Patent Publication Number: US-6702287-B1

Title: Method of playing an advanced chess game

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field 
     This invention relates to board games and more particularly to a modified, advanced chess game. 
     2. State of the Art 
     The standard game of chess is well known and is believed by many accomplished players to be excessively known, its possibilities too well understood and predictable, not surprisingly there have been a number of attempts to improve upon the game of chess. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,523, issued to Patrick D. C. Fioriglio in 1998 is one example of a chess improvement having a board that is eight spaces deep and ten spaces wide. Two new pieces “earls,” are introduced each originally lined up between the bishop and knight prior to play each earl is moved two spaces in a first diagonal direction, and the one space in a second diagonal direction. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,334, issued to George William Duke in 1997 discloses an eight by ten board with two new “falcon” pieces. While the falcon pieces cannot jump over other pieces, in other manners tend to exhibit considerable freedom of movement. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,523, which has a ten by ten board with two new “dragon pieces” and four special dragon squares. 
     Other U.S. Pat. Nos., such as 5,421,582, 4,778,187 and 3,652,091 are introducing still further variations, such as facilities enabling the participation of third and fourth players. 
     While much innovation has been directed to chess improvement, few of these games have gained considerable acclaim or popularity. A need definitely exists for an advanced chess game to challenge a large number of expert aficionados of the game, and to reclaim the original games unexpectedness or spontaneity wherein many strategies are still unexplored. While still preserving the spirit and most essential dynamics of the original while it multiplies the possibilities of game positions in a unique way. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a creation of an advanced chess game played upon a game board with eleven files and ten ranks both sides have thirty-three pieces eighteen orthodox pieces and fifteen pieces that have new and unique movement. 
     OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES 
     Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are: 
     (A) to create an expanded chess like game on a larger board with new pieces capable of a unique mode of movement that compliments the orthodox pieces. 
     (B) to expand the board to the eleven by ten board size, to multiply the amount of game positions and play possibilities. 
     (C) to introduce a new powerful “monster” piece that can move into any of the squares in any of the four, three by three square blocks directly diagonally to it and has the unique feature of being able to take two pieces in one move, and can jump any piece. 
     (D) to introduce the “phantom” piece that can move four squares in any direction, can jump off one side of the board and come back on the opposite side to finish its move and can also jump any piece. 
     (E) to introduce the super pawn which can promote to any piece and move vertically any amount of squares on one move, or horizontally any amount of squares on one move, but cannot jump pieces or move backwards, and can only take diagonally one square. 
     (F) to introduce the super knight which can move two squares horizontally and one square vertically, or two squares vertically and one square horizontally, or three squares horizontally and two squares vertically, or three squares vertically and two squares horizontally. 
     (G) to introduce the super bishop which can ricochet off the side once and continue its move and has the ability to jump its own pieces. 
     (H) to introduce the super rook which can jump its own pieces. 
     (I) to introduce the super queen which has the combined moves of the super rook and super bishop. 
     (J) to introduce the super king which has the ability to move one or two squares in one move. 
     (K) to disclose an improved variant of chess with new pieces that have forking variations unmatched by any orthodox piece. 
     (L) further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and ensuing descriptions. 
    
    
     DRAWINGS 
     I have used letters to signify the pieces because the appearance of the pieces is not important, it is only necessary that the pieces be readily distinguishable from each other. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                   
               
               
                 Reference Letters In Drawings 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 SK 
                 White super king 
                 SK 
                 Black super king 
               
               
                   
                 SQ 
                 White super queen 
                 SQ 
                 Black super queen 
               
               
                   
                 M 
                 White monster 
                 M 
                 Black monster 
               
               
                   
                 P 
                 White phantom 
                 P 
                 Black phantom 
               
               
                   
                 SR 
                 White super rook 
                 SR 
                 Black super rook 
               
               
                   
                 SB 
                 White super bishop 
                 SB 
                 Black super bishop 
               
               
                   
                 SN 
                 White super knight 
                 SN 
                 Black super knight 
               
               
                   
                 SP 
                 White super pawn 
                 SP 
                 Black super pawn 
               
               
                   
                 P 
                 White orthodox pawn 
                 P 
                 Black orthodox pawn 
               
               
                   
                 Q 
                 White orthodox queen 
                 Q 
                 Black orthodox queen 
               
               
                   
                 R 
                 White orthodox rook 
                 R 
                 Black orthodox rook 
               
               
                   
                 N 
                 White orthodox knight 
                 N 
                 Black orthodox knight 
               
               
                   
