An Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
1, Captain FREDERICK EDWARD VERNEY TAYLOR, of Evington House,
Derby, in the County of Derby, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
o be as follows :-
My invention relates to an improved g me and to apparatus for playing the
ame.
In carrying my said invention into practice I provide a board, counters, and
pieces. The said board is checkered or divided into a number of squares somewhat
like a chess board. A certain number of these squares according to the require-
ments of the game have depicted thereon distinctive numbers, colours, designs,
words or the like.
To admit of the said numbers, colours, designs, words or other matter depicted
within the said squares or upon the board being rearranged or varied when desired
I prefer to form a certain number of square, circular or other suitably shaped
recesses or counter-sinks in the said board and to provide separate correspondingly
shaped counters having numbers, colours, designs, words or the like depicted thereon
and adapted to fit into the said recesses. The said counters may have designs upon
both sides thereof.
In order to enable the counters to be more readily removed from the said
recesses or counter-sinks I sometimes form in each of the latter a slight depression
so that by pressing on the counter directly over the said depression, that side of the
said counter can be depressed and the other side thereof consequently raised, thereby
facilitating the removal thereof.
The pieces are of any suitable form and have likewise numbers, colours, designs
words or the like depicted thereon corresponding in part or in whole with those
upon the above mentioned squares or counters.
In some instances the said pieces are coloured in sets to distinguish one set from
the other.
The game is played as follows, that is to say :-
First, when the pieces bear upon them, devices similar to those upon the board
either as represented by the squares or counters within the squares, or some portion
of the devices upon the board as represented by the squares, or counters within
them. The object of the player is to place the said pieces upon similar squares or
counters, or by so doing to complete the legend or device as contained partly upon
the piece and partly upon the square or counter placed therein.
Second. When the said pieces are not numbered or figured in any way, to place
them upon the squares or counters so as to claim them in such order that when the
counters are placed together the designs, pictures, legends, or the like upon them
may be complete, or in such order or sequence as may be laid down by the rules of
the gaine.
The winner of the game will be the player who first secured all the pictures,
legends, numbers, proverbs, devices or the like as represented in part or in whole
by the counters upon the board, or partly by them and partly by the pieces; or
the largest number of such completed devices, numbers, legends, proverbs, pictures,
words or the like in the order or sequence required by the rules of the game, or
obtains the largest score when the said completed numbers, devices, legends,
proverbs or other matter (which I will hereinafter call cues) have values attached
to them.
The following are the rules that I prefer to employ, viz. :—
I Each piece to hose two waves Hirst from the square occupied thereby in

page_text: an adjoining square in any direction where the square is vacant either forwards,
backwards, sideways or diagonally; Secondly, by jumping over a piece of the same
or other colour in any direction either straight, zig-zag, or diagonally to the square
adjoining and continuing the same over any number of pieces either backwards,
forwards, side-ways or diagonally.
II. Pieces may be called "dead" when they have claimed, and оссиру the square
or counter claimed upon the board. (This rule is not applicable in every case,
but may be adopted in some games.)
III. A claim to be made by moving the piece on to the square claimed.
IV. The second move or jump cannot be made over dead pieces, when rule 2 is
enforced.
V. If counters claimed are removed from the board for purposes of completing
designs or the like the pieces occupying the squares will no longer be regarded as
dead, and may continue to move in the game.
VI. Each player to be provided with an equal number of pieces.
VII. The words, designs or the like upon the squares or the counters to be
called the " cnes."
VIII. Pieces bearing designs, words, or portions of designs or words or legends
or the like, can only claim similar " cues or such cues as complete the design,
word or legend, or continue the said design, word or legend or the like.
"
IX. Pieces bearing no distinguishing designs, devices or other matter can only
claim the "cues upon which they have moved when such "cues commence or
continue or complete some legend, picture, proverb or the like.
X. Every design, legend, quotation or the
completed before another can be started.
successful moves several sets of cues may be
or the like completed in due order.
XI. Each player to move in turn.
like to be begun and followed until
But in one turn by a succession of
secured and several legends, designs
XII. A player securing a claim to be entitled to another move of any of his
pieces upon the board, and to continue moving so long as cach move secures a
claim. His turn ceasing when he fails to claim.
XIII. The counters intended to be placed upon the board to be shaken and
drawn alternately from a bag or basket and set within the squares by each player.
The pieces if figure must correspond either wholly or in part with the counters,
or have some clear relation thereto. And an equal number thereof to be drawn by
each player in a similar manner and set on the portion of the board allotted as the
"position" of the pieces.
XIV. Each set of pieces to occupy exactly similar positions on opposite sides of
the board.
66
XV. The counters to be equally distributed between them .e. between the
positions.
XVI. The number of pieces divided between the players to correspond with
the counters upon the board. If fewer are used each player to have an equal
number.
XVII. The counters (generally) to be set on alternate squares of the board
(which is chequered in the usual manner) if on the light then all on the light, and
if upon the dark then all upon the dark.
XVIII. The pieces when in position to be on both the light and dark squares.
XIX. "Cues claimed and removed from the board to liberate the "picces "
which latter can again be moved.
The above rules apply to all variations of my improved game whether played
with numbers, card, designs, pictures, words or otherwise.
"
"
The values of sets of "cues or of individual "cues" may be predetermined.
Thus for instance in cards, sequences, flushes, marriages, assemblies of kings,
queen, knaves, aces etc. will provide various sets of cues, the values being pre-
determined.
In the case of an assembly of four queens for example the counters could be
i
5

