Abstract:
A method for playing a modified game of chess includes the steps of providing a game board having a plurality of rows and columns to define a grid-like pattern and providing each player a set of game cubes, each of which defines six faces. Five of said faces include depictions, the other is blank. Each depiction is assigned a range of movement. In turn, each player must place a game cube on any unoccupied space, blank face disposed opposite the game board. Once all game cubes are so placed, each player is allowed, in turn, to rotate one game cube, move a game cube according to the depiction of the face disposed opposite the game board to capture game cubes of opponents, or return any captured game cube to the game board. Points are awarded for capturing opponent&#39;s game cubes until a player achieves a predetermined number of points.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable 
   FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
   Not Applicable 
   SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
   Not Applicable 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates generally to a chess game, more specifically to a method for playing a modified game of chess for a plurality of players and utilizing game cubes. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   The present invention finds its origins in the traditional game of chess. For centuries chess, a game played on a board comprised of alternating colored squares to form a grid-like pattern, wherein two players match their skills against each other, has been the standard-bearer for games of strategic thinking. The traditional game of chess follows standard rules for chessboard set-up, movement of the various game pieces, and manner for winning the match. 
   There have been numerous variations of the traditional game of chess. Chess players and inventors have introduced means of adding additional players and means of introducing chance into the traditional game. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,794,326 (Bialek) describes a variation of the traditional game of chess designed for two players, utilizing the traditional rules of game-board set-up and traditional game pieces, wherein the players alternate turns rolling a pair of dice embossed with the depictions of standard chess pieces. The player must then move one of their pieces depicted on the face disposed opposite the game board of one of the two dice. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,474 (Tachkov, et al.) describes a game suitable for two to four players with each player being designated a set of game pieces modified from the traditional game of chess, and assigned a quadrant of the game board. Players can form alliances with other players, with play proceeding along the same general rules of the traditional game. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,719,289 (Brown et al.) describes a variation of the traditional game of chess wherein two players are assigned a conventional set of game pieces and are dealt 7 or 11 cards from a deck of 50 cards which dictate movement on the game board. 
   Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,583 (Sadounichvili et al.) describes a further variation of the traditional game of chess, wherein the traditional elements of chess are combined with a set of new game pieces with individually assigned movements, along with a “reducer having four lateral sides in surrounding relationship with a rectangular aperture formed between the lateral sides.” 
   Among the deficiencies in the prior art that are addressed in the present invention, the single most significant is that inventions in the prior art limit the skill necessary to play the respective variations to that of the traditional game of chess, or below. 
   Thus, there is a need in the related art for a variation of the traditional game of chess that provides a new variation of the traditional game of chess allowing for inclusion of a plurality of players, is easy to learn, increases the skill level necessary to play the game, provides variation in set-up and game play with each new game, is portable, and is inexpensive to manufacture. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention overcomes the disadvantages in the related art in a method for playing a modified game of chess among a plurality of players. The method includes the steps of providing a game board having a plurality of rows and columns to define a substantially grid-like pattern of alternating colored spaces. Each player is provided with a set of a plurality of game cubes adapted to be disposed on, and freely manually movable along, the game board from one space to another space, and each of which defines six faces. Five of the faces include respective depictions, and the sixth is blank. Each depiction is assigned a different possible range of movement relative to the other depictions for the respective game cube along the game board from one space to another space. In turn, each player is allowed to place a respective game cube on any unoccupied space such that the blank face is disposed opposite the game board. Once all of said game cubes are placed upon the game board, each player is then allowed, in turn, to rotate a game cube such that a different face is disposed opposite the game board, move the game cube along the game board from one space to another space according to the depiction of the face disposed opposite the game board to capture any of the game cubes of respective opponents, or return any captured game cube of the player to the game board in any unoccupied space with the blank face disposed opposite the game board. Points are awarded to respective players for capturing any game cubes of opponents until a player achieves a predetermined total number of points. 
   An advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess for a plurality of players. 
   Another advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess, which is played on a flexible game board. 
   Another advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess, which is easily portable. 
   A further advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess, which is easy to learn. 
   Yet another advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess with several variation of the preferred embodiment to add new challenges to the standard version. 
   Still another advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess, which is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
   A still further advantage of the method for playing modified game of chess of the present invention is a method to provide for a new variation of the game of chess where the rules of play remain the same regardless of the number of players. 
   Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, an embodiment of the present invention is disclosed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a plan view of the game board, detailing 8 rows and 8 columns of alternating colored spaces. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a game cube, illustrating the depictions of traditional chess pieces on the faces of the game cubes, with the top face being blank. 
