Patent Publication Number: US-2010123287-A1

Title: Board Game and Method of Play

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable. 
     NOTICE OF COPYRIGHTS AND TRADE DRESS 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosures as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to pawn advancement games, and more particularly to pawn advancement board games where multiple strategic techniques determine pawn advancement. 
     DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART 
     Pawn advancement games are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,827 issued on Feb. 25, 2003 to Watson teaches such a device. Such devices are made to allow players to make strategic choices to advance their pawns as quickly as possible to a destination. However, despite the development of many approaches to pawn advancement games, these approaches often have significant limits. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 715,474 to Gaylor on Dec. 9, 1902, teaches a pawn advancement board game where two players play against each other. Each player starts with a line of pieces on one side of the board. The first player who gets all of the player&#39;s pieces into the opponent&#39;s starting row wins the game. However, this game has a limited number of rules and can only be played by two players. Therefore, a game is needed that allows for a greater variety of players and allows for a greater variety of playing strategies to stimulate players and provide more reliance on the skills of players. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,827 issued on Feb. 25, 2003 to Watson teaches a pawn advancement board game with pegs and dice. The objective of the game is to be the first player to get all of the player&#39;s pegs into the home-base row of the opponent on the opposite side of the board. The game includes the ability to play with more than two players and provides some variations in pawn advancement. However, the variations in pawn advancement are limited to direct movement of each player&#39;s own pawns based on the value of the dice rolled. Therefore, a game is needed that allows for more stimulating alternatives of moving players&#39; pawns. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,124,213 to Kaplowitz on Nov. 7, 1978 teaches a pawn advancement board game apparatus with four sides so that four players can play. This game further teaches using playing pieces having four different colors and finishing zones with correspondingly matching colors. The Kaplowitz game provides an exciting alternative of moving player pawns by adding a second color to each playing piece. The second color is used to indicate the current status of the playing piece, whether the piece is free to move or is frozen. However, this game only uses spotted dice and the advancement of the pieces is still limited to the value of the rolled dice. Therefore, a game is needed that provides more creative ways of using dice and provides an alternative to using only spotted dice. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,744 to Patracuolia on May 28, 1991 teaches a method and apparatus for playing a two player board game where playing pieces are moved from a starting position to a destination zone. The playing pieces are two-sided and can be turned over to change the rank of the piece. The Patracuolia game teaches the idea of each player using a set of dice having a corresponding color with the player&#39;s playing pieces. This game also teaches the use of a non-spotted “doubling-cube” die to keep track of the stakes of the game, as is done in games like backgammon. However, this game teaches away from using six-sided dice with six different values and does not teach the use of a non-spotted die to affect the movement of the playing pieces. In particular, the Patracuolia game does not teach the concept of using dice for players to assign the rolled values of spotted dice to other players. Therefore, a game is needed that uses non-spotted dice to assign values of the rolled spotted dice to other players. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,232 to Sheppard et al. on Apr. 29, 1986 teaches an automobile board game having unique color coded dice. The game simulates automobile ownership and operation. The board game provides an inner playing area and a peripheral playing area. The playing pieces are controlled by using dice having at least two different types of indicia, spots and color. The identity of the playing piece moved and the extent of movement is determined by rolled results of the dice color and number of spots. This game provides a creative alternative method of moving playing pieces. However, players must follow the rolled results of the dice determined by chance and players do not have the option to choose how the rolled values are assigned. Therefore, a game is needed that provides players with greater strategic choice in how the rolled values of the dice are assigned to the playing pieces. 
