Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1997
I, HUGH LAWRENSON AMES of 37, Eaton Square, London, S.W. Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to a new or improved game, which I intend to designate
"Malakoff" the object of which is to provide an interesting and amusing game that
has capabilities of great variations, and which is relieved of the monotonous tendency
of most games of its kind.
The essential feature of this game consists in the attempt of two attacking parties,
to storm or capture a fortress which is arranged in the centre of a suitable board.
This may be arrived at in two ways (1), either by one of the attacking parties
capturing the fortress which is effected by getting three men in a certain position, or
(2) by annihilating the enemy entirely, or when there is only one man left on either
side, that side which first secures the position above referred to is considered to have
captured the fortress and wins the game.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a plan of the board
employed in connection with this game..
The game is played with twelve men upon either side, which may be represented
by miniature figures furnished with a projecting pin or stem at the bottom designed
to fit into the holes or perforations of the board or pegs of wood, ivory or other
suitable material may be employed for this purpose, while the artillery which is also
employed may consist of a small gun having a projecting pin designed to engage
with the larger holes or perforations on the board or a larger peg may be employed
for this purpose.
In commencing the game the twelve men are arranged in the twelve holes a at
each end of the board, while the gun representing the artillery placed at each
end a' of the central line of larger holes. Dice are then thrown, the counting being
similar to that employed in "Backgammon." The fortress f is arranged in the centre
of the board and is represented by any suitable diagram or the like printed thereon,
the said fort being captured by getting three men of either side into the three holes
marked a², etc. as herein before described. The six men arranged in the holes to the
right and left of the fort fare considered to be under cover of the said fortress and
cannot be shot until they cross over to the other side of the board in an attempt to
gain the position A, this latter side of the board I term the open side.
66
"
The dice having been thrown, the men are moved one at a time along the open side
towards the position A, those on the other side being considered " reserves and
under cover of the fortress, so that they may be considered out of line of fire. It is
optional whether the "artillery" or men are moved on each throw of the dice. The
artillery" which is represented by the gun may move up as far as the last hole on
the rampart ŕ on their own side, the range of shots being reckoned by the number
of holes from the gun to the holes on a line with the gun hole on the enemies side.
The effect of a shot is to remove one man from the board provided there be one on
the line of holes which is shown by the throw of the dice as on the third, fourth, or
sixth line for instance, or if "doublets" are thrown two men or more may be
removed. But the points must only be counted from the gun e.g. if it is found that

page_text: a throw of six will reach a man on the other side and there is a man two rows behind
him, and six and two be thrown, either eight can be counted and the rear man removed
or six can be counted and the two be used for some other move but you cannot count
six and remove the man on that line and then count two from this line so as to remove
another man.
"
When the first line of attack has advanced and there only remains two men, the
"reserves may be brought up. They may move straight forward right up under
the fortress in which case they are under cover and cannot be shot at, and then moved
across to the other side so as to capture the position A, or they can be moved
diagonally across at any time, but in crossing they must be inoved on to the line next
in front of the line on the open side that is parallel to, or a continuation of the line
from which they are moved.
Should it be impossible to move, man or gun, the gun must be moved back
according to the number thrown, which in the case of "doublets" amounts to leaving
it in the same position (e.g. six back and six forward).
If any man be on or over the rampart, the enemies gun in counting the holes for the
range of fire must include the holes between rampart and rampart r, r. This it will
be seen is self evident as the gun lines only commence on the line of holes beginning
with the rampart.
It is thus possible when firing at a man who is on or inside the rampart r to use
the gun at the same time at another one beyond the rampart and thus use the gun at
two distinct ranges in the same throw.
Although the position A is held by one or two men they can be killed, three being
necessary to take it and to win game, unless as above stated in the case of each side
only having one or two men left.
Should both sides be reduced to one man neither of whom has gained the position A,
they continue until one side does so, or in the event of both men being killed, until
one gun has disabled the other, but until this total loss of inen occurs no gun may be
fired at or be capable of disabling the other..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The new or improved ganie substantially as herein described and shown with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 14th low of December 1907