Patent Publication Number: US-2016236072-A1

Title: Modified game board and system for existing board game

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/116,987 filed on Feb. 17, 2015. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to a modified game board that provides a dynamic expansion of the traditional board games such as chess and checkers. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Chess is a well-known board game that utilizes 16 pieces that are moved around a 64-square 8 by 8 grid. It is a popular game that has been played for hundreds of years. The setup and movement of the game has been fairly consistent and involves a series of moves based upon the type of chess piece that is utilized. Each player begins the game with 16 pieces that include a king, queen, rooks, knights, bishops and pawns. These pieces all move in different methods across the 64 squares provided on the grid. This particular board game can however be modified to increase the strategy and tactics that are used to win the game. Traditionally once the opposing side captures a player&#39;s king that opposing side is declared the winner. Some games are played within certain time limits placed on move selection. However the movements and strategies are usually consistent throughout. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a game board for modifying traditional board games comprising: a grid, where the grid includes 196 spaces; a square configuration of the grid, where the square configuration includes a 14×14 square configuration, wherein the grid is adapted for use a plurality of board games; and a border surrounding the grid. The plurality of games may include chess, checkers, 360 chess and last man standing. The game of last man standing is a four man game of chess, which includes assigning point values for each player&#39;s pieces. The present invention includes a method of modifying checkers using a 14×14 game board including the steps of: aligning checker pieces onto the 14×14 game board in four rows of seven checkers; and engaging in a game of checkers by proceeding with movement of the checkers over the 14×14 game board. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  depicts a modified grid for use with a traditional board game in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to a chessboard that utilizes a 14×14 square grid as opposed to the traditional 8×8 grid. As a consequence, 196 squares are available for movement with the 16 pieces of a traditional chess game. The present invention further includes modifications of rules that are normally associated with chess. The movement of the chess pieces remains consistent as associated with a traditional chess game. Further the main objective is to capture the king of the opposing player. Further the capture of opposing pieces across the chessboard also remains consistent. However the expanded game board increases the geography of movement and therefore further strategies are available for each player due to this increased space. 
     In addition to a traditional chess game, the present grid of the present invention may also be used to play other board games such as checkers, 360 chess, a modified game of checkers (more board checkers) and last man standing. These variations provide further use of the 14×14 grid on the present invention. Modifications to the rules may be adjusted as necessary such as in using the board for 360 chess if the pawn leaves the centerboard, the pawn would therefore require an additional three steps for the exchange for a queen as what is normally associated with the pawn. With respect to more board checkers, the board may be arranged in four rows of seven checkers. The checkers game would include movements normally associated with checkers. 
     With respect to last man standing, other modifications are provided. Five games may be played, one for each player and then one for the board where the high score of the player results in a win. The points associated with the various pieces would include 5 points for the pawn, 25 for the castle, 20 for the knight, 20 for the bishop, 50 for the queen, 100 for the king and 200 for completing the battle. If a player&#39;s king is taken the rest of the pieces are frozen in place until taken by other players for points. As associated with the name of the game, the game is complete when the last man or last king is standing on the board. Further the players may agree to a tie, and then the battle score is split. The red squares indicate target positions, where the piece is not a target unless placed within a red square. Further, a player&#39;s king must be on the battlefield to strike another player on or off the battlefield 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a depiction of a game board according to the present invention is displayed. As shown a game board  100  includes a grid  42 . A border  50  surrounds the grid  42  and the grid  42  is comprised of rows  48  and columns  45 . As a result the present invention utilizes the board  100  and modification of traditional chess rules to create a dynamic board game using traditional chess pieces. 
     Preferably, the Game Board  100  is utilized for a game entitled Last Man Standing as described above. The Board  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  includes a dark line, which indicates the traditional board space of a chess game. Outside of this traditional 8-by-8 board are three additional rows and three additional columns. The board is numbered on the outside of the traditional 8-by-8 configuration where rows A, B, and C are set behind the border provided. Rows A and B represent the starting positions of the chess pieces. All traditional chess pieces are used in this particular game: a king, queen, two bishops, two knights, two rooks and eight pawns. The eight pawns are placed in row A and the remaining pieces are placed in row B. This particular game board and configuration also shows a north, east, west, and south position. These positions are associated with each player of the objective game of Last Man Standing, a four person game of chess. One player starts at the north side, a second player starts at the south side, a third player starts at the east side and the final player starts on the west side. The sun rises in the east, so the East player is number 1, going counter clockwise, the south player is number 2, the west player is number 3 and the north player is number 4. These players&#39; pieces are placed beyond or outside of the border or center board of the game. Players may open up moves throughout the board even in row C behind the initial configuration. Pieces are not a target for opposing pieces until pieces are placed into the center board, the 8-by-8 traditional space. However, once the player places the king within the center board that player may attack any other piece in any position on the 14-by-14 space. As a result pieces may be attacked from the rear positions using kings, rooks or other pieces available to the players. Once a player&#39;s king is taken however all the player&#39;s pieces are frozen in place and the player is basically is out of the game. The pieces remain on the board for the taking of the opposing players until a final player is the last man standing. Point assessments are associated with each piece utilized on the board. Below is a table indicating points associated with each piece: 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE A 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PIECE 
                 POINTS 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 King 
                 100 
               
               
                   
                 Queen 
                 50 
               
               
                   
                 Bishop 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Knights 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Rooks 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Pawns 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Last Man Standing Bonus 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Players may also engage in partner play where east and west may join as partners or north and south may join as partners. As a result the board game and rules established set forth above create a unique game play of chess as opposed to the traditional 8-by-8 chess board. 
     In another game available for play on the board is Chess 360, which is played similar to a traditional chess game involving two players. In Chess 360, a chess game may be played by regular chess rules, where two players set up on the center board. The game starts in the centerboard, however the points of attack are expanded to all four sides due to the additional spacing. The instant invention has been shown and described in what it considers to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made there from within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.