Method and apparatus for a game

A method and apparatus for a game is disclosed in which a plurality of word-building structures, each having a plurality of playing spaces, are disposed about a gameboard. The preferred word-building structure comprises a pyramid shaped grid having 49 playing spaces. The pyramid is arranged in seven rows, with thirteen playing spaces in the base row and two less playing spaces in each succeedingly higher row. A word-building structure is associated with each respective competitor, as well as a color-coded set of playing pieces containing alphanumeric characters. These pieces are used by each competitor for building words in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions in his respective word-building structure during a three minute word-building phase. The game board is then rotated to place each competitor in front of an opponent's word-building structure for an offensive phase, during which a competitor may strategically place his playing pieces to block selected spaces adjacent previously built words on an opponent's structure, thereby limiting the opponent's use of the blocked spaces in subsequent word-building phases and capturing the scoring value of the blocked words. Play continues with alternating word-building phases and offensive phases until one of a set of predetermined conditions occurs. Scores are tallied at the end of a game, at which time the point values of words are determined and the final determination of their ownership is made.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to the field of games in general, and especially to 
a method and apparatus for playing a word game and a device and packaging 
system for use with a folding gameboard for the game. 
Various word games are known in the prior art which use playing pieces 
bearing letters of the alphabet to fill in the interconnected words of a 
predetermined word-building structure, as in cross-word puzzles. These 
games have served as a basis for a variety of competitive word games in 
which two or more people take turns at creating an interconnected word 
structure with randomly chosen letters, as in "Scrabble".TM.. 
One of the disadvantages to prior art word games is that they are not 
conducive to fast paced competition between the players, or competitors. 
In Scrabble.TM., for instance, game pace is restricted because each player 
takes an active role only when he takes his turn at word building; the 
remaining time he is essentially inactive. Furthermore, word development 
is restricted because words may only be arranged side by side if their 
neighboring letters form completed words, either in the horizontal or 
vertical directions. Also, competition is very limited in this game, 
because it is not possible to make aggressive moves against an opponent. 
Other word games have been devised which allow competitors to work 
simultaneously in order to promote fast paced word formation. However 
these games generally have a limited word-building capability, thus 
sacrificing some of the game's potential educational qualities in favor of 
maintaining player interest One example of this type of game is 
Boggle.TM., in which letters arranged at random on a four by four square 
matrix format are analyzed simultaneously by the competitors in a limited 
time period to determine what words have been formed in various directions 
of the matrix. While this timed competition may add a level of excitement 
not found in other prior art word games, it prevents the competitors from 
developing words which exceed four letters in length. 
Furthermore, none of the above-mentioned games incorporate a high degree of 
offensive or aggressive strategy, because the game structure requires 
continuous tallying of scores and does not provide for reduction of a 
competitor's score based on his opponent's subsequent offensive maneuvers. 
Another factor inhibiting the use of counter-opponent strategy in prior 
word games has been the awkwardness of competitors having to switch 
positions at a game board to analyze a portion of the board on which an 
opponent is playing. While devices permitting rotation of a game board 
have been used in the field of games such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,030,122 (Scharp), such devices have tended to be large and bulky and 
could not readily be accommodated by conventional, compact game packaging 
in which the game board is folded to one-half or one-quarter of its full 
size for storage in a game box. A small device capable of providing 
rotation and support for a relatively large folding game board, and which 
could be stored in a compact game box could prove of substantial benefit 
in board games. 
The folding game board which is commonly used in the art to permit a 
compact packaging system has also been a frequent source of frustration to 
game players. The instability of folding game boards when they are not 
resting on a large, flat supporting surface makes it virtually impossible 
to use such a board on a small or non-uniform surface or to move it from 
one location to another during play without disturbing the playing pieces. 
For example, a player might wish to keep such a board on his lap while 
riding in a bus or train. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a broad object of this invention to provide a game of skill 
for one or more players involving word building and scoring in a format 
which permits fast paced strategic gameplay. 
It is another object to increase educational value and enjoyment of a word 
game by promoting the formation of a greater number of long, multisyllable 
words. 
It is a further object to provide a more convenient apparatus and packaging 
system for a board game, especially one which uses a rotating gameboard. 
SUMMARY 
In accordance with a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative 
embodiment of the invention, the foregoing objects, and other objects, 
features and advantages, which will become apparent as the description 
proceeds, are achieved by providing an apparatus and method for building 
words in interconnecting patterns in word-building structures disposed on 
the surface of a rotatable folding game board. 
In the preferred method and apparatus, a word-building structure having a 
plurality of playing spaces is associated with each competitor, as well as 
a color-coded set of playing pieces containing alphanumeric characters. 
The preferred word-building structure comprises a pyramid-shaped grid 
having forty-nine playing spaces. The pyramid is arranged in seven rows, 
with thirteen playing spaces in the base row and two less playing spaces 
in each succeedingly higher row. 
Each competitor uses his color-coded set of playing pieces for building 
intersecting words in the horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions in 
his respective word-building structure during a three minute word-building 
phase. The game board is then rotated to place each competitor in front of 
an opponent's word-building structure for an offensive phase, during which 
a competitor may strategically place his playing pieces to block selected 
spaces adjacent previously built words on an opponent's structure, thereby 
limiting the opponent's use of the blocked spaces in subsequent 
word-building phases and capturing the scoring value of the blocked words. 
Play continues with alternating word-building phases and offensive phases 
until one of a set of predetermined conditions occurs. Scores are tallied 
at the end of a game, at which time the point values of words are 
determined and the final determination of their ownership is made. Point 
values are determined according to the length and the ownership of a word 
and the sum of the point values of its letters, as indicated on the face 
of the playing pieces. 
The preferred game structure also includes a rotation mechanism having a 
base and rotating upper platform which is substantially smaller than the 
surface area of the game board. The game board is locked in its unfolded 
position and secured to the rotation mechanism by suitable connection 
means such as a threaded bolt and knob in conjunction with a locking 
member such as a flat plate or other device for applying surface pressure 
to a plurality of gameboard sections. 