page_text: removed from the board (Rule XIX) with a view to the kings being secured to
obtain marriages.
The rules of the games of zetema, bezique, cribbage etc., are applicable to the
scores to be obtained.
Although I have hereinbefore described a convenient and advantageous method
of carrying my said invention into practice it is obvious that I can somewhat
modify the rules of my improved game, or the apparatus for playing the same,
without however departing in any way from the nature of my said invention.
Dated this 17th day of July 1891.
FREDERICK EDWARD VERNEY TAYLOR.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Game and Apparatus therefor.
I, Captain FREDERICK EDWARD VERNEY TAYLOR, of Evington House,
Derby, in the County of Derby, 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 an improved game and to apparatus for playing the
same.
According to one method of carrying my said invention into practice I provide
a board and pieces. The said board is checkered or divided into a number of
squares somewhat like a chessboard. A certain number of these squares according
to the requirements of the game have depicted thereon distinctive numbers,
colours, designs words or the like. In order to admit of the said numbers, colours,
designs, or the like, on the squares being changed and the board thus rearranged
I sometimes use a board provided with a number of square circular or other suitably
shaped recesses or countersinks in which counters having the various numbers
colours or the like painted or otherwise provided thereon may be placed. The
said counters may be placed in any desired squares so as to change the pattern of
the board. The said counters may have distinctive numbers or the like painted on
both sides thereof. In order that the counters may be more easily removed from
their recesses, I sometimes form a slight depression in each of the latter, so that by
pressing on the counter directly over the said depression the said counter will be
tilted and can then be seized by the fingers.
I also sometimes provide separate pieces of card-board or other material, con-
taining a number of squares, of dimensions similar to those upon the board having
designs figures or the like depicted thereon, with which to cover those already
upon the board, and in substitution of them.
The board itself may be constructed of material which will admit of designs,
figures or the like, being depicted thereon and rubbed out for the substitution of
fresh figures designs or the like or such parts of the board as may be deemed
requisite may be so constructed or provided.
In
The pieces with which my improved game is played are of any suitable form
and have numbers, colours, designs or the like depicted thereon corresponding
partly or wholly with those upon the before-mentioned squares or counters.
some instances the said pieces are furthermore coloured or formed by sets in such a
manner that one set may be distinguished from another.
The pieces may be formed with an upper and a lower surface on which figures
designs or the like may be depicted and rubbed out for the substitution of fresh
designs. Such designs or the like may be adjusted to them by screws, clips or any
suitable means by which they may be held upon the surfaces.