       FIG. 3   a  is a plan view of a face of the game cube depicting the blank face. 
       FIG. 3   b  is a plan view of a face of the game cube depicting the Knight. 
       FIG. 3   c  is a plan view of a face of the game cube depicting the Rook. 
       FIG. 3   d  is a plan view of a face of the game cube depicting the Bishop. 
       FIG. 3   e  is a plan view of a face of the game cube depicting the King. 
       FIG. 3   f  is a plan view of a face of the game cube depicting the Queen. 
       FIG. 4   a  is a plan view of the game board depicting the moves of the game cubes when the face disposed opposite the game board is the Queen. 
       FIG. 4   b  is a plan view of the game board depicting the moves of the game cubes when the face disposed opposite the game board is the Knight. 
       FIG. 4   c  is a plan view of the game board depicting the moves of the game cubes when the face disposed opposite the game board is the Rook. 
       FIG. 4   d  is a plan view of the game board depicting the moves of the game cubes when the face disposed opposite the game board is the King. 
       FIG. 4   e  is a plan view of the game board depicting the moves of the game cubes when the face disposed opposite the game board is the Bishop. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring to the drawings contained herein, there is shown in  FIG. 1 , a game board, generally indicated at  10 , comprised of 8 rows, generally indicated at  12 , and 8 columns, generally indicated at  14 . These rows  12  and columns  14  form a substantially grid-like surface of alternating colored squares  16 . In the preferred embodiment the game board  10  is made of a flexible material such as canvas. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the game board  10  can include any suitable number of rows  12  and columns  14 . It will also be appreciated that the game board  10  can be made of other suitable materials. 
     FIG. 2  depicts the principal game piece, the game cube, generally indicated at  20 , comprised of 6 substantially symmetrical and substantially square faces, generally indicated at  22 . In the preferred embodiment, the game cube  20  is made of wood. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the game cube  20  can be made from any suitable material. 
   There are plurality of game cubes  20  divided into “sets.” In the preferred embodiment there are 6 sets of game cubes  20  with each set consisting of 6 such game cubes  20 . Each set of game cubes  20  is assigned a distinguishing color. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that there may be any suitable number the game cubes  20  per set. It will also be appreciated that there may be any suitable number of sets of game cubes  20 . 
   In the preferred embodiment, each face  22  of each game cube  20  is imprinted, in that set&#39;s distinguishing color, with depictions of traditional chess pieces, as depicted in  FIGS. 3   a – 3   f.    
   In the preferred embodiment, each game cube  20  contains one face  22  imprinted with a depiction of a Knight  31 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   b , one face  22  imprinted with a depiction of a Rook  32 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   c , one face  22  imprinted with a depiction of a Bishop  33 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   d , one face  22  imprinted with a depiction of a King  34 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   e , and one face  22  imprinted with a depiction of a Queen  35 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   f . The final face  22  of each game cube  20  is left blank  30 , as depicted in  FIG. 3   a . The depiction on the opposite face of the game cube  20  from the blank face  30  is always the Queen  35 . However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the various faces  22  of the game cube  20  can be imprinted with any suitable depiction, whether from the traditional game of chess, or otherwise. 
   The present invention is designed for a plurality of players, in the preferred embodiment the number of players is 2 to 6 players. Play begins with the game board  10  devoid of game cubes  20  and each player choosing a colored set of game cubes  20 . The players randomly chose one player to begin play. The player randomly chosen to begin play places one of his or her game cubes  20  on the game board  10 , with the blank face  30  of the game cube  20  disposed opposite the game board  10 . Play then continues in a clockwise manner around the game board  10 , with each player in turn placing a game cube  20  onto the game board  10  in any unoccupied square, with blank face  30  of each said game cube  20  disposed opposite the game board  10 . This process continues until all players have placed all of their game cubes  20  on the game board  10 . 
   Once all players have placed all of their game cubes  20  onto the game board  10 , the player randomly selected to start play then is permitted to make one of several moves. The first option that a player has on their turn is to rotate one of their game cubes  20  to position a different face  22  disposed opposite the game board  10 . The player may only rotate one game cube  20  per turn, and may only rotate the game cube  20  one face  22 . As such, a player with a game cube  20  having the blank face  30  disposed opposite the game board  10  cannot rotate the game cube  20  in one move to position the depiction of the Queen  35  disposed opposite the game board  10 . 
   A second option on a player&#39;s turn is to move one of his or her own game cubes  20 , based upon the depiction disposed opposite the game board  10 , at the start of that player&#39;s move. Movement of said game cubes  20  are derived from the traditional game of chess. 
