playing pieces to be moved in a manner similar to the corresponding chess pieces.
6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the rules provide for movement of the ball piece in a manner which is related to the movement of the playing piece used to play the ball piece.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claims 4, 5 and 6 in which the rules provide for movement of the playing pieces and ball piece substantially as described in Table 1 of the accompanying description.
8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the ball piece is substantially spherical so as to imitate a football but with a flat base to prevent it rolling about the playing board.
9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a full set of chess pieces so it can also be used for playing a conventional game of chess.

iO. Electronic apparatus for playing a board game arranged to provide a visual representation of a playing board having a chequer pattern and two goal areas, of two sets of playing pieces corresponding to at least some of those used in the game of chess and of a ball piece, together with a program for controlling the representations in accordance with rules which provide for movement of the playing pieces about the board in accordance with the movement of the corresponding chess piece such that when a playing piece is moved to a position occupied by the ball piece, the ball piece is moved in dependence upon which playing piece has been used whereby two players each using one of the respective sets of playing pieces can seek to move the ball piece into the area of the board representing their opponent's goal area.

ii. Apparatus for playing a board game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.