page_text: My improved game may also be played using pieces which are of uniform
character.
The figure shows a board such as may be used in playing my improved game.
The squares have any numbers colours designs words or the like painted thereon,
the designs upon the pieces in one variety of the game correspond with those on
the squares, that is to say if any square has a particular design upon it there will
be one of the pieces bearing the same design. The enclosed squares marked A
are known as the "Positions." The board shown is intended to be used by two
players but it will be readily understood that by marking out positions in the
remaining corners of the board it may be adapted for use by three or four
players.
It must be understood that instead of the squares on the board being painted
with distinctive designs or the like, they may be recessed and distinguishing
When this is the case the
counters placed therein, as herein before mentioned.
counters are shaken in a bag and each player in turn draws a counter therefrom
and fixes it in a square on the board, until all or as many of the squares as desired
are filled.
The words, designs or the like on the squares or on the counters placed
therein are known as " cucs.
The board being now ready for play each person is furnished by drawing from a
bag or in any other suitable manner with a number of piecés equal to or less than
the number of squares enclosed in one of the "positions."
When the pieces are divided into sets by distinguishing characteristics, each
player sets his pieces in "position" and then the players move their pieces in turn.
The moves given to the pieces are two in number.
First. The piece may be moved from one square to the next in any direction
provided the square to which it moves is not already occupied thus in the figure
the piece at B may be moved to any of the squares C.
Second. The piece may be moved from its square to the next but one adjoining
provided the intervening square is occupied, and moreover any number of these
"jumps" may be made in succession before the move is completed, thus according
to this manner of moving the piece the piece at B in the figure may be moved to
any of the squares marked D.
The object of the players in this variety of the game is to place their pieces by
a succession of moves on the " enes "which respectively correspond to the said
pieces, when this is done the particular cue on to which the piece is played is said
to be "claimed" the player who first succeeds in claiming all the cues with his
pieces wins the game. When a player secures a claim by a move, he may con-
tinue his turn until he fails to score.
If the counters or squares have words or numbers or designs on them which form
sets, the object of the players is then to secure their claims in a certain order so as
to form a sentence or particular combination of designs, the manner of playing
being the same as before. When the board is used with the counters fitted in
their recesses to form cues then if either player makes a claim he may remove from
the board the counter forming the cue claimed, the object of the players being to
remove the counters in a particular order or to remove a particular set of counters.
Thus if the counters represent ordinary playing cards the players may score the
combination of cards which they remove from the board in the same manner as
assemblys and the like are scored at zetema, bezique, cribbage, and such like
games. When the counters are removed in that manner from the board as the
cues are claimed plain pieces may be used, the game being over when all the
counters have been removed the player scoring the most points, wins.
The following are the rules that I prefer to employ ris. :-
1. Each piece to have two moves first from the square occupied thereby to an
adjoining square in any direction where the square is vacant either forwards, back-
wards, sideways or diagonally. Secondly by jumping over a piece of the same or
other colour in any direction either straight, zig-zag or diagonally to the square

page_text: adjoining and continuing the same over any number of pieces either backwards,
forwards, side-ways or diagonally.
II. Pieces may be called "dead" when they have claimed and occupy the
square or counter claimed upon the board. (This rule is not applicable in every
case, but may be adopted in some games.)
III. A claim to be made by moving the piece on to the square claimed.
IV. The second more or jump cannot be made over dead pieces when rule 2 is
enforced.
V. If counters claimed are removed from the board for purposes of completing
designs or the like the pieces occupying the squares will no longer be regarded as
dead, and may continue to move in the game.
VI. Each player to be provided with an equal number of pieces.
VII. The words designs or the like upon the squares or the counters to be
called the "cues."
"
VIII. Pieces bearing designs, words, or portions of designs or words or
legends or the like, can only claim similar " cues or such cues as complete
the design, word or legend, or continue the said design, word or legend or
the like.
"
"
IX. Pieces bearing no distinguishing designs, devices or other matter can only
claim the " cues upon which they have moved when such " cues commence or
continue or complete some legend, picture, proverb or the like.
X. Every design, legend, quotation or the like to be begun and followed until
completed before another can be started but in one turn by a succession of succesful
moves several sets of cues may be secured and several legends, designs, or the like
completed in due order.
XI. Each player to move in turn.
XII. A player securing a claim to be entitled to another move of any of his
pieces upon the board, and to continue moving so long as each move secures a claim.
His turn ceases when he fails to claim.
XIII. The counters intended to be placed upon the board to be shaken and
drawn alternately from a bag or basket and set within the squares by each player.
The pieces if figured must correspond either wholly or in part with the counters
or have some clear relation thereto. And an equal number thereof to be drawn
by each player in a similar manner and set on the portion of the board allotted as
the position of the pieces.
XIV. Each set of pieces to occupy exactly similar positions on opposite sides
of the board.
XV. The counters to be equally distributed between them i.e. between the
"positions."
XVI. The number of pieces divided between the players to correspond with
the counters upon the board. If fewer are used each player to have an equal
number.
XVII. The counters may be set on adjacent on alternate squares of the board
(which is chequered in the usual manner) if on the light then all on the light, and
if upon the dark then all upon the dark."
XVIII. The pieces when in position to be on adjacent squares.
XIX. "Cues" claimed and removed from the board to liberate the "pieces'
which latter can again be moved.
"
XX. The " cues may be set within any assigned squares upon the board so
that the positions may have "cues" depicted upon the squares.
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 :-
First. The game played according to the rules herein described or any mere
modification thereof.

page_text: Second. The apparatus for playing the improved game hereinabove described
substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of March 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.