The preferred packaging system comprises a game box in which word trays and 
individually packaged sets of playing pieces are placed on a pre-formed, 
removable insert, on top of the rotating upper platform. These gameplaying 
accessories may thus be removed from the box in one operation by lifting 
the above-mentioned knob which is attached to the upper platform, thereby 
withdrawing the rotation mechanism, the individually packaged playing 
pieces, and the word trays. 
In an alternate embodiment of the inventive method and apparatus, a 
solitaire word game is provided in which one word-building structure and 
one set of playing pieces are used in achieving the highest possible score 
by building intersecting words in the horizontal, vertical and diagonal 
directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
FIG. 1 shows a game board 100 particularly adapted to playing a word game 
according to the present invention. A plurality of word-building 
structures 102 are disposed around the board 100, said structures 
preferably being pyramid-shaped with their bases at one of the edges of 
the gameboard's perimeter and their peaks extending toward the center of 
the gameboard. Each pyramid-shaped structure 102 contains rows of playing 
spaces 104, preferably with thirteen playing spaces in the lowest or base 
row and each successively higher row having two less playing spaces. This 
creates a pyramidal structure with seven rows of squares, the base row 
having thirteen and the top row having one square, resulting in a total of 
49 playing spaces per structure. 
An alternate embodiment of this invention may include variations on the 
size and shape of the word-building structure 102; however, the preferred 
arrangement offers an excellent format for interconnected words of varying 
length and complexity which may be read in four directions: horizontally 
across, diagonally up or down (from left to right) and vertically from top 
to bottom. While the invention may be practised with word building 
permitted in any number of directions, the above format will be assumed 
for the description herein. 
Another advantage of the pyramidal shape may be seen in FIG. 1, where the 
structures 102 are pictured on a typical four-sided game board. This shape 
allows four such structures to be placed as shown with a minimum of wasted 
space, thus creating a compact playing surface. The illustrated placement 
of the building structures also allows sufficient space in the center of 
the gameboard 100 for attachment of the board to a rotation mechanism 106, 
as described hereinafter. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, alphanumeric character representing elements, 
such as playing pieces 108, are provided to each competitor for use during 
gameplay. Playing pieces 108 may be either marked or blank, and are 
designed to fit within a playing space 104 on a word-building structure 
102, as described above. Marked playing pieces 108 each contain an 
alphanumeric character 110 and preferably include a scoring character 112. 
A set of aIphanumeric characters 110 includes every alphabetic letter of 
the language in which the game is to be played. It may also include the 
numerals or other symbols of that language to increase the variety of 
words or phrases that could be used in the word building process. In the 
preferred embodiment, the playing pieces 108 are grouped in 
distinguishable sets, each including the letters A through Z and 
containing four each of the vowels A, E, I and 0, three of the vowel U, 
two each of the consonants B, C, D, L, M, N, R, S and T, and one of each 
of the other consonants in the alphabet. This grouping provides a total of 
49 marked playing pieces corresponding to the 49 spaces on each 
word-building structure. Three additional blank playing pieces 108 may be 
incorporated in each set for reasons which will be explained later. This 
brings the total number of playing pieces 108 in each set to 52. 
A different set of playing pieces 108 is provided for each competitor, and 
each set of pieces is preferably distinguished from the others by color, 
shape, design or any other device for making playing pieces 
distinguishable. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, 
distinguishability is provided by color coding the playing pieces 108 so 
that the pieces in each set have the same distinguishing color. The 
quantity of playing pieces 108 and distribution of alphanumeric characters 
110 within a distinguishable set of playing pieces may vary substantially 
from the above format without departing from the scope and spirit of the 
invention. However, one purpose for the aforementioned format of 49 
letters and 49 squares is to provide the challenge of filling all the 
spaces of a pyramid in a game of solitaire. This format further permits a 
player in a competitive game to be awarded bonus points for using all of 
his allocated playing pieces. 
Since the preferred distribution of alphanumeric characters 110 contains 
only alphabetic letters, the method of play to be described will discuss 
the use of playing pieces 108 in terms of an arrangement of letters. It is 
to be understood that the methods discussed would similarly apply to a 
distribution of alphanumeric characters 110 which included numerals or 
other non-alphabetic symbols. 
Word trays 114 may be provided for each competitor to aid in constructing 
words from the playing pieces 108 before transferring them to the 
competitor's word-building structure 102. These trays 114 should be of 
sufficient length to hold at least twelve playing pieces 108. A timing 
device, such as a three-minute timer 116, may also be provided for use in 
accordance with the proposed rules of play. 
The preferred embodiment of the invention incorporates a rotation mechanism 
106 for allowing rotation of the game board 100 in conjunction with 
various phases of gameplay. As will be described later, the inventive 
method of gameplay includes an offensive phase during which a competitor 
places his playing pieces onto his opponent's word-building structure 102. 
The rotation mechanism 106 allows the board 100 to be rotated so that each 
word-building structure 102 may be read more easily by the competitors. 
FIG. 3 is an elevational view illustrating one embodiment of such a 
rotation mechanism 106, having a platform portion 118 and board 
stabilizing elements 119. 
Platform portion 118 rests on a table top or other supporting surface, and 
permits gameboard 100 to be rotated relative to that surface. The 
preferred platform portion 118 comprises a stationary base 120 and an 
upper platform 122 which supports folding gameboard 100 and rotates 
relative to stationary base 120. A ballbearing partition 124, or other 
low-friction device, is mounted between base 120 and upper platform 122 to 
facilitate rotation. Base 120 may be provided with rubber feet 126 or the 
like, to prevent slipping or marring on a table top or other supporting 
surface. Felt pads (not shown) may also be placed between base 120 and 
upper platform 122, to provide a limited amount of friction therebetween 
for preventing unintentional rotation of gameboard 100. 
Board stabilizing elements 119 are used to secure folding game board 100 to 
platform portion 118, in order to stabilize the board and thus prevent 
playing pieces 108 from shifting. These stabilizing elements 119 
preferably provide at least two degrees of support for folding gameboard 
100. 
