GB2080127A

GB2080127A - Word game

Info

Publication number: GB2080127A
Application number: GB8024223A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-07-24
Filing date: 1980-07-24
Publication date: 1982-02-03
Also published as: GB2080127B

Abstract

Each player is allotted a set of letter counters and a set of number counters, and the object of the game is to move the letter counters on the playing surface by the number of squares shown on the number counters in order to form words from the letter counters. Two sets of differently-coloured letter counters are used, 84 in all, together with 15 each of correspondingly coloured replacement counters. Dice may be used instead of the 84 number counters. The board may be a sleeve for containing the counters. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Counter and board games This invention relates to counter and board games, and has for its object the provision of a game for two players or two teams of players wherein words are formed by moving counters bearing letters on the board.

According to the invention a counter and board game comprises a playing surface having marked thereon a design in the form of a square or rectangle divided into a plurality of smaller squares and having a band extending at least part way across the square or rectangle so as to at least partially divide the design into two halves, a plurality of counters bearing letters of the alphabet thereon, and random number indicating means.

The random number indicating means may comprise one or more dice or a plurality of further counters bearing numbers thereon.

The band may be of a width corresponding to the dimension of the smaller squares and of a length corresponding to a multiple of the dimension of the smaller squares. Furthermore the band may be distinguished from the remainder of the board by being of a different colour to at least those smaller squares immediately adjacent the band.

The design may be further subdivided by at least one dividing line extending across the square or rectangle perpendicularly to the band, which line is preferably of a different colour to the lines separating the smaller squares in order to distinguish it from these lines. Two such dividing lines are preferably provided, one towards the top of the design and the other towards the bottom of the design, the two lines being of different colours.

Certain of the smaller squares may also incorporate markings thereon. For example certain of the smaller squares above said dividing line provided towards the top of the design may each be marked with a numeral "2" and certain of the smaller squares above said dividing line may each be marked with a numeral "3".

There are preferably two sets of counters bearing letters of the alphabet thereon. The two sets may be of different colours. Furthermore each set preferably includes at least one counter marked with each letter of the alphabet and at least one blank counter.

The board and the counters may be made of cardboard, the former being in the form of a sleeve capable of accommodating the counters.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the board of this embodiment; and Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the counters of this embodiment.

Referring to Fig. 1 the generally yellow playing surface of the board has marked thereon a design in the form of a square 1 divided into 1 5 X 1 5 smaller squares 2 by a matrix of lines 3. The square 1 is divided into two halves over part of its height by a red band 4 covering ten of the squares 2. Furthermore the square 1 is further subdivided by a red line 5 towards the top of the board and a blue line 6 towards the bottom of the board.

Six of the smaller squares in the region at the top of the board delimited by the red line 5 are marked with a numeral "2" as denoted by the reference 7, and four of the squares in that region are marked with a numeral "3" as denoted by the reference 8.

The board constitutes one surface of a cardboard sleeve (not illustrated) having two portions hinged together along a fold line, similar to a record sleeve of the type which is intended to hold two records. The counters are made of cardboard and are stored in the sleeve together with the rules of the game.

Fig. 2 shows the counters 10 placed in a square array in which they are stored in the sleeve prior to use. The counters comprise forty-two red letter counters 11, forty-two blue letter counters 1 2 and eighty-four black number counters 13, as well as fifteen replacement red counters 14, fifteen replacement blue counters 1 5 and fifteen replacement black counters 16. The red letter counters 11 have the same letters marked thereon as the blue letter counters 12, and both sets of counters 11, 1 2 include three blank counters.

Similarly the black number counters 1 3 include twelve blank counters.

The game is played by two players or two teams of players as follows. All the letter and number counters 11, 1 2 and 1 3 are placed face downwards and shuffled keeping the three sets of counters separate. The two players then divide the black number counters 13, still keeping the numbers hidden, so that they each have half, that is forty-two counters.

Each of the players then takes one of the sets of letter counters 11, 1 2. Then, still keeping all the counters face down, each player removes six of his letter counters 11 or 1 2 and six of his number counters 1 3. The removed counters are placed on one side and take no further part in the game. Each player is therefore left with thirty-six letter counters 11 or 1 2 and thirty-six number counters 1 3.

Each player is allotted a respective side of the board within which that player must initially form his words and the players take it in turns to turn up one of their letter counters 11 or 1 2 and one of their number counters 1 3.

