An Improved Game.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game.
We WILLIAM WILFRID WEBB and ANNA CLAIRE WEBB both of Tullamore Kings
County Ireland Gentlemun and Lady do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of our invention is to provide an entertaining game for two persons.
For this purpose we construct a board, which may be made of wood, cardboard, or any
convenient and suitable material, preferably of an oblong form and of any size required,
this board may be extended if desired, by a border or margin of pictures, or other
plain or ornamental device, surrounding it on any or all its sides. The surface of the
board on which the game is played, is divided into square and oblong spaces, which
are parted off into several divisions each of which is coloured differently for distinctive
purposes. In the centre of the board, a space parted off from the rest, is termed the
farmyard. On the right hand side of the board are three rows of squares forming the
starting division for the counters of one of the players, which counters are termed
geese. On the left are three rows of oblong spaces, forming the starting grounds for
the counters of the opponent, termed foxes. These counters may be of any size and
form but preferably should represent the animals named, & may be made of wood,
ivory, or any suitable material. At the left hand extremity of the board, beyond the
before mentioned oblong spaces, is a single row of squares, called prisons, the remainder
of the board, between the two starting grounds and surrounding the farmyard, forms
the field on which the game is played.
The board is divided longitudinally into two divisions by a line, over which the
counters can only be played under certain conditions. On each side of the farmyard
are two gates, through which the geese alone are allowed to pass.
The game is played with 12 geese and 4 foxes, the movements of which are decided
by means of dice, or a teetotum, and is governed by a complete set of rules which are
as follows:-
1. The game is to be played by 2 persons.
2. The foxes, 4 in number, are to be manipulated by one of the players, the object
being to take the geese prisoners. The geese, 12 in number in two colours 6 of each,
by the opponent whose object it is, to play them safely into the farmyard.
3. The game is won either, when 6 geese have been taken prisoners, or when a
similar number have been played into the farmyard.
4. The players are to move alternately but the player manipulating the geese noves
first.
5. The foxes are arranged on the 3rd row of oblong spaces, one in each space, they
can only be moved one oblong at a time until the boundary line is reached after which
they can be moved any number of squares in a straight or diagonal line, either
forwards, backwards or sideways, they may be played from any of the three squares
opposite their respective oblongs.
6. The foxes must not at any time occupy more than one of the squares opposite or
adjacent to the gates of the farmyard.
7. When a fox can be moved to any square occupied by a goose on the hunting
ground or field, the latter is taken prisoner and is placed in one of the prisons, the
capturing fox being returned to the oblong from which it started on the 3rd row,
and is from thence played again as before.
8. A fox can take as many geese prisoners at one time, as happen to be on the line
in which he is able to move.
9. No fox can be jumped over a square that is occupied by another fox.
10. From the time when the first prisoner is captured, one fox must always be kept

page_text: on the starting ground to keep guard, and should all the foxes leave at the same time
all the prisoners are free to fly away to the first line of their starting ground, and play
again. One fox is sufficient to guard any number of prisoners on either side of the
board.
11. No fox can be played across the central line as long as it is possible to take
prisoners on both sides, but should such possibility no longer exist, the foxes may be
played over the line and capture prisoners on the opposite side but before doing so must
be returned to the starting ground.
12. The geese are arranged on the 3rd line in their starting ground, one on each
square, the central line dividing the two colours.
13. The geese are to be moved straight forward to the first line of the starting
ground & can te moved 2 squares the first time, but when it is wished to move into
the field, the dice must be thrown, and the gerse moved the number thrown. The
farmyard is counted as one square.
14. The geese are moved in any direction either diagonally or zig-zag, except when
passing through the gates into the farmyard but they are not allowed to re-enter the
starting ground for safety after once quitting it.
15. No goose can be played over the same square twice during one move, but may
be returned to the same square from which it started, such move not being allowed
more than twice running by the same goose.
16. No goose can be played across central division line on any condition, nor through
a square already occupied by either friend or foe and into the farmyard only through
the gates.
17. The players always have the option of moving a goose or fox either on the
starting ground or the field, as long as there are some on either of those divisions, but
they can only be moved on the field by a throw of the dice.
18. Whenever the number 6 is thrown the attacking foxes on either side of the
board can be ordered back to the 2nd line of oblongs to be played again, and the goose
moved squares. Either advantage can be taken first, but both must be effected on
the same side of the board.
19. Captured geose must be imprisoned on their own side of the board.
The accompanying drawing represents a detail view of the hoard on which the game
is played, in which, A represents the farmyard, B the spaces forming the starting
ground for the geese arranged in three rows numbered respectively 1, 2 & 3. Care
the 12 oblong spaces forming the starting ground for the foxes also in three rows 1,
2 & 3. Dare the prison spaces 12 in number, where the imprisoned geese are
secured. E is the field on which the game is sustained. F is the central division
line forming a barrier over which the counters are not allowed to pass except under
certain conditions. G are the gates of entrance to the farmyard through which the
geese alone are allowed to pass."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The general device & division of our board as described.
2. The manner of playing the game on the same as horein substantially set forth,
illustrated and described.
GRAHAM & GRAHAM,
Agents for Applicants.