US20060279042A1

US20060279042A1 - Chess-type game and method of play for 2,3 or 4 players

Info

Publication number: US20060279042A1
Application number: US11/406,075
Authority: US
Inventors: George Stevenson; Alexander Silvestri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-04-18
Filing date: 2006-04-18
Publication date: 2006-12-14
Also published as: CA2503168A1

Abstract

A chess-type game for 2, 3 or 4 players comprising a game board with a checkered playing surface and a border having four visually distinguishable sides, preferably by four colors, surrounding the playing surface, each of the said four colors corresponding to a different set of chess-like playing pieces of the same color, each said set of playing pieces to be initially set up on the board opposite the side of the border of the same color, each side of the border being used to designate the adjacent row where playing pieces the same color as the border side may be promoted. Optionally, the set of playing pieces may include a new chess-like character designated a squire, which may move two squares vertically, horizontally, or diagonally in any direction, may jump over intervening pieces, and which may be removed from the board when a knight associated with the squire is captured.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATION

This U.S. application claims foreign priority from Canadian application 2,503,168, filed Apr. 18, 2005, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chess-type game. In particular the invention relates to a chess-type game board, sets of chess-type pieces, and methods of playing a chess-type game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Chess is a classic and popular board game which not only provides fun, but also intellectual challenge to participants. The wide variety of moves that can be made by chess pieces creates a situation where numerous strategies and move combinations can be implemented. The standard chess game consists of a checkered chess board, eight squares across and eight squares deep, and thirty-two chess pieces divided equally into one set of sixteen light coloured pieces and one set of sixteen dark coloured pieces.
However, standard chess is limiting in that only two players may play at one time unless one or more players wish to collaborate as to the strategy to be employed with respect to one of the two sets of pieces on the chess board. This method of group play does not allow for the independent thought usually associated with standard two player chess. Accordingly, a chess-type game which allows two, three or four players to play is desirable.
As a result of adapting the game of chess as described herein, it may sometimes be confusing, especially to children, which side of the game board pawns of a specific colour or other distinguishing means must reach before being promoted. The required direction for each colour of pawn in order to be promoted may also be unclear with up to four different colours of pieces on the board. This may be particularly so in end play where the pieces of several players may have left their original starting positions and it may not be easy to recall or determine in which direction a player's pawns must go to be promoted or in which directions a player must prevent an opponent's pawns from moving in order to be promoted. These problems are further worsened where one or two of the players each control two sets of pieces or where one or two players have been eliminated from four player chess or one player has been eliminated from three player chess and his or her remaining pieces are removed from the board. The foregoing-problems are further compounded where a game is lengthy and one or more breaks in play are taken and one or more of the players may not return to his or her original seating position.
Although visually distinguishing each side of a playing surface, preferably by colour, to indicate the opposing row to be reached by each player to have pawns promoted would address this problem, the patents in the area of chess-type games do not use colour or other indicia for this purpose. U.S. Pat. No. 4,093,237 to Weiss teaches a chess-like board divided into quadrants, each of a different colour. Coloured numbers are provided along outer borders, the colours of the numbers corresponding to the quadrants to which they adjoin. Accordingly, the coloured numbers are not used to indicate an opposing target area. U.S. Pat. No. 6,142,474—Tachkov et al, also teaches a chess-like game wherein each of four armies are initially positioned in each of four corners of a game board. Due to the corner positioning of the pieces in Tachkov pawns may move forward towards two opposing sides of the board. In particular Tachkov teaches three different kinds of pawns—three pawns that move towards one opposite side, three other pawns that move towards the other opposite side, and one pawn that can move towards either opposite side. The border abutting each opposite side comprises three linearly arranged designation marks, preferably round, corresponding to the columns comprising the three pawns intended to move towards said three designation marks. Each of the two sets of three designation marks the same colour as their corresponding set of coloured pieces are further distinguished from each other to each correspond to the two different sets of three pawns of each set of playing pieces. Thus three designation marks of each particular colour abut two different sides of the game board. Accordingly each side of the game board comprises three designation marks of a first colour corresponding to three columns, three designation marks of a second colour corresponding to three different columns, and no designation marks for the remaining columns. Complicated markings of this kind are too difficult for children to understand and take a player's attention away from the balance of the game.