The first degree of support is provided by connecting gameboard 100 to 
platform portion 118 at or near flexible seam 127, via connection members 
such as bolt 128 mounted in upper platform 122, and cooperatively threaded 
knob 130. These members provide interlocking cooperation through aperture 
131 in the center of gameboard 100, and prevent the gameboard from 
buckling at seam 127 (i.e. in an inverted V-shape) in response to gravity 
or other downward pressure acting on an area of the board which is not 
resting on upper platform 122, such as the board's periphery. Knob 130 is 
preferably shaped to permit a player to lift gameboard 100 by the knob, 
thus facilitating relocation of the board and playing pieces 108 thereon. 
A second degree of support is provided by distributing the downward 
pressure of knob 130 over sections 132 and 133 of gameboard 100, to lock 
the board in a flat or unfolded position, as by plate 134 acting between 
knob 130 and gameboard 100. The cooperation of knob 130 and plate 134 
prevents sections 132 and 133 of gameboard 100 from buckling in a V-shape 
when upward pressure is applied to the underside of the gameboard, e.g. 
when it is lifted at or near its periphery for relocation to another table 
or supporting surface. While knob 130 is preferably used for lifting the 
gameboard 100, it may also be desirable to lift the board by its edges, or 
to stabilize the board by grasping an edge with one hand while lifting on 
the knob. Plate 134 should therefore be large and strong enough to keep 
gameboard 100 locked flat when it is lifted at its periphery, while not 
obstructing any printed matter which may be near the center of the 
gameboard. Plate 134 is preferably filigreed for decorative effect. 
The preferred embodiment of the rotation mechanism 106 is further designed 
to raise the gameboard 100 above the level of the tabletop. This allows 
the game board to be rotated without knocking over the game trays 114 
which are normally placed on a table surface near the perimeter of the 
gameboard. 
The use of connection and locking members, such as bolt 128, knob 130 and 
plate 134, to secure gameboard 100, permits the use of a platform portion 
118 which is smaller than the gameboard 100, while maintaining adequate 
stability for game play. The rotation mechanism 106 may therefore be 
proportioned to fit into a box which is no larger than the folded game 
board. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 (phantom view) 
and 3, the platform portion 118 is square, with a surface area one-fourth 
the size of the gameboard 100 to permit packaging with either a half or 
quarter-folded board. 
It will be appreciated that bolt 128, knob 130 and plate 134, or similar 
connection and locking members, may also be used with a stationary 
platform to provide a locking device for a folding gameboard 100 without 
incorporating the feature of low friction rotation of the gameboard. Since 
rotation is not necessary with many board games, a stationary platform 
could provide the above-described advantages of clamping a folding 
gameboard 100 in a rigid position while eliminating the cost factor of 
supplying such a device with a low friction rotating means such as 
ballbearing platform 124. A stationary platform may be used, for example, 
to stiffen a folding gameboard resting on the laps of two game players 
seated next to each other while traveling. When used in this manner, it 
will be noted that the platform portion 118 of the invention need not rest 
on a supporting surface, as the necessity of providing rotation relative 
to such a surface is no longer needed. 
FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a preferred packaging arrangement for the 
proposed game, illustrating the placement in box 135 of gameboard 100 
rotation mechanism 106, the game playing accessories of FIG. 2, a rule 
book 136, and an optional lexicon 137 of words which may be formed in a 
given number of playing spaces 104. Cardboard inserts 138 are used to hold 
the rotation mechanism 106 and gameplaying accessories in place during 
storage. The timer 116 may be placed in one of the open compartments 140 
in inserts 138, underneath either rulebook 136 or lexicon 137. A removable 
insert 142 formed with ridges 144 may be used to hold the word trays 114 
securely in place. The four colored sets of playing pieces 108 may be kept 
in four separate re-sealable packets 146, two of which may be placed on 
the removable insert 142 between the word trays 114 as shown. The other 
two packets 146 may be stored in the open compartments 140 at each end of 
the box 135 and beneath the rule book 136 and lexicon 137. 
A distinct advantage of the above-described packaging system is the ability 
to remove the rotation mechanism 106, word trays 114, and two sets of 
playing pieces 108 from the box 135 in one step, by lifting the knob 130 
attached to bolt 128 protruding from the center of the upper platform 122. 
Attaching the plate 134 and knob 130 to the bolt 128 after having used the 
game, and before storing it, facilitates this convenience. 
When the game is completely stored in the box 135 the folded gameboard 100 
may rest atop all other parts with a protective sheet of light-weight 
polyethylene 154 or some other non-scratch material therebetween. 
Method of Play 
A preferred method of play through manipulation of the various components 
is described below. 
Each of the competitors selects a word building structure 102, a word tray 
114 and a set of playing pieces 108. The competitors arrange their playing 
pieces 108 face down on a table-top or other surface (not shown), and 
prepare to start play. When all competitors are ready each draws up to 12 
of his colored playing pieces 108 from the table at random and places them 
face up on his word tray 114. The timer 116 is then started and all 
competitors simultaneously proceed to build words or parts of words within 
their respective structures 102. This period of gameplay will be referred 
to as the first word building phase. The first word-building phase 
continues until a predetermined condition occurs, such as the passage of a 
specified time period. In the preferred embodiment described below, the 
predetermined condition which ends the first (and any subsequent) 
word-building phase is a lapse of three minutes from the start of the 
word-building phase. 
During the first (and any subsequent) word-building phase a competitor may 
build or form words in the horizontal, diagonally upward, or diagonally 
downward directions, with the words reading from left to right, or in the 
vertical direction with the words reading from top to bottom. Ordinarily, 
words cannot be created reading in directions which are the reverse of 
those stated above, with the exception that a single word may be scored 
twice if it forms a word in both the forward and reverse directions. 
During the word-building phases, competitors are not restricted to 
creating completed words on their word-building structures. For example, 
if a competitor has all but one of the letters comprising a 7-letter word, 
he may place his 6 letters in position on his word-building structure 102 
leaving a blank playing space 104 for the missing letter which may be 
filled in during a subsequent word-building phase. 