The first player to play must move the letter counter which he turns up on to the board by the number of squares corresponding to the number on the number counter which he turns up, beginning at the bottom of the board. The used number counter is removed from the game. The second player then takes his turn by moving the letter counter which he turns up on to the board.by the number of squares determined by the number counter which he turns up, in a similar manner to the first player.

On each subsequent turn each player turns up a new letter counter and a new number counter. However, provided the new letter counter is moved on to the board at least one square, the balance of the number shown on the new number counter may be used up by moving at least one other of that player's letter counters which is already on the board.

The new letter counters may only be moved on to the board from the bottom. Also the letter counters may be moved either up or down the board or in either direction parailel to the bottom of the board, but may not be moved diagonally. Furthermore they may only be moved over vacant squares.

The object of the game is for each player to move his letter counters in order to form words of two or more letters stretching across two or more adjacent squares 2 on the board.

Each time that a player moves one of his letter counters so as to complete a word, he is awarded a number of points depending on the length of the word, as follows: 2 letter words 2 points 3 letter words 3 points 4 letter words 5 points 5 letter words 9 points 6 letter words 16 prints 7 letter words-30 points 8 letter words-and over50 points Words can be altered by moving letter counters out of the word and moving new letter counters into the word, or extended by adding one or more letter counters to the beginning or end of the word in the course of play, and, when a word is altered or extended to form a new complete word, the new word scores points in the usual way.Furthermore a player may make words by extending the other player's words, although it is not possible for a player to alter letters in the other player's words except by introducing one of his counters into a space previously vacated by the other player moving one of his counters out of the word, since he may not move the other player's counters. However a player may only interfere with another player's words so as to form a new word.

Blank letter counters can be played as any letter of the player's choice, although, once that choice is made, it cannot be changed. If a player draws a blank number counter, he misses a turn and both the blank number counter and the letter counter drawn by that player during that turn are removed from the game.

Words cannot be formed below the blue line 6, whereas, in the region between the blue line 6 and the red line 5, a player may initially form words only in his own half, that is the words must not overlap the red band 4.

The players may form words anywhere in the region above the red line 5, including the other player's half. Also, once players have reached this region, they may form words which extend downwardly into the region between the red line 5 and the blue line 6 in the other player's half. Once a player has formed a word which extends downwardly in this manner, he is free to form further words in the region between the two lines 5, 6 in the other player's half and to form words extending across the red band 4 back into his own half.

Words completed with a letter counter resting on the red band 4 receive a 50 point bonus. Words that are completed with one or the letter counters forming the word covering with one of the letter counters forming the word covering one of the squares 7 marked with a numeral "2" or one of the squares 8 marked with a numeral "3" score double or treble points. However, if the word is later changed into a new word, the new word score is not doubled or trebled.

At the end of the game, that is when one of the players has moved all his letter counters on to the board, each player counts up the numbers on his unplayed number counters and deducts the total number from his total number of points. The winner of the game is the player with the most points.

Instead of utilising number counters 1 3 to control the movements of the letter counters 11, 12, the players may shake two dice to obtain numbers between 2 and 12.

Claims

1. Counter and board game apparatus comprising a playing surface having marked thereon a design in the form of a square or rectangle divided into a plurality of smaller squares and having a band extending at least part pars way across the square or rectangle so as to at least partially divide the design into two halves, a plurality of counters bearing letters of the alphabet thereon, and random number indicating means.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the random number indicating means comprise one or more dice.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the random number indicating means comprise a plurality of further counters bearing numbers thereon.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the band is of a width corresponding to the dimension of the smaller squares and of a length corresponding to a multiple of the dimension of the smaller squares.

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the band is of a different colour to at least those smaller squares immediately adjacent the band.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the design is further subdivided by at least one dividing line extending across the square or rectangle perpendicularly to the band.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the or each line is of a different colour to the lines separating the smaller squares.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein two such dividing lines are provided, one towards the top of the design and the other towards the bottom of the design, the two lines being of different colours.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein certain of the smaller squares incorporate markings thereon.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein certain of the smaller squares are marked with a numeral "2".

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, wherein certain of the smaller squares are marked with a numeral "3".

1 2. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein there are two sets of counters bearing letters of the alphabet thereon.

1 3. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the two sets are of different colours.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, wherein each set includes at least one counter marked with each letter of the alphabet and at least one blank counter.

1 5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the board and the counters are made of cardboard.

1 6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the board is in the form of a sleeve having the design marked thereon and capable of accommodating the counters.

1 7. Counter and board game apparatus substantially as hereinbefore desribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.