     Therefore, there is a need for a pawn advancement game that allows for a greater variety of players and allows for a greater variety of playing strategies to stimulate players and provide greater reliance on the skills of players. Clearly, a need exists for a game that allows for more stimulating alternatives of moving players&#39; pawns. Such a game would provide more creative ways of using dice and provide an alternative to using only spotted dice. Further, the needed game would use non-spotted dice to assign values of the rolled spotted dice to other players. Also, the game would provide players with greater strategic choice in how the rolled values of the dice are assigned to the playing pieces. The present invention accomplishes these objectives. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present device is a board game for playing a variety of games and comprises a playing board having a board surface with a plurality of spaces in a central area of the playing board. The spaces form a game grid with a plurality of borders surrounding the game grid. Each border has a different color and has an OUT area, a YES area, a NO area, a WINNERS area, and a PLAY area. 
     A spotted die for each player is used for rolling. Each player&#39;s spotted die matches the color of each player&#39;s designated border area. A numbered die for each player is used for assigning values from the spotted dice to other players. Each player&#39;s numbered die matches the color of each player&#39;s designated border area. A rolling cup is used for rolling all spotted dice. Each player is provided at least one pawn with the color of each player&#39;s pawn matching the color of each player&#39;s border area. 
     A plurality of games may be played on the playing board with each player being assigned to a different colored border. Each player has an objective to move each player&#39;s colored pawns across the game grid starting from the player&#39;s border to the last line of the game grid farthest away from the player&#39;s border. The advancement of each pawn is determined by the rolled values of the spotted dice, the assigned values of the numbered dice, and the switching of pawns when multiples of the spotted dice are rolled. Depending upon the rules selected by the players, the first player moving all of the player&#39;s pawns into the player&#39;s WINNERS area is declared the winner. 
     The present invention is a pawn advancement game that allows for a greater variety of players and allows for a greater variety of playing strategies to stimulate players and provide greater reliance on the skills of players. Further, the present device is a game that allows for more stimulating alternatives of moving players&#39; pawns. This invention provides more creative ways of using dice and provides an alternative to using only spotted dice. Also, the present invention uses non-spotted dice to assign values of the rolled spotted dice to other players. Finally, the invention provides players with greater strategic choice in how the rolled values of the dice are assigned to the playing pieces. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top plan view of a playing board of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a rolling cup, a spotted die, a numbered die, and a pawn; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a playing board, illustrating four different colors. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of and enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments. 
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, the words “herein,” “above,” “below” and words of similar import, when used in this application, shall refer to this application as a whole and not to any particular portions of this application. When the claims use the word “or” in reference to a list of two or more items, that word covers all of the following interpretations of the word: any of the items in the list, all of the items in the list and any combination of the items in the list. 
     With respect to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a board game  10 . The board game  10  is for playing a plurality of games and comprises a playing board  20  having a board surface  25  with a plurality of spaces  30  in a central area  26  of the playing board  20 . The spaces  30  form a game grid  40  with a plurality of borders  50  surrounding the game grid  40 . Each border  50  has a different color and has an OUT area  51 , a YES area  52 , a NO area  53 , a WINNERS area  54 , and a PLAY area  55 . In a preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the number of borders  50  is exactly four. In another embodiment, the game grid  40  is preferably a plurality of same sized squares  35 . Preferably, the game grid  40  is exactly sixteen squares  35  wide and sixteen squares  35  long creating a game grid  40  with a total of two-hundred fifty-six same sized squares  35 . 
     The playing board  20  is preferably a rigid cardboard or other stock material, preferably having fold lines (not shown) so as to allow the playing board  20  to be folded to fit into a packaging box, or the like (not shown). The board surface  25  may be a printed paper stock adhered to the playing board  20 , for example. The playing board  20  may also be made of a flexible sheet material, such as paper, plastic, or fabric, and capable of being rolled and stored in a rolled position. Though physical embodiments of the board game  10  are preferred, the board game  10  and all elements of the invention are not limited to only physical embodiments. The board game  10  further includes virtual embodiments of the invention, such as computer versions and online internet versions. Likewise, travel versions of the invention include portable physical versions and portable computerized versions. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a spotted die  60  for each player is used for rolling. Each player&#39;s spotted die  60  matches the color of each player&#39;s border area  50 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 2 , a numbered die  70  for each player is used for assigning. Each player&#39;s numbered die  70  matches the color of each player&#39;s border area  50 . In a preferred embodiment, each spotted die  60  is a six-sided spotted die  65  with the values from one to six. Also in  FIG. 2 , each numbered die  70  is preferably a six-sided numbered die  75  with the values from one to six. Further illustrated in  FIG. 2  is a rolling cup  80  for rolling all spotted die  60 . In  FIG. 2 , at least one pawn  90  for each player with the color of each player&#39;s pawn  90  matching the color of each player&#39;s border area  50 . The spotted die  60 , the numbered die  70 , the rolling cup  80 , and the pawn  90  can all be made from a hard durable material, such as a hard plastic material, though other materials can be used such as wood or metal. 