During a word-building phase, if a competitor has drawn any of the blank 
playing pieces 108 (hereafter called "guards"), he may insert them in 
strategic places on his word-building structure 102 in order to protect 
the words or parts of words he has just formed. For example, the placement 
of a guard after a competitor's completed word prevents his opponent from 
expanding on that word during a subsequent offensive phase, and capturing 
its value as discussed below. Similarly, the placement of a guard after a 
partially finished word prevents the opponent from placing one of his 
letters in the guarded space to form a complete word and capture its 
value. A competitor may move his guards around his word-building structure 
102 during a word building phase, or remove them from the board for later 
use. If a competitor has drawn all three of his guards, he may use one of 
them as a "joker" on his opponent's word-building structure 102 as 
described below. 
After the first three-minute word-building phase has elapsed, word building 
is stopped and a brief period may be provided to allow all competitors to 
arrange their final placement of the guards. All competitors then proceed 
to the first of a number of offensive phases. Each competitor changes his 
position at the board and sits in front of the word-building structure 102 
of another competitor, to perform offensive operations thereon as the 
other competitor's designated opponent. In the preferred embodiment this 
is facilitated by rotating the board 100 using the rotation mechanism 106 
to place the respective word-building structures 102 in front of the 
appropriate competitors for the offensive phase. 
For the purpose of the following description, various aspects of the 
preferred method of gameplay will be described with respect to two 
competitors who are mutual opponents, and their word-building or offensive 
operations on the word-building structures before them during a given 
phase of gameplay. As defined in the specification, a given competitor's 
"opponent" is the one who performs offensive operations on the given 
competitor's word-building structure during an offensive phase. It is to 
be understood that all competitors will be simultaneously performing 
similar operations on the respective word-building structures 102 before 
them during each word-building and offensive phase. That is, each 
"competitor" performs word-building operations in his own word-building 
structure during word-building phases, and acts as an "opponent" of 
another competitor (on that competitor's word-building structure) during 
offensive phases. Also, in the preferred embodiment, the relationship of a 
given competitor and his opponent is mutual; that is, both perform 
offensive operations on each other's word-building structures during an 
offensive phase. 
During one offensive phase a competitor is permitted to place the playing 
pieces 108 remaining on his word tray 114 in strategic playing spaces 104 
on his opponent's word-building structure 102 to "modify" words (or parts 
of words) previously built on that word-building structure, thereby 
"capturing" the scoring value of the original word and "blocking" the 
playing spaces 104 occupied by the modifying letters. As defined in this 
specification, a word is "modified" when a competitor places a modifying 
piece, comprising one of his playing pieces 108 (recognizeable as his by 
virtue of its color), at the end of a word (or part of a word) which was 
placed by his opponent on the opponent's word-building structure during a 
preceeding word-building phase, thereby forming a modified word whose 
scoring value, for the time being, has been captured and belongs to the 
competitor who placed the modifying piece. 
Preferably, a competitor may not use more than one playing piece 108 to 
create a particular modified word during any one offensive phase. For 
example, FIG. 6 illustrates a portion of a competitor's word-building 
structure in which the word JAIL was originally formed by the competitor 
(whose color is represented by cross-hatching) and was subsequently 
modified by his opponent by adding the letter "S" (dotted playing piece). 
If the game were to end at this point, the opponent would receive credit 
for the word JAILS, and the competitor would not receive credit for either 
JAIL or JAILS. Thus if the opponent modifies a word which was formed by 
the competitor, and the modified word is not subsequently rebuilt (see 
below), the modified word is scored in favor of the opponent, and the 
competitor does not receive any score for that word (or for the original 
word which was modified). Additionally, the opponent's modifying piece, 
which is distinguished from the competitor's playing pieces by its color, 
serves a blocking function in subsequent word-building and offensive 
phases, as the competitor may not use the opponent's modifying letter 
except for the purpose of further expanding the modified word and 
recapturing its value, as described below. 
In the preferred embodiment, "modifying a word" does not consist 
exclusively of placing a piece 108 after an opponent's completed word on 
the opponent's word-building structure. The playing piece 108 may be 
placed anywhere within the opponent's structure 102 as long as the 
modifying letter used completes a word in any one of the four directions 
mentioned previously, and follows a playing piece belonging to the 
opponent. This procedure may complete a word originally started by the 
opponent, may interrupt the forming of a word by the opponent which has 
blank spaces, or may create a word by branching off in any of the four 
allowed directions from any one of the opponent's playing pieces. However, 
if a competitor places a modifying letter after a complete word on his 
opponent's word-building structure, the modifying letter may not be used 
to separate a portion of the complete word. For example, if the word HI is 
on a competitor's word-building structure, his opponent may not place his 
(the opponent's) letter F after the word HI with the intention of forming 
the word IF. Instead, he must use another letter, such as T, which expands 
the complete word HI to form the modified word HIT. 
As discussed above, a competitor may form part of a word on his 
word-building structure 102 during a word-building phase, and then fill in 
the missing letters in a subsequent word-building phase after drawing a 
new set of letters. For example, if the competitor is left with the 
letters M, O, T and R on his word tray 114 as the end of a word-building 
phase approaches, he may want to place the letters MOT R on his 
word-building structure, expecting to complete the word MOTOR after he 
draws another letter "O" in a future word-building phase. However, this 
plan may be undermined if the competitor's opponent places the letter "E" 
after MOT during an offensive phase before the competitor has been able to 
complete the word, thus creating the modified word MOTE. The opponent 
would then have captured the scoring value of the word MOTE on the 
competitor's word-building structure, and left the competitor with the 
problem of forming a word with the remaining letter "R" or having that 
letter count against him in the scoring phase of the game (described 
below). 
