Alteration on chess facilitating stacking
This invention is an alteration on the ancient game of chess and allows for the stacking of various pieces upon each other. This stacking of pieces upon each other enables the combined pieces (called a stack) to move as a cohesive whole with either the combined movements of the contributing pieces or else in some augmented fashion. Enhanced game rules control the more complicated piece interactions. Some of the pieces have two parallel flat faces to facilitate stacking. Some of these pieces may be of different thicknesses so as to facilitate easy recognition of the type of piece. Some of the pieces may have markings upon the top and/or the sides so as to facilitate easy recognition of the type of piece.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to chess type games.
2. Description of Prior Art
Chess is a board game played by two players each with a set of pieces. One set is usually dark, the other light. Each player begins with 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 king and 1 queen. Beginning with light each player takes turns to move one of their pieces until checkmate or stalemate is reached, or one player resigns. The board is an 8 by 8 series of square spaces of alternating color.
This invention relates most directly to chess but also slightly to checkers. Both chess and checkers have existed for hundreds of years. Checkers is similarly a board game played by two players each with a set of pieces. In checkers the board is the same as in chess. In checkers, however, the pieces are generally cylindrical so as to facilitate stacking. In addition when two pieces are placed one above the other, the resultant stack is called a king which moves as a cohesive whole and has augmented movement capabilities.
Many games have been invented which attempt to improve the ancient game of chess. New pieces with altered movement and capturing characteristics have been employed in games such as the one specified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,602 and others. Other games employ stacking of pieces for three dimensional gameplay such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,125. These and other alterations upon the game of chess bear witness to the need for a new and more complicated chess-like experience.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention provides an alteration on the ancient game of chess. A series of amendments upon the rules and pieces of chess may allow for the stacking of various pieces upon each other. This stacking of pieces upon each other may enable the combined pieces (called a stack) to move as a cohesive whole with either the combined movements of the contributing pieces or else in some augmented fashion. Enhanced game rules control the more complicated piece interactions.
Another aspect of the invention provides a game which combines the game of chess with some features of checkers as well as original content. The unique combination of stacking pieces for movement augmentation, with some traditional aspects of chess may allow for a challenging new board game experience.
The following aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be further appreciated when considered with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be used for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms used, and it is to be understood that each specific term includes equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. In the drawings, specific letters are used to identify particular game pieces as follows:
The letter “P” identifies a pawn.
The letter “N” identifies a knight.
The letter “B” identifies a bishop.
The letter “R” identifies a rook.
The letter “Q” identifies a queen.
The letter “K” identifies a king.
The board may be the same as in standard chess as shown, for example, in
Preferably, the pawns P may have a lesser thickness than the knight N, bishop B, and rook R as shown in
The knight N, bishop B, and rook R may have greater thickness than the pawn P, as shown, for example, in
The form of the king K and queen Q is not specified, but may either be similar to those of standard chess or may also have two parallel flat faces. If they are given a form with two parallel flat faces they may preferably both have at least a top marking, if not also side marking(s).
The pieces may be divided between players. The pieces of each player may have distinguishing color to show which piece belongs to which player.
Basic Rules:In a preferred embodiment, the pieces may be set up on the game board as in standard chess, as shown, for example, in
Certain pieces may move onto other spaces which contain other stackable pieces of the same color. Preferably, the pieces which may be stacked are the pawn P, the knight N, the bishop B, and the rook R. By moving 2 or 3 of these pieces of the same player above one another, a stack may be formed. Once a stack has been formed, it may move as a cohesive whole, with the movements of any of the pieces contained within the stack as in
In a preferred embodiment, the king K and queen Q may never be part of a stack, nor may it be legal to move any piece above either the king K or queen Q. It may also not be legal to move a king K or queen Q onto any occupied space unless it is to capture that space from the other player. Likewise, it may not be allowable to form a pile of more than three stackable pieces unless recapturing a space from the other player. Thus, a stack of two may not be moved above another stack of two, or a stack of three be moved above a single stackable piece, or a single piece be moved above a stack of three, etc., unless in the act of recapturing a space from the other player.