     In  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the board game  10  illustrates a playing board  20  with four different colored borders  50 .  FIG. 3  further illustrates two different sets of pawns  90 , spotted dice  60 , and numbered dice  70  with colors matching two different borders  50 . In a preferred embodiment, the game grid  40  is preferably a light blue color. In another preferred embodiment of the board game  10  with four borders  50 , the four colors of the borders  50  include yellow, green, orange, and red, though different colors can be used in different embodiments. 
     A plurality of games may be played on the playing board  20  with each player being assigned to a different colored border  50 . Each player is provided at least one pawn  90  of the same color as the assigned border  50 . Also, each player has an objective to move each player&#39;s colored pawns  90  across the game grid  40  starting from the player&#39;s border  50  to the last line of the game grid  40  farthest away from the player&#39;s border  50 . The advancement of each pawn  90  is determined by the rolled values of the spotted dice  60 , the assigned values of the numbered dice  70 , and the switching of pawns  90  when multiples of the spotted dice  60  are rolled. Depending upon the rules selected by the players, the first player moving all of the player&#39;s pawns  90  into the player&#39;s WINNERS area  54  is declared the winner. 
     A first game may be played with the board game  10  with the following steps:
         a) providing the board game  10 ;   b) instructing each player to be assigned to a different colored border  50 ;   c) instructing each player to place the player&#39;s own pawns  90  into the player&#39;s own OUT area  51  with each player using the same number of pawns  90 ;   d) instructing each player to roll each player&#39;s spotted die  60  to determine who is the first roller, with the player having the highest roll becoming the roller starting the game and play proceeding to the left after the first roller&#39;s turn;   e) instructing the roller to put all of the players&#39; spotted dice  60  into the rolling cup  80 ;   f) instructing the roller to roll the spotted dice  60  all at one time;   g) instructing the roller to choose one spotted die  60  of any color to use for the movement of only one of the roller&#39;s pawns  90 ;   h) instructing the roller to make a move with one of the roller&#39;s pawns  90  and if none of the roller&#39;s pawns  90  can be moved the entire turn is lost;   i) instructing that the roller has to roll a six to bring a pawn  90  into the PLAY area  55 ;   j) instructing that when the roller rolls a six on any spotted die  60 , the roller can use the six to move a pawn  90  from the roller&#39;s OUT area  51  into the PLAY area  55 ;   k) instructing that if the roller has used a six on any spotted die  60  to move a pawn  90  into the PLAY area  55  that pawn  90  cannot be moved onto the game grid  40  until the roller&#39;s next turn;   l) instructing that if the roller has a pawn  90  already on the game grid  40  or the PLAY area  55 , the roller can choose to move such pawns  90  on any turn;   m) instructing that the roller may move pawns  90  from one space  30  to another space  30  with each space  30  counting as one spot on the chosen spotted die  60 ;   n) instructing that the roller may move pawns  90  forward, left or right, but a pawn  90  can never be moved backwards or diagonally;   o) instructing that the roller may not move a pawn  90  to a space  30  that the pawn  90  just left until the next turn;   p) instructing that the roller may use a six on a chosen spotted die  60  to move a pawn  90  that is already on the game grid  40  if the player wants to use the six that way instead of using the six to bring another pawn  90  from the OUT area  51  into the PLAY area  55 ;   q) instructing that the roller may use multiple sixes to bring multiple pawns  