During the offensive phase a competitor may use as modifying pieces any of 
the playing pieces 108 remaining on his word tray 114 after the preceeding 
word-building phase. However, if he has used all 12 of his playing pieces 
102 during the preceeding word-building phase, he receives a scoring bonus 
and is further permitted to draw one of his face-down playing pieces for 
use as a modifying piece. If he is able to use that playing piece for 
modifying, he may continue drawing one playing piece at a time, using it 
for modifying until he either is unable or unwilling to modify any 
further. Competitors are thereby given incentive to use all their playing 
pieces 108 during the word-building phases (even though they may not form 
completed words), resulting in more active gameplay. 
Another feature of the offensive phase involves the use of the 
aforementioned blank playing pieces 108 or "guards" as modifying pieces 
which may assume the role of any alphanumeric character. If a competitor 
has drawn all three of his guards, any one of the guards may then be 
redesignated as a "joker" and used for modifying a word on his opponent's 
word-building structure 102. If the competitor has placed all three of his 
guards on his word-building structure 102 and subsequently decides to use 
one of them as a joker, he may remove a guard from his word-building 
structure 102 and place it on his word tray 114 for re-designation as a 
joker during the upcoming offensive phase. This guard must be on the 
competitor's word tray 114 before the board 100 is rotated and the 
offensive phase begins. 
If a competitor has a guard on his word tray 114 during an offensive phase, 
he may decide during that phase whether or not to redesignate the guard as 
a joker (assuming all three guards have been drawn). If used as a joker 
for modifying a word, it is announced by the competitor what letter it is 
being used as. It then remains that same letter throughout the game. It is 
also counted in the scoring as its acquired identity and assumes the 
corresponding value. If the competitor decides not to redesignate his 
guard as a joker during that offensive phase, it may be placed on his 
word-building structure 102 as a guard during the following word-building 
phase, regardless of whether it was previously used as a guard and removed 
for possible use as a joker. Alternatively, the guard may be set aside on 
the competitor's word tray to be used later as either a guard or joker. 
Competitors are allowed extra time at the end of each three-minute 
word-building phase to manipulate their guards and to decide which of the 
three (if all three have been drawn) would best be used as a joker. As a 
variation of the preferred embodiment, the third guard may instead be used 
as a joker on a competitor's own structure for word-building. 
The offensive phase continues until a predetermined condition occurs, such 
as all competitors declaring that they have completed their respective 
modifications on the word building structures presently before them. The 
offensive phase is preferably not timed, however the competitors may 
choose to apply a time limit in order to increase the pace of the game. 
When the first offensive phase is completed, the competitors resume their 
former positions at their respective wordbuilding structures 102 and a 
second word-building phase begins. Each competitor draws as many of his 
face down playing pieces 108 as are necessary to replace the playing 
pieces used on his word tray 114, up to a total of twelve. The 
three-minute timer 116 is started again and all competitors recommence the 
word building procedure, with the added limitation that an opponent's 
modifying letter may not be used to form a new word in a direction which 
intersects the word modified by that letter. The competitors may, however, 
attempt to rebuild those words which were modified by their opponents, 
thus recapturing their value. 
During the second and any subsequent word-building phase, a competitor may 
"rebuild" a modified word on his own word-building structure by adding one 
or more letters to the modified word to form a complete word which changes 
the modified word's form or meaning and recaptures its value from his 
opponent. For example, consider the case in which a competitor's opponent 
has placed his letter "T" after the competitor's word HI on the 
competitor's word-buildinig structure to form the modified word HIT. If 
there are blank spaces following the word HIT, the competitor may be able 
to rebuild the word with an "S" for HITS, or with "TING" for HITTING. If a 
word is rebuilt by a competitor, he may use his added letter or letters 
for building other words in other directions. However he may never use his 
opponent's modifying letter for building in a direction other than that of 
the modified word; thus the modifying letter's blocking function is 
maintained even though the modified word's value has been recaptured. 
At the end of the second word building phase another offensive phase begins 
and opponents are given another chance to modify words (or parts of words) 
on each other's word building structures 102 as previously described. They 
may also remodify words which were previously rebuilt by their respective 
opponents. 
A competitor and his opponent may continue, respectively, to rebuild and 
remodify the same word on the competitor's word-building structure several 
times, limited only by the number of word-building phases in the game and 
the number of unused playing spaces 104 which follow the word. Ultimately, 
the word's value, for the purpose of scoring, belongs to the one who has 
placed the final letter of that word on the board. However, the first 
modifying letter and any subsequent re-modifying letters retain their 
blocking character throughout the game regardless of the eventual scoring 
status of the word's value. 
Play continues between alternate word-building phases and offensive phases 
until one of a set of predetermined conditions occurs. In the preferred 
embodiment, this set of predetermined conditions comprises the following 
three events: (1) one of the competitors using the last of his 49 marked 
playing pieces, (2) one of the competitors calling for the start of a 
"FINAL" phase, or (3) all of the competitors declaring that they have no 
further moves. 
If play progresses to the point where one of the competitors has used all 
of his 49 marked playing pieces 108, then either: (a) if a word-building 
phase is in progress, the other competitors may continue to build words 
until the three minute time period of that word-building phase has ended, 
at which point all competition stops; or (b) if an offensive phase is in 
progress, competition immediately stops. 
Competition may also be concluded by the use of a "FINAL" phase, as 
mentioned above. If any competitor has four or fewer playing pieces 108 
remaining from his original set of 49 marked pieces, he may call the word 
"FINAL" in order to initiate the final phase. A competitor may only call 
FINAL after an offensive phase has ended and before the following 
word-building phase begins. When a competitor has called FINAL, that 
competitor may not make any further moves, and the other competitors may 
fill their word trays 114 and begin a final three-minute word-building 
phase, after which the competition ends. 
The competition may also end when all competitors declare they have no 
further moves, in which case the competition immediately stops. 
