GB2330316A

GB2330316A - Board game

Info

Publication number: GB2330316A
Application number: GB9722129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard William Bishop
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-10-20
Filing date: 1997-10-20
Publication date: 1999-04-21
Anticipated expiration: 2017-10-20
Also published as: GB9722129D0; GB2330316B

Abstract

A game comprising a board divided by lines into rows and columns defining rectangles, there being an odd number of columns so that a central rectangle 11 within a row at each end can represent a goal and two sets of pieces 12, 13, the number of pieces in each set being sufficient to occupy at least two rows of said rectangles including the goal, and to leave an unoccupied row in the centre of the board. The object of the game being to move a piece onto the opponents goal rectangle. Pieces are not taken, the strategy being to retain a piece on the goal rectangle for as long as possible.

Description

"GAME" The present invention relates to games and particularly board games.

An object of the invention is to provide a board game which can be played with a small number of pieces and in which the game provides a test between matching opponents in a reasonably short time.

Accordingly the present invention provides a game comprising a board divided by lines into rows and columns defining rectangles, there being an odd number of columns so that a central rectangle within a row at each end can represent a goal and two opposing sets of pieces, the number of pieces in each set being sufficient to occupy two rows of said rectangles including the goal, and to leave an unoccupied row in the centre of the board, and opposing pieces being distinguishable from one another.

In the case where the game represents a game of football, the two sets of pieces can have indicia representative of opposing teams of the game of football. For example the pieces may have colours which are representative of the colours of well known professional teams or the pieces may each be a of moulding of a football player carried on a base.

Generally, if the game is to be representative of a game of football, the board should be marked out as a football field in addition to inclusion of the lines defining rectangles. Thus, the board will include printed markings showing the half way lines, goal posts, penalty areas, and the central kick-off area.

In saying that the game should be representative of football, this is a particularly attractive application, however, other games can be represented which operate by use of a pitch with goals at each end, for example ice hockey, hockey, netball, polo, water-polo or basketball.

In a preferred form of the invention the board has three columns and five rows and there are six pieces in each set so that at the start of the game the two areas at each end are occupied by pieces while a central row of three rectangles is unoccupied by pieces. With this particularly layout, a game can be set up which will have an outcome fairly quickly and will therefore be interesting to play.

The invention has been described as utilising a board and two sets of pieces. The invention also includes manifestation of the game in computer form, where the board and pieces are arranged to be represented on a computer screen and the computer is arranged to be controlled to provide movement of the pieces on the screen in accordance with the rules of the game.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying single figure which shows a board having a layout in accordance with the invention and including two sets of pieces.

A board 1 has a rectangular playing area 2 marked thereon and this playing area is divided by parallel lines 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 into three columns and five rows of rectangles. A central rectangle 10 and 11 at each end respectively is marked to indicate a goal. The whole board has the markings of a football field including the halfway line, the goal posts and the penalty areas as well as the sub-dividing lines which define the rectangles.

Two sets of pieces 12, 13 which are so designated as to be distinguishable from one another, i.e. by colours or the like and the two sets of six pieces occupy the two rows of rectangles at each end of the field at the beginning of the game. Thus the pieces represent football players.

A game is played by selecting, for example by spinning a coin, who starts first, and then each player in turn makes a move of one of his pieces. The rules for moving the pieces are that only one piece should move at a time and it can move forward into an empty rectangle either along a forward diagonal straight line or forwardly straight ahead. In so doing it may move past an intervening piece of the other side into an empty rectangle or may simply go to the next adjacent empty rectangle. Pieces are not taken.

The way the game is eventually won is that after various moves have been made the player of one side enables one of his pieces to occupy the goal rectangle of the other side. For this to happen the goalkeeper piece within the goal rectangle has to have moved out of that rectangle to leave that rectangle empty and the piece to move in has to be in a position where it can make a legal move into the goal area.

As will be appreciated the strategy of the game is to avoid moving the goalkeeper out of the goal rectangle for as long as possible, however eventually one side or the other has to run out of safe moves and then the other side can move in and win the game.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A game comprising a board divided by lines into rows and columns defining rectangles, there being an odd number of columns so that a central rectangle within a row at each end can represent a goal and two sets of pieces, the number of pieces in each set being sufficient to occupy at least two rows of said rectangles including the goal, and to leave an unoccupied row in the centre of the board.
2. A game according to Claim 1 in which the board has three columns and five rows and there are six pieces in each set so that at the start of the game a central row of three rectangles is unoccupied by pieces.
3. A game according to any preceding claim in which the board is marked out as a football field, in addition to inclusion of lines defining rectangles.
4. A game according to any preceding claim in which the pieces include indicia representative of opposing teams of a game of football.
5. A computer game for playing the game of any preceding claim, in which a computer includes a display screen, and means for representing the board on the screen and for controlling movement of pieces on the screen in accordance with the rules of the game.
6. A game substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing.