Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
I, FRANCIS VERNON MOODY of 126, Melbourne Grove, East Dulwich, Clerk,
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:―
This invention relates to a new or improved game and to improvements in the
appliances therefor, and has for its object to provide an improvement upon the
ordinary game of chess, giving greater variety and interest.
In carrying out my invention I propose to employ the ordinary chess men moved
in the manner employed in this game, and a board somewhat similar to a chess
board divided into squares alternately white and coloured.
Instead however of employing a board divided into 64 squares, I propose to
increase the number of squares, dividing the board into 10 squares in each
direction, amounting to 100 in all. I also increase the number of men to
correspond to the squares.
The chief addition which I make to the men is one placed at each side of the
board between the castle and the knight, the remainder on the back line being
placed in the usual order. The number of pawns on each side is also increased by 2,
a pawn being placed in front of the new figure. This new man I propose to call a
squire, and its move is somewhat similar to that of the ordinary knight, but instead
of passing from a square of one colour to that of another, each squire will always
remain on a square of its own colour. The ordinary move of the knight is 2 squares
forward, rearward or to the sides, and one square at right angles. The move I
propose to give to the squire is 3 squares to the front, rear or sides, and 1 square at
right angles, or 2 squares straight, and 2 squares at right angles. By either of
these moves the squire always passes to a square of its own colour, and the squires
can thus be distinguished through the course of the game being either king's
squire or queen's squire, according to the colour of their squares and their original
position.
Owing to the increased number of squares on the board, I propose to alter the
first moves of the pawns, and instead of allowing then a starting move of one or
two squares, the number is increased to three, thus giving the player the option of
moving any of his pawns from the first position one, two or three squares.
The total number of pieces on each side is thus 20, 10 being pawns and the
other 10 being made up of king, queen, 2 bishops 2 knights, 2 squires, and
2 castles.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view of the board with all
the meu in starting position, and Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the squire and the
possible moves from any point.
A is the board divided as shown into squares a, a¹ respectively white and black
or coloured. As shown in Fig. 1 the squires are placed between the castles and
knights, the king's squire being on a square the same colour as the queen, and the
queen's squire on a square of the same colour as the king.
As shown in Fig. 2 the squire placed on a square at or about the middle of the
board can move in any direction within certain limits, and remaining on its own
colour, the squares a showing the position to which it can be moved from the
central square on which it is supposed to lie. When placed at or near the sides its

page_text: motion will of course be limited by the sides of the board. The figure can move
over the other pieces in a similar manner to the knight, and has all the powers of
the other pieces, being capable of taking and giving check.
In the subsequent moves of the pawns they can only proceed forward one square
at a time as in ordinary chess. The pawns in order to take pawns en passant must
be on the seventh square. Castling is somewhat similar to that of ordinary chess,
but slight alteration being made in accordance with the altered board and the
additional men. On the king's side, the king moves to Kt square, and R to B square,
and on the Q side the K to B square and R to Q square. Otherwise the same
rules and laws as those in chess apply to the game.
Having now par ticularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.-
1. A new or improved game and appliances therefor, consisting of a board divided
into 100 squares, alternately white and black or coloured, and chess men arranged
on each side with an additional piece on each side placed between the castle and
knight and corresponding pawns, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
2. A new or improved game and appliances therefor, consisting of a board
divided into 100 squares, alternately white and black or coloured, and chess men
arranged on each side in the ordinary manner, with an additional piece placed at
starting between the castle and knight and having a move of 3 squares straight
and 1 at right angles, or 2 squares straight and 2 at right angles, substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.
3. The improved game and appliances therefor, substantially as described and
shown, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 30th day of September 1895.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.