                 B 
                 White orthodox bishop 
                 B 
                 Black orthodox bishop 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Reference letters that are encircled represent black pieces. 
     X—represents the square to which the piece in these drawings can move. 
     An X or piece (reference letter) that is underlined represents that the piece that is on that square is being taken. 
     Arrows represent where a piece moves, with the arrowhead representing the square said moving piece stops on. 
     FIG. 1 is a view of the new, expanded chess game showing the initial position of the game board with the Black pieces at the top and the white pieces at the bottom. 
     FIG. 2 is a representation of the movement pattern of the super king upon a portion of the expanded chess game board. 
     FIG. 3 is a representation of the movement pattern of the monster piece upon a portion of the expanded game board. 
     FIG. 4 is a demonstration of the monster piece taking two pieces in one move. 
     FIG. 5 is a representation of the movement pattern of the phantom piece upon a portion of the expanded game board. 
     FIG. 6 is a representation of the movement pattern of the super queen upon a portion of the expanded chess game board. 
     FIG. 7 is a representation of the movement pattern of the super rook upon a portion of the expanded game board also demonstrating the jumping movement of said piece over another piece. 
     FIG. 8 is a representation of the movement pattern of the super bishop upon a portion of the expanded game board also demonstrating the jumping movement of said piece over another piece. 
     FIG. 9 is a representation of the movement pattern of the super knight upon a portion of the expanded game board. 
     FIG. 10 is a representation of the movement pattern of the super pawn upon a portion of the expanded game board. 
     FIG. 11 is a representation of the super bishop jumping two pieces upon a portion of the expanded game board. 
     FIG. 12 is a representation of the super queen jumping two pieces upon a portion of the expanded game board. 
     FIGS. 13 thru  15  is a representation of the castling move for the white super king, the super king on F 1  moves to either J 1  and the rook moves on the other side to I 1  or the super king moves to B 1  and the rook moves to C 1 . 
     FIGS. 16 thru  18  is a representation of the castling move for the black super king wherein the super king can either move from F 10  to J 10  with the super rook at k 10  moving to i 10  or said super king can move to B 10  and the super rook at A 10  moves to C 10 . 
     FIG. 19 represents a demonstration of the en passant move between the super pawn at B 2  and the super pawn on C 6  where said C 6  super pawn takes said B 2  super pawn by moving to B 5 . 
     FIG. 20 represents the en passant move between two super pawns wherein a white super pawn at H 5  takes a black super pawn at I 6 . 
     FIG. 21 represents a demonstration of the phantom piece jumping three pieces diagonally and taking a black queen at E 5 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Referring in generally to FIGS. 1 thru  21  a method of playing a modified chess game in accordance with the rules of the invention is seen. The game board provides alternating dark squares and white squares arrayed in a ten row by eleven column configuration, with the exception of the king, all orthodox pieces are provided in each color with the addition of a ninth, tenth, and eleventh pawns and fifteen new super pieces: two super rooks, two super bishops, two super knights, two phantoms, one super queen, one super king, one monster, and four super pawns. 
     In general the rules of orthodox chess apply to this invention except as otherwise noted. The moves of orthodox chess are well known and are generally outlined in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,735,523 and 5,690,334 which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference. 
     As seen in FIG. 1 a preferred version of the game board includes a total of one hundred and ten squares alternating light and dark colors arrayed in ten rows and eleven columns. Wherein each row includes eleven squares and each column includes ten squares as seen in FIG.  1 . 
     As stated earlier both opposing sides light and dark pieces include two orthodox rooks, two orthodox knights, two orthodox bishops, one orthodox queen, and eleven orthodox pawns. These pieces move in the same manner allowed in orthodox chess, although due to the increased size of the board, the distance moved may sometimes be greater. 
     As seen in FIGS. 13 thru  18 , the preferred embodiment of the invention, the super king may castle to either side by moving four spaces toward either super rook. The super rook toward which the super king moves is then moved to the square on the opposite side of the super king from where the super rook started. Castling may only take place if the super rook and the super king that participate in the castling have not moved and there are no pieces between the super king and the super rook. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, eleven orthodox pawns are provided for each color at the start of the game. The white side includes eleven orthodox pawns, one orthodox pawn initially located on each square in the third row. The black side includes eleven orthodox pawns, one pawn initially located on each square in the eighth row. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with four super pawns. The white side includes four super pawns initially located on the second row at A 2 , B 2 , J 2  and K 2 . 
     The super pawn has similar movement of the orthodox pawns, for example they take another piece by moving to that pieces square one move diagonally and said orthodox pawn and said super pawn may promote to another piece when they move to the tenth row but said orthodox pawn can only promote to an orthodox piece while said super pawn can promote to any piece, except the super king. 
     As seen in FIG. 10, the super pawn can move any amount of squares horizontally or vertically, but cannot move backwards or jump other pieces. 
     As seen in FIGS. 19 and 20, the super pawn can make an en passant move similarly to said orthodox pawn. But the super pawn can only make said maneuver against another super pawn and said orthodox pawn can only make en passant moves against another orthodox pawn. 
