Patent ID: 6588753
Filing Date: 2003-07-08
Classification: A63F

Abstract:
A method of playing a game by two players, comprising the steps of:providing an array of playing locations each individually occupiable by one playing piece, wherein the playing locations form a plurality of rows of adjacent playing locations and a plurality of columns of adjacent playing locations such that the rows and columns of playing locations collectively form a first end of the playing field and a second end of the playing field maximally spaced apart from the first end by playing locations; providing a plurality of initial playing pieces for each player, wherein each plurality of initial playing pieces is equal in number to the other plurality of initial playing pieces, and wherein each plurality of playing pieces is visually distinguishable from the other plurality of playing pieces; placing the plurality of initial playing pieces of one player on playing locations at the first end of the array and placing the plurality of initial playing pieces of the other player at the second end of the array; conducting play wherein the players alternatingly undertake moves, and wherein each move is limited to moving one playing piece; constraining each initial playing piece to move a distance of one and only one playing location when only unoccupied playing locations are adjacent to the initial playing piece undertaking a move; requiring an initial playing piece to jump over an opposing playing piece when, a) the opposing playing piece occupies a playing location adjacent to the initial playing piece undertaking the move, and when b) an unoccupied playing location exists adjacent to the playing piece being jumped along the same column or row occupied by the playing piece undertaking the jump move and the playing piece being jumped, wherein the playing piece undertaking the move being allowed when jumping to move a distance of two playing locations, wherein the initial playing piece undertaking the jump move must move to the unoccupied playing location and must either end its move by remaining on the unoccupied playing location or alternatively continues its move by jumping at least one additional opposing playing piece in the manner proscribed for jumping the first opposing playing piece, said step of requiring an initial playing piece to jump over an opposing playing piece being mandatory even when an opportunity exists to select another move wherein the player undertaking a move could avoid jumping any of the opponent's playing pieces; constraining each initial playing piece to move only to an unoccupied playing location adjacent to and forward of that initial playing piece; designating for each plurality of initial playing pieces a row initially occupied by opposing initial playing pieces as demarcating a promotion area comprising the end row of playing locations and also at least one additional row of playing locations; promoting each initial playing piece which is moved to the promotion area of the opponent to a promoted playing piece which is empowered to move selectively backwardly and laterally as well as forwardly, while otherwise being constrained to move in the manner of initial playing pieces; removing from play each initial playing piece and each promoted playing piece which has been jumped; and determining the end of the game by either awarding victory to the player who has forced his or her opponent to jump and consequently remove all of his or her playing pieces, wherein victory is awarded to the player having no playing pieces remaining, or by declaring a draw in a situation wherein each player has only one playing piece remaining.