Thus there does not exist any simple way to designate the entirety of a row which pawns or other chess-like pieces, initially disposed proximate an opposite side of a chess-type board, must reach to be promoted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a chess-type game for two, three or four players, comprising a game board and a plurality of playing pieces for two, three or four players. The game board comprises a playing surface with a multiplicity of squares arranged to define a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Alternate squares are visually distinguished from each other, preferably by colour, defining a checkered pattern. A border substantially surrounding the playing surface comprises four sides visually distinguishable from one another, preferably by colour. The game board is used in conjunction with 2, 3 or 4 sets of chess-like playing pieces, each set of pieces being visibly associated with one of the four sides of the border, preferably by the same colour. Each side of the border is intended to indicate the proper direction of movement of associated playing pieces, pawns being an example, toward a particular side of the game board. Accordingly it is not required that the border be continuous at the corners of the playing surface.
In another aspect, each set of chess-like playing pieces comprises at least one pawn, and at least one king and may further comprise zero, one or more than one rook, knight, bishop and queen.
In another aspect, each player's set of playing pieces comprises one or more of a novel chess-like playing piece, designated a squire, which may move two spaces along any row or any column on any one turn, may jump over any piece of a player or an opponent on any square between a square on which squire is situated at the start of the turn and a square onto which a squire may move on the same turn, and may capture any opponent's piece, except a king, on any square onto which the squire may move on a turn, and may put an opponent's king into check on any square onto which the squire otherwise could move on its next turn. Optionally, the squire may also move two spaces on any diagonal on any one turn. Further optionally, each squire may be associated with a knight, such that when the associated knight is captured and removed from the board the squire is also removed from the board. Further optionally, an additional knight may be placed onto an unoccupied square of the board each time a player's squire reaches the side of the board opposite its original starting position, at which time the squire is returned to its original starting position.
Each set of playing pieces is initially positioned proximate a different side of the game board opposite a side of the border visually associated with the set of playing pieces, such that pawns of the set of playing pieces must cross the game board and reach the row adjacent to the side of the border visually associated with the set of playing pieces in order to have pawns promoted to higher ranking playing pieces.
The chess-type game may be played by two, three or four individual players in a substantially chess-like manner, until only one player is left who is declared the winner and the game is over. Alternately, the game may be played by two pair of partners in a substantially chess-like manner, until only one or two partners of the same pair are left who are declared the winners and the game is over. Alternately, the game may be played by an individual player and a pair of partners in a substantially chess-like manner, until either the individual player is left and is declared the winner and the game is over, or one or both of the pair of partners are left who are declared the winners and the game is over. Alternately, the game may be played by two pairs of partners in a substantially chess-like manner, until the two partners of one pair are left, who are then designated opponents, with play continuing in a substantially chess-like manner, until one player is left who is declared the winner and the game is over. Alternately, the game may be played by an individual and a pair of partners in a substantially chess-like manner, until the two players of the pair are left, who are then declared opponents, with play continuing in a substantially chess-like manner, until one player is left who is declared the winner and the game is over. Preferably while one player plays against a pair of players the one player takes every second turn.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the chess-type board.
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the chess-type board showing one embodiment with four sets of playing pieces in starting position.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the chess-type board showing another embodiment with four sets of playing pieces, including a novel playing piece designated a squire, in starting position.
FIG. 4 is a side view of a squire with a colored flag for use in association with a knight with a colored base of the same color.
FIG. 5 is a side view of a knight with a colored base for use in association with a squire with a colored flag of the same color.
FIG. 6 is a top plan view showing the movement of the squire playing piece in a novice squire variation and the starting squares for squires designated by an “S”.
FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing the movement of the squire playing piece in the advanced squire variation and the starting squares for squires designated by a colored edge.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A first embodiment of the chess-type game 10 comprises a chess-type board 12 with a board base 11 of material such as cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, marble or other suitable material. The board base 11 comprises a substantially square playing surface 13, bounded by perimeter 17, said playing surface 13 comprising four hundred substantially equal sized squares comprising two hundred white squares 14 and two hundred grey squares 15, arranged to define twenty rows and twenty columns, said white squares 14 and grey squares 15 alternating in color to form a checkered pattern.
