Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July. loc9
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1889-Accepted. 21st Dec., 1889

page_text: follows:
One at each corner of the chessboard, the remaining one in the first hole to the left
of the chessboard, as indicated on the diagram.
GENERAL RULES.
The
The whole board is called The Board and is sub-divided into four chessboards.
square in the centre of the board common to all the chessboards is called, the City.
The holes at each corner of the City are called the City Artillery stands.
The three holes in the spaces on the four sides of the board leading to the City are
called, the centre Artillery stands; the other, holes are simply called Artillery
stands.
A piece having been once played from its own chessboard to that of an opponents,
can never be replaced on its own chessboard during the game. Except the King
when he becomes senior King.
In moving a piece from one chessboard to another, the word "arrived" must be said
when placing the piece down.
An Infantry piece can be moved only to a vacant square on an opponent's chess-
board corresponding to the one from which it is moved.
With the exception of the men (pawns) no piece can be moved to an opponent's
chessboard until it has first made a move on its own chessboard.
The Infantry of each chessboard can move over their own Cavalry, but not over the
Cavalry of an opponent. The cavalry however can not move over the Infantry either
of their own colour or that of an opponent.
The Infantry can take a piece of Cavalry if it happens to be in the way of its move,
but the Cavalry cannot take a piece of Infantry.
The King, and all pieces of Infantry must play into the City from the chessboard
of an opponent, not from their own.
When on the opponent's chessboard the King and all pieces of Infantry (with
the exception of one Colonel and one Captain) must play into the City from the
white corner square next the City. A Colonel and a Captain play in from the
black corner square next the City as this is their last possible move in that
direction.
1
Each King must take his first move from his stand at the head of his army to
the artillery stand next the City to the left of his chessboard.
The object of each player must be to keep the King's Stand in centre of each
chessboard, always protected either with Infantry or Cavalry, as to prevent an
opposing King from arriving on the stand this can only take place when the stand
(four squares) is vacant.
A King can only enter an opponent's chessboard by arriving on the King's
Stand.
44
:
A piece of Infantry can, however, arrive on any chessboard having a square vacant
corresponding to that from which it moves; it can also move (after arriving) an
opponent's piece from a square that may be on its move, whether that square be one
of the squares on the King's Stand or not.
The King can move to any of his opponent's chessboards, subject of course, to above
rule.
If a King vacate the opponent's chessboard on which he arrives he cannot return
except by first playing onto the King's stand.
The King can play on to any Artillery stand on the board, at will, except that one
in the centre of the City, and those in the centre of the four chessboards.
All ieces of Cavalry are played only on the grooved lines; they can play across

page_text: 2
and keep the Artillery from forming a block. But, if the block is once formed,
(that is by three balls of same colour in succession on centre Artillery Stands leading
to City) the opposing Cavalry cannot put the artillery back, nor can they be moved
by any King.
The block prevents the King or Cavalry playing on the grooved lines on either side
of these stands, for the time being.
THE ARTILLERY.
A King between two pieces of an opponent's artillery of same colour, is in check.
The King can move out of check by moving to some other artillery stand.
Two or more pieces of Artillery of same colour following each other on centre
stands, cannot be put back by any King. But the Artillery of a Senior King can
put back one or two pieces of Artillery resting on centre stands, but not three.
Three pieces of Artillery of same colour, on centre stands, form a block, so that the
King or Cavalry cannot play on either side of the centre stands, until the block is
removed. In other words these grooved lines do not count as part of their inove
during the block.
All the Artillery must play to the stands successively from one stand to another at a
time.
They must all play to and from the stand farthest from the City of the centre
stands. Then they play from the first hole to the second, then to the third
Having played into the three Artillery Stands leading to the City, they must then
play from the Artillery Stand next the City, to the Artillery Stand in the centre of
the City, then to one of the corners of the City, putting back the piece of artillery
that occupied this position to any place they choose on the board, and so try to secure
the four Artillery Stands at the corner of the City for their own colour.
Each player can thus play his Artillery repeatedly, (the last player replacing the
former) until a King is placed in the City, then no Artillery but that of his colour can
play in. If two Kings be in the City their respective pieces of Artillery can play in ;
or if three Kings be in, three kinds of Artillery can play in &c.
But when the Senior King expels any other King the Artillery of that King's
colour ceases to be able to play in, because his King is not in the City.
If the King of any colour be in the City, his Artillery need not necessarily
play in from the centre Artillery Stands leading to City, but may play in from
the centre Artillery Stand in centre of opponent's chessboard from which the King
entered the City and thus be able to defy the power of an Artillery block.
Four pieces of Artillery of same colour placed at the corners of the City equal a
General three equal a colonel; two equal a captain; one equals a man.
THE CITY.
A King, two pieces of Cavalry, two pieces of Infantry, and four pieces of Artillery
are required (all of same colour) to take or checkmate the City.
The squares representing the City are common to all the pieces and the player can
move them from one to another at pleasure.
The King enters the City first, from white corner square next the City on opponent's
chessboard.
.
He then sums up the value of his Artillery that may happen to be in the corner
stands of the City. If he has four they equal a General, three a Colonel, two a

page_text: Forces being expelled from the City by a Senior King, are commenced by the
least valuable being first removed, and replaced by any piece at the command of
the Senior King. Then the next higher in value, and the King is the last to be
expelled. Each piece expelled is replaced by the forces of the Senior King. The
pieces expelled are removed of the board, except the Kings and Artillery, they can
only be put back to Artillery Stands.
The Senior King has now virtually command of the City, having played two pieces
of Cavalry and one piece of Infantry, or two pieces of Infantry and one piece of
Cavalry, as the case may be.
He then plays in the remaining Artillery required to fill the four City Artillery
Stands.
The King then places himself on the centre Artillery Stand in the City so as to give
the coup de gras.
He then tries to play in his last piece of Cavalry or Infantry as the case may be,
and so take or checkimate the City.
This, however, may he only the beginning of his difficulties. He may find the
opposing forces of the board combined to prevent him getting this last piece in. Should
they succeed, in taking all his pieces and leaving him without a piece with which to
play into the City, the game becomes a drawn game.
The King can, however, prevent this by leaving his stand in City and placing
himself on any Artillery Stand on the board, or on the centre Artillery Stand on any
chessboard, even his own. From any of these stands he can play, and clear off any
piece that may be in his way, even having power to move from one chessboard to
another. But he must always arrive on the King's Artillery Stand each time he
moves from one chessboard to another. By this means he tries to play in his last
piece of Cavalry or Infantry which being done, he re-enters the City and places
himself on the centre Artillery Stand and the City is taken.
Thus the Senior King captures the City having carried on a severe struggle against
three powerful opponents, and having overcome them all.
The Senior King can never be put in check.
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 :
1st. To be the first who has made a board on which are marked out four chess-
boards with pieces that can be moved from one chessboard to another so as to make a
game.
2nd. To be the first who has intersected said board with grooved lines on which to
move some of the pieces.
3rd. To be the first who has placed holes at intervals on said board for the purpose
of moving balls (representing Artillery) into during the game.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1889.
JAMES A. MONCRIEFF,
Belfast.