While this game may accommodate any number of competitors, the preferred 
embodiment would allow for play as described above between two, three or 
four competitors, each of which has only one designated opponent for 
offensive purposes. While the foregoing description discusses gameplay 
between two competitors who are mutual opponents, it is to be understood 
that an alternate embodiment may provide otherwise. For example, a game 
may be played according to the invention in which competitor A's opponent 
(i.e. the competitor who performs offensive operations on A's 
word-building structure during offensive phases) is competitor B, 
competitor's B opponent is competitor C, C's opponent is D, and D's 
opponent is A. Other embodiments may include offensive schemes involving 
more than one opponent for additional complexity. A solitaire version of 
this game may be played by eliminating the modifying procedure and 
attempting to achieve the highest score possible within the confines of 
the word-building structure 102 set forth above. 
Another embodiment of the invention includes the use of playing teams. In 
one such embodiment two teams of two partners each may be formed, with the 
partners sitting opposite each other at the playing board. Offensive play 
may take place by rotating the board 90.degree. in a clockwise direction 
for the first offensive phase and 90.degree. in the counterclockwise 
direction for the second offensive phase, alternating each successive 
offensive phase. 
In another embodiment involving team play each competitor may draw from his 
partner's undrawn playing pieces 108, if desired, in order to acquire some 
or all of his twelve playing pieces for use during a following 
word-building phase. This may be advantageous for example, when a 
competitor has used all of his playing pieces which contain a desired 
letter and he knows that his partner has not yet drawn all such playing 
pieces from the partner's respective set. Also, it could be advantageous 
if one has used up most of his playing pieces 108 but his partner still 
has many left on the table. Helping to use up a partner's playing pieces 
may allow for a higher score, and possibly finish the game or result in a 
bonus award. The same rules would apply in ending the game as with single 
competitors. However, in order to end the game by calling "FINAL", 
partners must be left with only four playing pieces 108 between them. 
In the preferred embodiment scoring is not done until the end of the game, 
when each competitor counts his own score. The suggested method for adding 
scores is to first tally all the values of the scorable words that were 
either built or rebuilt on one's own word-building structure 102, and then 
to rotate the board 100, when everyone is ready, to tally the scorable 
modified and remodified words on the word building structure of one's 
opponent. In the first tally, a competitor may score any word on his own 
word-building structure 102 which ends with his letter and has not been 
further expanded upon (e.g. through modification). In the second tally, a 
competitor may further score any word on his opponent's structure which 
ends with his modifying letter and has not been further expanded upon 
(i.e., through rebuilding by his opponent). 
While a competitor may have originally modified a word in only one 
direction, further words may have inadvertently been formed by his 
opponent in other directions which end on the modifying letter, and these 
words are all scored for the competitor. It will be seen that the 
different color of modifying letters will facilitate spotting all the 
words created by those letters. In the preferred embodiment, the scoring 
value of a scorable modified or remodified word (i.e., a word which ends 
in a modifying letter and has not been further expanded upon) is twice the 
value of an equivalent word which has not been modified or remodified. 
However a scorable rebuilt word (i.e. one which is built by a competitor, 
modified by his opponent, then rebuilt by the competitor and not further 
expanded upon) is preferably not awarded any additional scoring value than 
the same word would have had if it were originally built by that 
competitor. 
As used in this specification, the term "scorable" refers to any word on 
the gameboard which is used in determining any competitor's score. From 
the above description it will be understood that not all words on a given 
word-building structure are scorable. For example, a word that contains a 
blocking letter (i.e., an opponent's letter that was used to modify an 
intersecting word) is not scorable unless the word ends on the blocking 
letter (in which case it is scorable for the opponent). Also, a word that 
has been further expanded upon (e.g. through modification or rebuilding) 
is not separately scorable, apart from the final version of the word. 
The preferred point value for individual letters is as follows: A, E, I, 0, 
U and L receive 1 point each; D, G, N, R, S and T receive 2 points each; 
B, C, F, H, M, P, V, W and Y receive 4 points each; J, K and X receive 6 
points each; and Q and Z receive 10 points each. The stated values are 
preferably included as scoring characters 112 on the playing pieces 108, 
to facilitate rapid scoring. It should be understood that these point 
values can vary while still retaining all other competitive aspects of the 
game. For example, one embodiment may provide for "Wild Card" letters 
which the competitors may predetermine to have a certain value. 
Since the game board 100 preferably does not include any score markings or 
instructions on the playing spaces 104, as in some other word games, 
scoring may be accomplished without having to remove the playing pieces 
108. 
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, word-building and modifying 
in the various word-building structures 102 is accomplished without regard 
to the content of adjacent words. That is, two words may be built in 
series (i.e. one after the other) in the same line, without having to 
leave a blank playing space between the two words to indicate where the 
first word ends and the second word begins. Also, a word may be arranged 
alongside and parallel to another word (i.e., side by side) without having 
to create additional words from adjacent letters in the parallel words, as 
in popular cross-word puzzles. This enhances a competitor's ability to 
create words and to use all his spaces 104 and all his playing pieces 108. 
However, it should also be understood that an experienced competitor will 
attempt to create as many cross-building words as possible, in order to 
increase his score. 
In the preferred embodiment a competitor's score is determined according to 
the composition of words which are scorable to that competitor; i.e., 
those words he has built on his word-building structure and retained, 
those words which he has modified or remodified on his opponent's 
structure which were not subsequently rebuilt; and the rebuilt words on 
his structure which were not subsequently remodified. Each word has a base 
scoring value which is computed by summing the point values of each letter 
in the word. A word's base score may then be increased according to the 
length of the word, to determine the word's "modified base score." This 
encourages the formation of longer words than a scoring system which 
places equal weight on words of any length, and thereby encourages 
competitors to improve their vocabulary. Words of 2 to 4 letters are 
preferably scored at their base value, words of 5 or 6 letters have double 
base value, and words of 7 or more letters have triple base value. In an 
alternate embodiment, words of 11 to 13 letters may win a bonus of fixed 
point value, e.g. 100 points, in addition to their triple base value. As 
stated earlier, words which can be read in the forward and reverse 
directions may be scored in both directions, effectively doubling the 
scoring value of such words. Also, modified or remodified words which have 
not been further expanded upon receive double their normal value, as 
previously discussed. Thus, a word's scoring value is preferably 
determined by multiplying the word's base scoring value by an integer 
multiplying factor based on the word's length, its ability to be read in 
either direction, and the word's scoring status (i.e., whether built, 
modified, rebuilt or remodified) at the end of a game. 