Surrounding the perimeter 17 of the playing surface 13 is a border 16. The border 16 is comprised of four different colored sides, preferably a black border side 22, a yellow border side 24, a blue border side 23 and a red border side 25. The border sides 22, 23, 24, 25 are separated by dividing lines 20. Dividing lines 20 extend between each corner 19 of the playing surface 13 to the corresponding corners 21 of the chess-type board 12. In this first embodiment the black border side 22 is opposite blue border side 23, and yellow border side 24 is opposite red border side 25. As viewed from the top of the chess-type board 12 the border sides 22, 23, 24, 25 are clockwise in the order of black border side 22, yellow border side 24, blue border side 23 and red border side 25.
The chess-type game 10 further comprises four sets of thirty standard chess pieces 29, each set of standard chess pieces 29 comprising one king 30, one queen 31, two bishops 32, two knights 33, two rooks 34 and twenty-two pawns 35. Each set of standard pieces 29 is of a different color corresponding to one of the four colors of the border 16 preferably black, blue, yellow and red. Each set of pieces 29 may also optionally include one or more extra queen 31, bishop 32, knight 33 and rook 34 for use when pawns 35 are promoted.
The preferred starting positions for the pieces 29 of each player are on three rows 26, 27, 28 parallel and closest to each player's side 18 of perimeter 17, the closest row to each player's side 18 of perimeter 17 being the first row 26, the second closest row to each player's side 18 of perimeter 17 being the second row 27, and the third closest row to each player's side 18 of perimeter 17 being the third row 28, each row 26, 27, 28 comprising the following standard chess pieces, commencing from left to right as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17, with the first rows 26 comprising five empty squares, a pawn 35, a rook 34, a knight 33, a bishop 32, a king 30, a queen 31, a bishop 32, a knight 33, a rook 34, a pawn 35 and five empty squares, the second rows 27 comprising five empty squares, a series of ten pawns 35 and five empty squares, and the third rows 28 comprising five empty squares, a series of ten pawns 35 and five empty squares.
The playing pieces 29 of the chess-type game 10 use standard chess movements which are well known to players familiar with the game. One of the exceptions to standard chess is that each player's queen 31 is always to the right of the same player's king 30, as viewed by each player from outside the player's side 18 of perimeter 17. Another exception to the standard movement of chess pieces 29 is the movement of the pawns 35. Pawns 35 may move one space in any direction, in this respect similar to that of the king 30. However, pawns 35 may only capture by moving one square on any diagonal. Thus pawns 35 may not capture any opponent's piece on any abutting square and may not move onto any such abutting square occupied by a player's own piece. Therefore unlike the movement of the pawn 35 in standard chess, when the pawn 35 is unable to move forward, the pawn 35 may pass any piece occupying an abutting square by moving forward onto one of the diagonal squares. However, if the square on a diagonal is occupied by a piece of an opponent the pawn 35 must capture the opponent's piece on the diagonal to occupy that square. Further, if the square on the diagonal is occupied by any piece of the same set of pieces as the pawn 35 the diagonal square may not be occupied by the pawn 35. Alternatively the pawn 35 may move backwards or sideways onto an unoccupied abutting square or a diagonal square. Preferably, no pawn 35 may move forward two spaces on its first move in any direction at any time and accordingly the en passant rule may not apply in this instance.
Play preferably commences with the player with black pieces 29 and play preferably continues around the board 12 clockwise. The player with black is chosen by the roll of a die or in some other acceptable way. In order for pawns 35 of a player to be promoted, the pawns 35 must reach the first row 26 of the board 12 opposite their starting positions on rows 26, 27, 28. In order to indicate the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25, of the board 12 which a player's pawns 35 must reach in order to be promoted, the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25, adjacent the perimeter side 18 of the board 12 should be the same color as the player's playing pieces 29 initially positioned on the opposite side of board 12. Thus, black pieces 29 move across the board 12 towards a black border side 22, yellow pieces 29 move across the board 12 towards a yellow border side 24, blue pieces 29 move across the board 12 towards a blue border side 23, and red pieces 29 move across the board 12 towards a red border side 25. Accordingly, the starting positions of a player's pieces 29 are on rows 26, 27, 28 adjacent that side 18 of perimeter 17 of the board 12 opposite the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 the same color as that player's set of pieces 29.