90  into the PLAY area  55 , but multiples can not be used any other time to move more than one of the roller&#39;s own pawns  90 ;   r) instructing that if the roller brings a pawn  90  or pawns  90  into the PLAY area  55 , the roller cannot make any other moves during that turn;   s) instructing the roller has to use all of the moves on the chosen spotted die  60  with only one pawn  90 , but the pawn  90  can be moved sideways in one direction only to use up extra moves, except to finish;   t) instructing that the roller can move a pawn  90  sideways for any reason that the roller wants, but a pawn  90  can not be moved sideways if the pawn  90  would be moving back into a space  30  that the pawn  90  just left, until the next turn;   u) instructing that the roller can start anywhere on the first row of the game grid  40  on the roller&#39;s side and finish anywhere on the last row of the game grid  40  on the opposite side of the playing board  20 ;   v) instructing that a pawn  90  has to finish on the last row of the game grid  40  by moving forward with an exact count and cannot move sideways first to use up extra moves;   w) instructing that the starting space  30  is chosen when the pawn  90  is brought onto the game grid  40  from the PLAY area  55  and the starting space  30  is counted as move one;   x) instructing that once the player removes the player&#39;s hand from a pawn  90  that pawn  90  movement is complete and the player is not allowed to change the move;   y) instructing that the object of the game is to go across the game grid  40  to the opposite side;   z) instructing that a pawn  90  is finished when the pawn  90  lands on any space  30  in the last line of the game grid  40  across from where the pawn  90  started and the pawn  90  will be placed in the WINNERS area  54  that matches the pawn&#39;s  90  color; and   aa) upon one player moving all of the player&#39;s pawns  90  into the player&#39;s WINNERS area  54 , that player has won the game.       

     The method of playing the first game may be enhanced by including an ability to bump other player&#39;s pawns  90  with the following steps of:
         a) instructing that if more than one player is playing, the roller can bump other players&#39; pawns  90  back to the PLAY area  55 ;   b) instructing that the roller does not have to end the roller&#39;s move exactly on a space  30  with another pawn  90  to bump it, but the roller&#39;s pawn  90  has to pass over the space  30  with the bumped pawn  90  during the move and if there are any more spots on the chosen spotted die  60 , the rest of the move has to be made after the bump;   c) instructing that the bumped space  30  counts as a spot on the chosen spotted die  60 ;   d) instructing that bumping another player&#39;s pawn  90  can be done by moving sideways in one direction only, if the roller wants to;   e) instructing that if the roller moves over a space  30  or lands on a space  30  with another pawn  90  of a different color, the other pawn  90  is bumped whether or not the roller wants the pawn  90  bumped;   f) instructing that the roller cannot bump the roller&#39;s own pawn  90  and cannot share a space  30  with any other pawn  90  including one of the roller&#39;s other pawns  90 ;   g) instructing that sharing a space  30  would cause a bump;   h) instructing that a roller can not pass over one of the roller&#39;s own pawns  90  as this would be a bump;   i) instructing that a roller can go around another pawn  90  by moving sideways in one direction only, to avoid a bump or to get around the roller&#39;s own pawn; and   j) instructing that a roller can bump more than one pawn  90  in a single move.       

     An example of bumping will provide additional clarification. If the red player rolled a six and there was a yellow pawn  90  two spaces  30  ahead and an orange pawn  90  five spaces  30  ahead, the red player could move six spaces  30 , bumping both the other players on the way. 