     FIG. 4   a  depicts the movement of the game cube  20  when the depiction of the Queen  35  is disposed opposite the game board  10 . The Queen  35  can move on the game board  10  to any space  16  in a straight line horizontally, vertically, or diagonally from the space on which it stands. The Queen  35  cannot, however, move over any intervening game cube  20 . 
     FIG. 4   b  depicts the movement of the game cube  20  when the depiction of the Knight  31  is disposed opposite the game board  10 . The Knight  31  moves in an L-shaped pattern, being 2 spaces  16  in either the horizontal or vertical direction, and 1 space  16  in the opposite direction, being vertical or horizontal, from the space  16  in which it stands. When moving, the Knight  31  does move over any intervening game cubes  20 , interacting only with a game cube  20  in its destination space  16 . 
     FIG. 4   c  depicts the movement of the game cube  20  when the depiction of the Rook  32  is disposed opposite the game board  10 . The Rook  32  moves to any space  16  in a straight line either horizontally or vertically from the space  16  in which it stands. When moving, the Rook  32  cannot move over any intervening game cubes  20 . 
     FIG. 4   d  depicts the movement of the game cube  20  when the depiction of the King  34  is disposed opposite the game board  10 . The King  34  moves to any space  16  on the game board  10  adjacent to the space  16  in which it stands. 
     FIG. 4   e  depicts the movement of the game cube  20  when the depiction of the Bishop  33  is disposed opposite the game board  10 . The Bishop  33  moves to any space  16  in a straight line diagonally from the space  16  in which it stands. When moving, the Bishop  33  cannot move over any intervening game cubes  20 . 
   A game cube  20  with the blank face  30  disposed opposite the game board  10  cannot be moved, except as to rotate the game cube  20  as described above. 
   However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the movement of the game cubes  20  can be set in any suitable manner. It will be further appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the number of players can be set in any suitable manner. 
   By moving one of his or her own game cubes  20  into a space  16  on the game board  10  occupied by an opponent&#39;s game cube  20 , that player “captures” the opponent&#39;s game cube  20 . The captured game cube  20  is removed from the game board  10 , and points are awarded to the player so capturing an opponent&#39;s game cube  20 . Points awarded vary depending upon the depiction disposed opposite the game board  10  at the time of capture. If a player captures an opponent&#39;s game cube  20  with the blank face  30  disposed opposite the game board  10 , the player so capturing the game cube  20  is awarded one point. 
   If the captured game cube  20  had the depiction of either the Knight  31  or the King  34  disposed opposite the game board  10 , two points are awarded to the player so capturing that game cube  20 . 
   If the captured game cube  20  had the depiction of either the Rook  32  or the Bishop  33  disposed opposite the game board  10  at the time of capture, three points are awarded to the player so capturing that game cube  20 . 
   If the captured game cube  20  had the depiction of the Queen  35  disposed opposite the game board  10  at the time of capture, five points are awarded to the player so capturing that game cube  20 . 
   However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the awarding of points for capturing an opponent&#39;s game cube  20  can be set in any suitable manner. 
   The final move that a player has the option to make on his or her turn is to return one of his or her own captured game cubes  20  to the game board  10  in any unoccupied space  16 , blank face  30  disposed opposite the game board  10 . 
   Play continues around the game board  10 , in a clockwise direction, with each player in turn selecting one of the three options per turn, until one player achieves a pre-determined number of points, in the preferred embodiment being 20 points. However, it will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that the total number of points necessary to win the game may be set at any number. 
   Additionally, one skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that rules of play can be altered from the herein described preferred embodiment to vary play. One such variation allows the players to begin rotating or moving their game cubes  20  as soon as at least one of their game cubes  20  have been placed upon the game board  10 . 
   A further variation allows players to make two of the above described options on each turn. Another variation requires that each player exchange one of his or her own game cubes  20  with one of each opponent. Rules of play continue as in the preferred embodiment with players placing game cubes  20  onto the game board  10  in turn until all game cubes  20  have been placed, blank face  30  disposed opposite the game board  10 , onto the game board  10 . However, in this variation the player places one of each of his or her opponent&#39;s and the remaining game cubes  20  in his or her set of game cubes  20 . 
   As can easily be seen, the method for playing a modified game of chess of the present invention provides a new variation of the game of chess that maintains the same set of instructions when any number of a plurality of players are playing, is portable, inexpensive to manufacture, is easy to learn, and provides for a different game set up and strategy with each game. 
   While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.