The chess-type game 10 may be played by four players acting as individuals without partners. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces 29 is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions. Play commences with first, second, third and fourth players taking turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, commencing with the first player, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24, or 25 of the same colour as the pieces 29 of that player, while moving the said pieces 29 in a substantially chess-like manner until the king 30 of one of the four players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the pieces 29 of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board 12. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner until another player's king 30 is check-mated, at which time all of that player's pieces 29 are removed from the board. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner until another player's king 30 is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.
The chess-type game 10 may also be played by three players acting as individuals without partners. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces 29 is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions. Play commences with first, second and third players taking turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, commencing with the first player, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 of the same color as the pieces 29 of that player, while moving the said pieces 29 in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king 30 of one of the three players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the pieces 29 of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, until another player's king 30 is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.
The chess-type game 10 may also be played by two players acting as individuals without partners. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces 29 is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions. Play commences with first and second players taking turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, commencing with the first player, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 of the same color as the pieces 29 of that player, while moving the said pieces 29 in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king 30 of one of the two players is put into check-mate leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.
The chess-type game 10 may also be played by four players consisting of two teams, each team consisting of a pair of partners. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions, associating a first player with a third player, and designating the first player and third player a first pair of partners and associating a second player with a fourth player, and designating the second player and the fourth player a second pair of partners. Play commences with first, second, third and fourth players taking turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, commencing with the first player, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 of the same color as the pieces of that player, while moving said pieces 29 in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king 30 of one of the players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the pieces 29 of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board 12. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, with the player now not having a partner now taking every second turn, until the next player put into check-mate is the partner of the player last check-mated, leaving a remaining pair of partners who are declared the winners and the game is over, or continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with the player now not having a partner now taking every second turn, until one of the players of the remaining pair of partners is check-mated, at which time all the pieces 29 of said player are removed from the board 12, and continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with each remaining player now taking alternating turns, until the king 30 of one of the remaining players is check-mated, leaving one player of a pair who are declared the winners and the game is over.
The chess-type game 10 may also be played by three players consisting of one individual and one team consisting of a pair of partners. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions, associating a first player with a third player and designating the pair of the first player and the third player partners. Play then commences in a substantially chess-like manner, with the players taking turns in the order first player, second player, third player and second player, such that the second player has every second turn, moving in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 of the same color as the pieces 29 of that player, while moving in a substantially chess-like manner, until the player put into check-mate is the player without a partner, leaving a remaining pair of partners who are declared the winners and the game is over, or until one of the players of the pair of partners is check-mated, at which time all the pieces 29 of said player are removed from the board 12, and continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until one of the last two remaining players is also check-mated, leaving the one player never having had a partner who is declared the winner and the game is over, or leaving one of the partners of the pair who are declared the winners and the game is over.
The chess-type game 10 may also be played by four players consisting of two teams, each team consisting of a pair of partners, wherein the last two remaining players previously partners then become opponents. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces 29 is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions, associating a first player with a third player, and designating the first player and third player a first pair of partners and associating a second player with a fourth player, and designating the second player and the fourth player a second pair of partners. Play commences with first, second, third and fourth players taking turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, commencing with the first player, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 of the same color as the pieces of that player, while moving the said pieces 29 in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king 30 of one of the four players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the pieces 29 of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board 12. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, with the player now not having a partner now taking every second turn, until the king 30 of the partner of the player who was check-mated is also check-mated, at which time all of the pieces 29 of said partner are also removed from the board 12, leaving the two players of the remaining pair. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner between the remaining pair of players, who are now designated opponents, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until the king of one of the players is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.
The chess-type game 10 may also be played by three players consisting of one individual and one team consisting of a pair of partners, wherein the last two remaining players previously partners then become opponents. Each player selects a different colored set of playing pieces 29, and each set of playing pieces 29 is set up on the board 12 in the preferred starting positions, associating a first player with a third player and designating the pair of the first player and the third player partners. Play commences in a substantially chess-like manner, with the players taking turns in the order first player, second player, third player and second player, such that the second player has every second turn, moving each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the said board 12, with each player attempting to promote his or her pawns 35 by reaching the side 18 of the board 12 opposite the initial starting position of that player, the opposite side 18 of the board 12 having the border side 22, 23, 24 or 25 of the same color as the pieces 29 of that player, until the king 30 of the player not associated with a partner is put into check-mate, at which time all of the pieces 29 of said player who was check-mated are removed from the board 12. Play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner between the remaining pair of players, who are now designated opponents, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until the king 30 of one of said players is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.