     The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced by including an ability to assign the value of spotted dice  60  to other players with the following steps of:
         a) instructing that after the roller chooses the value of one of the spotted dice  60  to use for the roller&#39;s own pawn  90  move, the roller can choose to assign the values of the other spotted dice  60  to the other players;   b) instructing that assignments are tracked with the numbered dice  70  by each player being assigned a value, turning that player&#39;s own numbered die  70  to the value being assigned by the roller, and moving the numbered die  70  from the YES area  52  to that player&#39;s PLAY area  55 ;   c) instructing that when a player&#39;s turn comes and the player has a numbered die  70  in the PLAY area  55  with an assigned value, the player does not get to roll, but has to move according to the assigned value;   d) instructing that after a player has played the assigned value the player moves the player&#39;s numbered die  70  to the NO area  53  to show that the assigned value has been used and the player cannot be assigned a value for the next round;   e) instructing that any player without an assigned value would roll as usual when it is that player&#39;s turn;   f) instructing that an assignment can not be done to a player unless that player has at least one pawn  90  on the game grid  40  or in the PLAY area  55 ;   g) instructing that any value can be assigned or ignored by the roller, the decision is the roller&#39;s choice only;   h) instructing that values of the spotted dice  60  can only be assigned based on matching colors and the roller can only assign the value of a colored spotted die  60  to a player with the same color of pawns,   i) instructing that the roller cannot assign the value of the roller&#39;s own spotted die  60  to another player;   j) instructing that if the roller uses a value from another player&#39;s colored spotted die  60  for the roller&#39;s move that value cannot be assigned to another player;   k) instructing that each player can only be assigned a value for one turn at a time, after being assigned a value that player has to be allowed a turn to roll before that player can be assigned a value again, ensuring that each player is allowed to roll at least every other round; and   l) instructing that at the beginning of a new roll, if the roller&#39;s numbered die  70  is in the NO area  53 , the numbered die  70  must be moved to the YES area  52 , indicating that the roller can be assigned a value during the next round.       

     An example of assigning will provide additional clarification. For instance, there are four players and green rolls. A six is rolled on the green spotted die  60 , a one is on the red spotted die  60 , a two is on the orange spotted die  60  and a three is on the yellow spotted die  60 . The roller can use the six on the green spotted die  60  for the roller, assign the one to the red player, assign the two to the orange player and assign the three to the yellow player. The red player would turn the red numbered die  70  to the number one and move it from the YES area  52  to the red PLAY area  55 . Each of the other players would do the same thing with each player&#39;s own color numbered die  70 , setting the numbered die  70  to the number that the player was assigned and moving their numbered die  70  to the PLAY area  55 . The roller cannot assign the value of a red spotted die  60  to the yellow player. The roller can also not give the roller&#39;s own number to another player. For example if the orange player rolls a one on the orange spotted die  60 , the value of the orange spotted die  60  cannot be assigned to any of the other players. 
     The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced by including the additional step of overriding as follows:
         a) instructing that a subsequent roller can assign a new value to a player who already has a value currently assigned to that player&#39;s numbered die  70 .       

     An example of overriding will provide additional clarification. For instance, the yellow player rolls a yellow four, an orange six, a green three and a red one. The yellow player uses the six, assigns the three to green and the one to red. Orange rolls next and rolls a green one. Orange can choose to assign the one to green, forcing green to give up the three that was assigned by yellow. When green&#39;s turn comes, green has to move the one because one is the last number assigned to green. 