     As seen in FIGS. 19 and 20, the super pawn can make the en passant move anywhere on the board that another super pawn passes said super pawn without stopping to directly challenge it diagonally. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with two super rooks. The white side includes two super rooks initially located at squares A 1  and K 1 . The black side includes two super rooks initially located at squares A 10  and K 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 7, the super rooks have the same movement as orthodox rooks with the exception that said super rooks may jump all of their own pieces except the super king which they may only jump during a castling move. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with two super knights. The white side includes two super knights initially located at squares C 1  and J 1 . The black side includes two super knights initially located at squares C 10  and J 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 9, said super knights have the same movement as orthodox knights but additionally have the ability to move to a square three squares in either horizontal direction and two squares in either vertical direction. And said super knight may also move to a square three squares in either vertical direction and two squares in either horizontal direction. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with two super bishops. The white side includes two super bishops initially located on the first row at B 1  and I 1 . The black side includes two super bishops initially located on the tenth row at B 10  and I 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 8, the super bishop has the same movement as the orthodox bishop with the exception that the super bishop may jump all of its own pieces except the super king. 
     As seen in FIG. 8, said super bishop may ricochet off the side of the board and continue its move following the same diagonal until it stops voluntarily, or it takes a piece or it reaches another side. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with a super king. The white side has said super king initially located at F 1 . The black side has said super king initially located at F 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the super king can move one or two squares in either horizontal, vertical, or diagonal direction it cannot jump pieces and it can only move one square while in check. Said super king may not move into check. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with one super queen. The white side has said super queen initially located at E 1 . The black side has said super queen initially located at E 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 6, the super queen has the combined movement of the super rook and the super bishop. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with one monster piece. The white side has said monster piece initially located on G 1 . The black side has said monster piece initially located at G 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 3, the monster piece can move to any square in four square sets of three squares by three squares comprising four sets of nine squares each set of nine squares being directly diagonal to said monster piece. 
     As seen in FIG. 4, the monster piece may take any two pieces that are within its field of movement in one move, and may also jump any piece. 
     As seen in FIG. 1, each color is provided with two phantom pieces. The white side includes two phantom pieces initially located on the first row at D 1  and H 1 . The black side includes two phantoms initially located on the tenth row at D 10  and H 10 . 
     As seen in FIG. 5, the phantom piece can move one, two, three or four squares in either horizontal, vertical or diagonal directions. 
     As demonstrated in FIG. 21, the phantom piece can jump any piece on the board when making its move. 
     As seen in FIG. 5, the phantom piece has the very unique ability of moving off the left side or the right side of the board and can come back on the opposite side completing said pieces move, but the phantom piece cannot move off or come back on the top or bottom of the playing board. 
     The previous described version of the present invention has many advantages, including a primary advantage of providing a novel method of playing a modified chess game with eight novel pieces providing new and interesting moves resulting in more complex and entertaining play. 
     Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel method of playing a modified chess game having a modified playing field consisting of eleven columns by ten rows. Such an eleven by ten playing board results in a greater percentage of open area and consequently a greater number of opening move sequences. 
     A still further advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel method of playing a modified chess game wherein new pieces, the monster, phantom, super queen, super bishop, and super knight result in the introduction of many new, entertaining and complex forking strategies. 
     The invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combinations of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail and with reference to certain preferred versions other versions are possible. For example while in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lower right corner of the board is white, it could alternatively be black. Similarly in other versions of the game the pieces could be set up differently by arranging the pieces in the second and ninth rows or the first and tenth rows differently to begin the game. Also, while in a preferred version of the invention castling results in the king moving four squares toward the super rook in an alternate version of the invention the super king may move one, two, or three squares. Also, folding boards, sectional boards, and the like may be used. And still further the game could be played without the orthodox pieces by setting the pieces up with only two rows for white at row one and row two and two rows for black set up at row nine and row ten utilizing only the super pieces the game would have the same set up of pieces on the first row and the tenth row but the second and ninth rows would have eleven super pawns one for each square of row two and one for each square of row nine, and the super pawns would have one new rule they could only move one, two, or three moves on the first move. And the advanced chess game described herein might also be played utilizing a computer screen, without any change in the moving and capturing power of the pieces, a transient image upon the screen replacing the traditional permanently embodied playing boards. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the preferred versions disclosed. 
     In compliance with the U.S. Patent Laws, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to methodical features. The invention is not, however, limited to the specific features described, since the means herein disclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.