In three or four player partner play a player may attempt to checkmate the king 30 of either player of an opposing team and may capture any other piece 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 of either player on the opposing team. Conversely, a player's king 30 may be put into check or checkmated by either player of the opposing team, and any other pieces 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 of the player may be threatened or captured by either player of the opposing team. Accordingly, the sets of pieces 29 of any two partners may be coordinated to act as one opposing force so as to approximate the strategy of two player chess.
In three or four player partner play wherein any pair of partners may ultimately be designated opponents, each player of a two player team may also check or checkmate the king 30 of the other player of the same team, and may capture the other pieces 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 of the other player of the same team at any time, whether or not the pair have been designated opponents. In this way a player may anticipate a partner becoming an opponent and may wish to attack a partner before the player's partner is designated an opponent. Thus a player may not put his or her king 30 into check or check-mate or remain in check from the pieces 29 of the player's partner.
It is, of course, to be recognized that the game may also be played in a manner such that the pieces 29 of a player may not be captured and the king 30 of a player may not be put into check or checkmate by the pieces 29 of the player's partner while the two players are still partners and have not yet been designated opponents, that is while an individual opponent or one or two players of an opposing team has some pieces 29 remaining on the board 12. In this aspect a king 30 of a player would not be considered in check or checkmate by the pieces 29 of the player's partner, until the said players are designated opponents.
Alternatively a player may have more than one king 30, in which case all the kings 30 of a player must be checkmated before that player is defeated.
The game 10 may also be played by three players with four sets of pieces 29 or by two players with three or four sets of pieces 29, wherein each player would play more than one set of pieces 29 at a time.
In a second embodiment the board 12, set of game pieces 29 and methods of play of the first embodiment are adapted to accommodate a new chess-like piece designated a “squire” 41. The squire 41 moves two spaces on any row or any column on any one turn. The squire 41 also jumps over any piece in between the squire's position at the start of a turn and the squire's 41 position at the end of a turn. Each player has a modified set of game pieces 36 identical to the set of chess pieces 29 in the first embodiment but with two fewer pawns 35 and together with two squires 41, for a total of thirty playing pieces 36 per player. No additional squires 41 need be provided as extra pieces as pawns 35 are preferably not promoted to squires 41.
Each of two knights 37, 39 of a player is associated with one of two different squires 38, 40 of the same player. Preferably a first knight 37 comprising a green base 42 of a player is associated with a first squire 38 comprising a green flag 43 of the same player and a second knight 39 comprising a brown base 42 of the same player is associated with a second squire 40 comprising a brown flag 43 of the same player. Although embodiments of the chess-type game 10 comprising squires 41 may be played on board 12, the game 10 is preferably played on a squire game board 9 adapted to show the starting positions of each squire 38, 40. Each of the squires 38, 40 are placed on the squire variation second row 48 of each player such that the squire 38 or 40 associated with a particular knight 37 or 39 is placed on the square immediately abutting the square in the squire variation first row 47 comprising the starting position of the associated knight 37, 39. The knights 37, 39 of each player maintain the same starting positions as the knights 33 in the first embodiment. Thus, a first knight 37 is associated with a first squire 38 and a second knight 39 is associated with a second squire 40.
Preferably each white square squire starting position 45 comprises a green “S” 50 or a green edge 52 to indicate the starting positions of squires 38 with a green flag 43 and each grey square squire starting position 46 comprises a brown “S” 51 or a brown edge 53 to indicate the starting positions of squires 40 with a brown flag 43. Due to the fact that the squire game board 9 has a checkered pattern, squires 40 with brown flags 43 will be the left hand squire for players with black pieces 29 or blue pieces 29 and squires 38 with green flags 43 will be the right hand squires for players with black pieces 29 or blue pieces 29 and squires 38 with green flags 43 will be the left hand squires for players with yellow pieces 29 or red pieces 29 and squires 40 with brown flags 43 will be the right hand squires for players with yellow pieces 29 or red pieces 29, as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17. Thus, grey square squire starting positions 46 with brown “S” 51 or brown edge 53 will be the left hand square for players with black pieces 29 or blue pieces 29, and white square squire starting positions 45 with green “S” 50 or green edge 52 will be the right hand square for players with black pieces 29 or blue pieces 29 and white square squire starting positions 45 with green “S” 50 or green edge 52 will be the left hand square for players with yellow pieces 29 or red pieces 29 and grey square squire starting positions 46 with brown “S” 51 or brown edge 53 will be the right hand squares for players with yellow pieces 29 or red pieces 29, as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17.