     The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced by including an ability to switch the location of players&#39; pawns  90  with the following steps of:
         a) instructing that if two-of-a-kind, three-of-a-kind or four-of-kind is rolled this is called a multiple and pawn  90  switching can be done;   b) instructing that any spotted die  60  that has a value matching any of the other spotted dice  60  is part of the multiple and each pawn  90  of the same color as one of the spotted dice  60  in the multiple can be switched by the roller;   c) instructing that the roller switches two pawns  90  of different colors by moving the first pawn  90  to the original location of the second pawn  90  and moving the second pawn  90  to the original location of the first pawn  90 ;   d) instructing that any spotted die  60  that has a number that does not match any of the other spotted dice  60  is not part of the multiple and any player with a pawn  90  of that color cannot be forced to switch;   e) instructing that the roller can switch one of the roller&#39;s own pawns  90  only if the color of the roller&#39;s pawn  90  matches one of the spotted dice  60  in the multiple;   f) instructing that the roller does not have to do any switching if the roller does not want to switch;   g) instructing that the roller can choose any two colors of the spotted dice  60  in the multiple and can switch the places of two pawns  90  having the chosen two colors;   h) instructing that the roller gets to choose which pawns  90  are switched even for the other player&#39;s pawns  90 ;   i) instructing that switching is considered a move by the roller if the roller switches the roller&#39;s own pawn  90  with another player&#39;s pawn  90 ;   j) instructing that if the roller switches other players&#39; pawns  90  but does not switch the roller&#39;s own pawn  90  then the roller would still have to use another spotted die  60  to move the roller&#39;s own pawn  90 ;   k) instructing that any spotted die&#39;s  60  value not used in some other way can be assigned by the roller to the player with the matching color numbered die  70 ;   l) instructing that a switch can not move any pawn  90  into the OUT area  51  or into the WINNERS area  54 ;   m) instructing that a switch can not move any pawn  90  out of the OUT area  51  or out of the WINNERS area  54 ;   n) instructing that the player can switch a pawn  90  on the game grid  40  with a pawn  90  in a PLAY area  55  by moving the pawn  90  in the PLAY area  55  to the place where the pawn  90  on the game grid  40  is located and the pawn  90  on the game grid  40  is moved back to that pawn&#39;s corresponding colored PLAY area  55 ; and   o) instructing that a roller cannot put a pawn  90  of a particular color into the PLAY area  55  of a different color.       

     An example of switching will provide additional clarification. For instance, if red has rolled a multiple with a red spotted die  60  and a yellow spotted die  60  having the same value, red can switch one of red&#39;s pawns  90  with one of yellow&#39;s pawns  90 . If red has a pawn  90  in the red PLAY area  55  and wants to switch with a yellow pawn  90  on the game grid  40 , then the yellow pawn  90  would be moved back to yellow&#39;s PLAY area  55 . The red pawn  90  would then take the space  30  where the yellow pawn  90  had been on the game grid  40 . If red wants to switch a red pawn  90  on the game grid  40  with a yellow pawn  90  on the game grid  40 , the red pawn  90  is placed into the space  30  where the yellow pawn  90  is sitting and the yellow pawn  90  is then moved to the space  30  where the red pawn  90  had been. 
     The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced by including an ability to form teams with the following steps of:
         a) instructing that the game can also be played with partners forming teams;   b) instructing that the first player to get all of that player&#39;s pawns  90  into the WINNERS area  54  wins the game for that player&#39;s team;   c) instructing that a player&#39;s bumps, assignments and switches can be used to assist a player&#39;s own partner or slow down the other team&#39;s players;   d) instructing that the roller can still not assign the value of the player&#39;s own spotted die  60  to another player not even the player&#39;s partner;   e) instructing that partners have to play across from each other and not next to each other; and   f) instructing that partners are not allowed to discuss strategy during the game.       

     The method of playing the first game may be further enhanced by following the additional steps of:
         a) instructing that the length of time needed to play the game can be varied by using fewer pawns  90  for each player;   b) instructing that the length of time needed to play the game can be varied by using fewer players; and   c) instructing that the game can be made easier and shorter by not doing bumping, assigning or switching.       

     Providing variations to play a shorter or easier game is especially useful when playing with young children. Playing with a total of eight to nine pawns  90  will make the game last about one hour for a game grid  40  with two hundred fifty six squares  35  if bumping, assigning and switching are all included. 