A competitor is preferably penalized (10 points) for each letter left on 
his word-building structure 102 at the end of the game which does not form 
a word. Ten points are also deducted from a competitor's score for each of 
his undrawn playing pieces 108 (i.e. those left face down on the table) 
and the playing pieces left on his word tray 114 at the end of the game. 
In a variation of the preferred scoring system, undrawn playing pieces may 
be deducted only to the extent of their individual letter values, rather 
than deducting 10 points for each piece regardless of its value. 
In another variation of the preferred embodiment, competitors may add the 
totals of a series of three games in order to decide which one is the 
winner. 
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, scoring bonuses are 
provided for various accomplishments during the play of the game. In the 
preferred embodiment a competitor is awarded 50 bonus points for 
completing the game by all 49 of his marked playing pieces 108. In 
addition, a competitor may be awarded 50 points if he utilizes all 12 
playing pieces present on his word tray 114 during a particular 
word-building phase. 
Another bonus may be provided when a competitor successfully challenges his 
opponent's selection of a word. Such a challenge may be made on the basis 
of incorrect spelling, non-existence of such a word in an appropriate 
dictionary, or other similar bases for objection. In the preferred 
embodiment, a competitor who successfully challenges will win an 
additional 50 points, while his opponent deducts 50 points. If a 
challenger proves to be incorrect, the challenger loses 50 points. 
Challenging may be done only during the offensive phase or at the end of 
the game. 
The scoring of a game will now be described with reference to the following 
table and to FIG. 7, which illustrates the respective word-building 
structures of two competitors after completion of a game. For purposes of 
the following example, the dictionary used to determine if a given word 
qualifies for game use was Webster's New World Dictionary, College 
Edition, Copyright 1964 and 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 
1960, 1962 by the World Publishing Company (Library of Congress Catalog 
Card No.: 64-12965). Excluded from use as qualifying words were: proper 
nouns, abbreviations, single letters (e.g. A), possessive forms (e.g. 
men's), contractions (e.g. don't), hyphenated words, prefixes and 
suffixes. 
In the following table, the "Base Score" column shows the sum of the point 
values for the letters of each of the words on the gameboard, and the 
"Multiplying Factor" indicates the number by which the Base Score is to be 
multiplied in order to arrive at a given word's scoring value as discussed 
above. The "Scoring Value" column indicates either the base scoring value 
of a given word or, if applicable, the Base Score times the given word's 
Multiplying Factor. "Comments" A to J, following the table, indicate how 
the Scoring Values were determined. The table also shows how "Bonus 
Scoring" and "Unused Letters" are included in the final tally. Note that 
the Bonus Scores pertaining to "Challenges" and "Use of All 12 Pieces In 
Word-Building Phases" are by way of example only, since the value of these 
scores cannot be determined from the board arrangement in FIG. 7. The 
"Final Total" for each competitor is determined by summing the "1st 
Subtotal" (the total of the Scoring Values for that competitor's built 
words and modified words) and the "2nd Subtotal" (the total of that 
competitor's Bonus Scoring and Unused Letter scoring). 
TABLE 1 
______________________________________ 
Competitor #1 (FIG. 7a) 
______________________________________ 
Multiplying 
Scoring 
Words Base Score 
Factor Value Comments 
______________________________________ 
Across: 
BECKON 18 2.times. 36 A 
OX 7 7 
BUG 7 7 
LUST 6 6 
Down: 
JOY 11 11 
LAX 8 8 
SLOB 8 8 
AT 3 3 
BE 5 5 
Diagonal Up: 
WEIRD 10 2.times. 20 A 
HI N.S. 0 B 
MA 5 2.times. 10 C 
IS 3 3 
FELT 8 8 
BO 5 5 
Diagonal Down: 
EM 5 2.times. 10 C 
AY 5 5 
OF 5 5 
HA 5 2.times. 10 C 
LI 2 2 
TOG 5 2.times. 10 C,D 
AMAZE 17 2.times. 34 A 
Modified Words 
(FIG. 7b) 
USED 6 2.times. 12 E 
AKIN 10 2.times. 20 F 
OR 3 2.times. 6 F 
BRAD 9 2.times. 18 F 
1st Subtotal: 
269 
______________________________________ 
Points 
______________________________________ 
Bonus Scoring 
Words exceeding 10 letters: None 
0 
Use all 49 marked pieces: No 
0 
Use all 12 pieces in word-building phase: 1.times. 
+50 
Successful challenges: 1 .times. (OZ) 
+50 
Unsuccessful challenges: 1 .times. (EX) 
-50 
Unused Letters 
On board: None 0 
Off board: P,Q,T,I,U (-10 pts. ea.) 
-50 
2nd Subtotal: 0 
Final Total 269 
______________________________________ 
______________________________________ 
Competitor #2 (FIG. 7b) 
______________________________________ 
Multiplying 
Scoring 
Words Base Score 
Factor Value Comments 
______________________________________ 
Across: 
LICE 7 7 
GOT 5 2.times. 10 C 
BUT 7 2.times. 14 C 
QUIZ 22 22 
EX 7 7 
RAP 7 2.times. 14 C,G 
Down: 
EL 2 2 
ET 3 2.times. 6 C 
DRAKE 12 2.times. 24 A 
PIXIE 13 2.times. 26 A 
JOG 9 9 
WO 5 5 
IT 3 2.times. 6 C 
Diagonal Up: 
HOUSE 9 2.times. 18 A 
AY 5 5 
IN 3 3 
Diagonal Down: 
TI 3 2.times. 6 C 
BA 5 5 I 
DYNAMIC 18 3.times. 54 H 
Modified Words 
(FIG. 7a) 
EM 5 4.times. 20 C,F 
JAILS 11 4.times. 44 A,F 
DIVA 8 4.times. 32 C,F 
EN 3 2.times. 6 F 
CAD 7 2.times. 14 F 
MA 5 4.times. 20 C,F 
IF 5 4.times. 20 C,F 
OS 3 4.times. 12 C,F 
First Sub-total 
411 
______________________________________ 
Points 
______________________________________ 
Bonus Scoring 
Words exceeding 10 letters: None 
0 
Use all 49 marked pieces: Yes 
50 
Use all 12 pieces in word-building phase: 2.times. 