To assemble a stack, a player may only move a piece or stack directly above another piece or stack by the movements immediately available to that piece or stack which is being moved, as shown, for example, in
To disassemble a stack or pile, it may be legal to move any piece or pieces off the top of the stack, as shown, for example, in
If two pawns P are in the same stack, then the stack may gain additional positional and capturing movement options. A stack containing 2 pawns P (
Capturing any single piece may be the same as in standard chess. Generally, however, when a player captures a stack or pile, only the upper most piece of the opposing player may be captured and thus removed from the board, as shown, for example, in
When a player puts another player's piece(s) “under guard,” the first player may not move the other player's piece(s), even if that player chooses to move all of their piece(s) off of the space. Piece(s) that are “under guard” may not be capable of positional or capturing movement, unless released. The pieces “under guard” may be released by the player holding them “under guard,” moving all of the players pieces off of the space. The other way to release a piece(s) held “under guard” may be to recapture the space, as shown, for example, in
Other rules such as castling are identical to standard chess. Preferably, so long as the rook R and king K have not moved from the beginning of the game, they may castle. This may apply even if some other stackable piece or pieces stack on top of the rook R. Checking may similarly be the same as in chess. You may never move so as to put yourself into check. This may include releasing another player's pieces held “under guard.” It is also important to note that since pieces that are “under guard” may not capture, they may not put a king K in check while “under guard.” So long as a pawn P has not moved from the beginning of the game, then it may move two spaces forward if positional movement permits. This may preferably apply even if some other stackable piece or pieces stack on top of the pawn P. In such a case, a stack may move two spaces forward. En passant is also the same as in chess. Any stack that contains a pawn P may perform this move if the proper circumstances exist. Note that if the pawn P that moved two spaces forward was part of a stack, then preferably only the top piece in that stack may be taken by en passant.
Unlike chess, a pawn P may not be exchanged for a different piece upon reaching the back row. Instead, if the king K makes it to the back row of the other player, any pawn P (not “under guard”) may be exchanged for a knight N, bishop B, or rook R. This may include pawns P that are inactive because they have a king K, queen Q, or 3 or more stackable pieces above them. To exchange a second pawn P, the king K may preferably make it back to the starting row and upon reaching it another viable pawn P may be exchanged. To get the third pawn P, the king K may need to once again reach the other player's back row. To get the forth, the king K may come back again, etc. If the king K reaches the far row and does not exchange a pawn P for anything, then the king K may act as if the exchange did occur and may preferably cross to the other side again to get another exchange.
Also unlike chess if a pawn P has not moved from the beginning of the game, then it may move one space to either side if positional movement permits. This may preferably apply even if some other stackable piece or pieces stack on top of the pawn P.
Possible Additional Rules:1. In another preferred embodiment, piles can be formed without capturing.
2. In yet another embodiment, when a king K reaches the far row, a pawn P may be exchanged for a knight N, bishop B, rook R, or two pawns P. A pawn P may be exchanged at a location that causes the formation of a pile.
3. In addition Queens Q may be able to stack.
Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims
1. A stacking type chess game apparatus comprising:
- A) a plurality of chess pieces, at least some of which have at least two parallel flat faces configured so as to facilitate stacking of said pieces upon one another;
- B) wherein some of said pieces have different thicknesses between the two parallel flat faces than others of the pieces, so as to identify the type of piece.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some or all of said pieces bear a marking or markings upon at least one of said parallel flat faces to identify the type of piece.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein some or all of said pieces bear a marking or markings upon one or both flat faces, thereby identifying the type of piece.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a board containing a plurality of shapes of contrasting colors.
5. A method of playing a stacking type chess game, the method comprising the steps of:
- A) dividing a plurality of pieces into different types, each type with a unique set of movement and capturing characteristics; wherein said pieces are able to move and capture individually;
- B) stacking one piece upon another piece to form a cohesive whole; wherein said cohesive whole has the movement and capturing characteristics of each of the separate pieces contained therein.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein when some pieces of the same type are in the same stack, the stack may gain additional movement or capturing characteristics not necessarily present within the individual pieces comprising the stack.
7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: stacking the pieces, so that each piece or stack uses its own movement characteristics to assemble or expand a stack.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of: assembling stacks of pieces such that pieces and stacks are moved above another piece or stack to assemble or expand a stack.
9. The method of claim 5, wherein each stack contains a maximum of three pieces per stack.
10. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: disassembling a stack so that a piece or stack may only be moved off the top of a stack or pile.
11. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of: capturing a stack so that only the top piece is removed from the board and all pieces below the top piece become temporarily inert.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of: releasing inert pieces with pieces of the other player above them, when either:
- A) all pieces of another player are moved off of the inert piece or pieces, or
- B) the space is recaptured by another piece of the player whose piece or pieces were inert.
13. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of dividing a plurality of pieces into different types comprises 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 king and 1 queen per player, each with similar movement and capturing characteristics as in standard chess.
14. The method of claim 5, further comprising: providing each player with one king, wherein if a player's king is placed in checkmate, then that player looses, and wherein no piece of the same player may be moved above the king.
15. The method of claim 5, wherein the game is played by two players.
16. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of:
- A) disassembling a stack whereby a piece or stack may only be moved off the top of the stack; and
- B) providing each player with one king wherein if a player's king is placed in checkmate, then that player looses, and no piece of the same player may be moved above the king.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of pieces include 8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 king and 1 queen per player, each with similar movement and capturing characteristics as in standard chess; and further comprising the step of a player losing if the player's king is placed in checkmate, and no piece of the same player may be moved above the king.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 31, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 3, 2011
Inventor: Russell Alan Lockyear (Brookshire, TX)
Application Number: 12/584,041
International Classification: A63F 3/02 (20060101);