     An additional game for a single player may be played with the board game  10  with the following steps of:
         a) providing the board game  10 ;   b) instructing using only one player;   c) instructing the player plays by score;   d) instructing the player to be assigned to a colored border  50 ;   e) instructing the player to select one or more pawns  90  matching the color of the player&#39;s border  50 ;   f) instructing the player to place the player&#39;s pawns  90  into the player&#39;s OUT area  51 ;   g) instructing the player to use only one spotted die  60 ;   h) instructing the player be the permanent roller and to take continuous turns rolling the spotted die  60  until game play is finished;   i) instructing that the roller has to roll a six to bring a pawn  90  into the PLAY area  55 ;   j) instructing that when the roller rolls a six, the roller can use the six to move a pawn  90  from the roller&#39;s OUT area  51  into the PLAY area  55 ;   k) instructing that if the roller has a pawn  90  already on the game grid  40  or the PLAY area  55 , the roller can choose to move such pawns  90  on any turn;   l) instructing that the roller may move pawns  90  from one space  30  to another space  30  with each space  30  counting as one spot on the spotted die  60 ;   m) instructing that the roller may move pawns  90  forward, left or right, but a pawn  90  can never be moved backwards or diagonally;   n) instructing that the roller may not move a pawn  90  to a space  30  that the pawn  90  just left until the next roll;   o) instructing that the roller may use a six to move a pawn  90  that is already on the game grid  40  if the player wants to use the six that way instead of using the six to bring another pawn  90  from the OUT area  51  into the PLAY area  55 ;   p) instructing the roller has to use all of the moves on the spotted die  60  with only one pawn  90 , but the pawn  90  can be moved sideways in one direction only to use up extra moves, except to finish;   q) instructing that the roller can move a pawn  90  sideways for any reason that the roller wants, but a pawn  90  can not be moved sideways if the pawn  90  would be moving back into a space  30  that the pawn  90  just left until the next roll;   r) instructing that the roller can start anywhere on the first row of the game grid  40  on the roller&#39;s side and finish anywhere on the last row of the game grid  40  on the opposite side of the playing board  20 ;   s) instructing that a pawn  90  has to finish on the last row of the game grid  40  by moving forward with an exact count and cannot move sideways first to use up extra moves;   t) instructing that the starting space  30  is chosen when the pawn  90  is brought onto the game grid  40  from the PLAY area  55  and the starting space  30  is counted as move one;   u) instructing that once the player removes the player&#39;s hand from a pawn  90  that pawn  90  movement is complete and the player is not allowed to change the move;   v) instructing that the object of the game is to go across the game grid  40  to the opposite side;   w) instructing that a pawn  90  is finished when the pawn  90  lands on any space  30  in the last line of the game grid  40  across from where the pawn  90  started and the pawn  90  will be placed in the WINNERS area  54  that matches the pawn&#39;s  90  color;   x) upon the player moving all of the player&#39;s pawns  90  into the player&#39;s WINNERS area  54  the game play is finished;   y) instructing that the score is tallied by counting the number of rolls used to have all pawns  90  reach the opposite side of the playing board  20 ; and   z) instructing that the objective of the game is to obtain the lowest score possible depending on the number of pawns  90  used and the size of the game grid  40 .       

     While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, a hexagonal version of the game can be made to include six different colored borders  50  to allow six players to play at the same time. Also, more or fewer spaces  30  can be used to create a longer or shorter version of the game. Likewise, to create a longer or shorter version of the game, more or fewer pawns  90  can be used, as well as dice  60 , 70  with more or fewer sides can be used. In addition, different colors and patterns can be used to distinguish the different borders  50 , pawns  90 , and dice  60 , 70 . Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. While the invention has been illustrated and described, the invention is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
     These and other changes can be made to the invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. 
     Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention. 
     The above detailed description of the embodiments of the invention is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed above or to the particular field of usage mentioned in this disclosure. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Also, the teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. 
     All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. 
     Changes can be made to the invention in light of the above “Detailed Description.” While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the invention can be practiced in many ways. Therefore, implementation details may vary considerably while still being encompassed by the invention disclosed herein. As noted above, particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. 
     In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention under the claims. 
     While certain aspects of the invention are presented below in certain claim forms, the inventor contemplates the various aspects of the invention in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventor reserves the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the invention.