100 
Successful challenge: None 
0 
Unsuccessful challenge: 1 .times. (OS) 
-50 
Unused Letters 
On board: O (from challenged word OZ) 
-10 
V (see comment J) -10 
Off board: None 0 
Second Sub-total 80 
First Sub-total Brought Forward 
411 
Final Total 491 
______________________________________ 
COMMENTS 
A: Word length 5 or 6 letters double value. 
B: Not scorable the word HA (diagonal down) was built by Competitor #1 
after the modified word IF (diagonal up) was formed by his opponent, the 
Competitor #2; the coincidental forming of the word HI is not scorable to 
Competitor #1, since the letter I is already part of a modified word 
created by his opponent. Note that IF could not have been formed after HI 
was built, since the modifying letter F would then be separating a portio 
of a completed word, contrary to the rules of the preferred embodiment 
(see discussion above regarding the modification of HI to form HIT). 
C: Forms a word reading forwards and backwards double value. 
D: Alternatively the words TO and GO could be scored for a combined score 
of 6. However, TOG yields the higher scoring value (10), since it can be 
read in reverse. 
E: Modified, rebuilt, and remodified double value for Competitor #1 only 
Note that the word USE would have been scored as 4 points (single value) 
for Competitor #2 had it not been remodified. 
F: Modified word double value. 
G: Either ERA or RAP may be scored; RAP has greater point value. 
H: Word length greater than 6 letters triple value. 
I: Ab is either a proper noun (the eleventh month of the Hebrew calendar) 
or an abbreviation (Alabamine); therefore BA is not scored twice. 
J: Initially, Competitor #2 may have placed the letter V on his bottom 
row, intending to fill in the blank spaces on either side of the V (e.g. 
to form the word HAVE) during a later wordbuilding phase after drawing th 
necessary letters. However the formation of the word OR by Competitor #1' 
use of his modifying letter R prevented Competitor #2 from using his V as 
he had intended. Since Competitor #2 was not able to use the V to form a 
word by the end of the game, that letter is counted against him. 
While the description above discloses specific preferred embodiments, it is 
to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the 
exact constructions, mechanisms and methods of manipulating pieces which 
are illustrated and described, because various modifications of these 
details may be provided without departing from the scope and spirit of the 
invention as defined in the claims. For example, an electronic version of 
this game could be a television screen to display the word building 
structures 102, and a keyboard to enter alphanumeric characters 110 onto 
the screen. Another embodiment may be envisioned whereby a computer, 
having access to a memory bank containing a selection of accepted game 
words, could choose the best words and combinations thereby improving a 
competitor's own game. A computer could also be a convenient opponent, as 
in the present chess computer games, when a player is unable to find 
another person with whom to play. 
It should also be noted that the offensive phase described herein may be 
practiced with many variations from the preferred method of playing, while 
not departing from the invention. For example, the modification of a word 
by an opponent need not involve the capturing of that word's value, but 
may be done for the sole purpose of preventing the competitor who built 
the word from later expanding on it, or from using the blocked playing 
space 104 for building other words in other directions. 
Another adaptation of the invention may include an offensive phase in which 
the modification of a word captures the word's value without blocking the 
space occupied by the modifying letter. In yet another game variation, 
modification of a word may result in provisional capturing and blocking, 
wherein a competitor's rebuilding of the word would unblock the space 
occupied by his opponent's modifying letter (or letters), and permit use 
of these letters by the competitor (who rebuilt the word) to form words in 
directions which intersect the rebuilt word. 
The preferred rotation mechanism 106 disclosed herein includes a platform 
portion 118 having separate base and upper platforms 120 and 122 with a 
ballbearing partition 124 disposed between them. While this arrangement is 
believed to provide the best rotating operation, alternative means for 
rotating a gameboard 100 may be provided while maintaining the basic 
features of the inventive rotation mechanism 106. For example, the 
platform portion 118 may comprise a single platform with a no-friction 
upper surface (e.g. Teflon.TM.) to permit sliding rotation between 
gameboard 100 and the low-friction surface. By combining such a simplified 
platform portion with appropriate connection and locking members, a 
folding gameboard 100 may be locked in an unfolded position and rotated 
relative to the stationary platform portion, while maintaining a desired 
degree of compactness in the rotation mechanism. 
Connection members, which are illustrated above in terms of a bolt 128 and 
knob 130, need not be limited to the threaded fasteners of the preferred 
embodiment. Various types of fasteners may be used for connecting 
gameboard 100 to platform portion 118, to prevent the board 100 from 
buckling at seam 127 in an inverted V-shape in response to downward 
pressure. For example, a ball-lock pin may be inserted through aperture 
127 in gameboard 100 and into a suitably shaped receiving aperture in the 
platform portion 118, to provide the necessary connection of the board to 
the platform portion. Cooperative snapping fasteners may also be used, one 
of which is incorporated in the platform portion 118. Further, the 
connecting member or members may be integral with the platform portion 118 
and/or with gameboard 100, eliminating the necessity for separate pieces 
such as knob 130. 
It may also be appreciated that the gameboard locking member, which is 
discussed above as a flat plate 134, may assume any shape consistent with 
its function of distributing the pressure of knob 130 over sections 132 
and 133 of gameboard 100 as described above. It may also be integrated 
with a connection member or members, when it is desired to reduce the 
number of separate board stabilizing elements. 
From the above description it will be apparent that the subject matter of 
this invention is capable of taking various useful forms, and it is 
intended, therefore, that this disclosure be taken in an exemplary sense 
and the scope of protection afforded be determined by the appended claims.