Thus from left to right starting positions for sets of pieces comprising squires 36 of a first row 47 of pieces 36 for players with black or blue pieces 36 comprises five empty squares, a pawn 35, a rook 34, a second knight 39 with a brown base 42, a bishop 32, a king 30, a queen 31, a bishop 32, a first knight 37 with a green base 42, a rook 34, a pawn 35 and five empty squares, and a first row 47 of pieces 36 for players with yellow or red pieces 36 comprises five empty squares, a pawn 35, a rook 34, a first knight 37 with a green base 42, a bishop 32, a king 30, a queen 31, a bishop 32, a second knight 39 with a brown base 42, a rook 34, a pawn 35 and five empty squares, as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17.
From left to right starting positions for sets of pieces comprising squires 36 of a second row 48 of pieces 36 for players with black or blue pieces 36 comprises five empty squares, a series of two pawns 35, a second squire 40 with a brown flag 43, a series of four pawns 35, a first squire 38 with a green flag 43, a series of two pawns 35, and five empty spaces and a second row 48 of pieces 36 for players with yellow or red pieces 36 comprises five empty squares, a series of two pawns 35, a first squire 38 with a green flag 43, a series of four pawns 35, a second squire 40 with a brown flag 43, a series of two pawns 35, and five empty squares, as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17.
From left to right the starting positions for sets of pieces comprising squires 36 of a third row 49 of pieces 36 comprises a series of five empty squares, a series of ten pawns 35 and a series of five empty squares, as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17.
It, of course, will be recognized that the squire game 9 board of the first embodiment need not be used to play the chess-type game 10 of the second embodiment comprising squires 41, the colored letter “S” 50, 51 or edge 52, 53 on a squire starting square 45, 46 serving only as a reminder of the initial starting positions of squires 38, 40. It will be recognized that alternatively a first pair of first knight 37 with a green base 42 and first squire 38 with a green flag 43 may consistently be a right hand pair and a second pair of second knight 39 with a brown base 42 and second squire 40 with a brown flag 43, may consistently be a left hand pair, or vice versa, as viewed from outside each player's side 18 of perimeter 17.
Squires 41 may be captured by an opponent in the same manner that other pieces 35, 34, 33, 32, 31, of a player may be captured. When a knight 37, 39 is captured its associated squire 38, 40 respectively, is also removed from the board 9, 12. However, when a squire 38, 40 is captured, its associated knight 37, 39, respectively, is not removed from the board 9, 12.
Optionally, when a squire 41 reaches the opposite side 18 of the board 9, 12 from its starting position 45, 46 an additional knight 33 is issued to said player and may be placed on any empty square 14, 15 on the first row 47 of said player. If the first row 47 of said player is entirely occupied the knight 33 will remain off the board 9, 12 until a space becomes available. It is to be recognized that the knight 33 may optionally remain off the board 9, 12 until such time as a desired square 14, 15 in the first row 47 of a player becomes unoccupied. At the same time the additional knight 33 is issued to the said player, the squire 41 is moved back to its original starting position 45, 46 provided that neither the player's king 30, nor the king 30 of any other player, is on the square 45, 46 at the time. If any of said kings 30 occupy the squire's 38, 40 initial starting position 45, 46, the squire 38, 40 remains off the board until the square 45, 46 becomes unoccupied by the said king 30. It is to be recognized that further optionally an opponent's king 30 could also be considered to be in check once the squire 38, 40 is in a position to return to its starting position. If the squire's 38, 40 initial starting position 45, 46 is occupied by any other piece, except a king 30, of the player or any piece, except a king 30, of any other player, such piece 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41 is removed from the board 9, 12 and the squire 38, 40 is placed on its starting position 45, 46. It is also to be recognized that further optionally a squire 38, 40 need not necessarily cause the removal of a piece 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41 of the same player from the squire starting position 45, 46 and that the squire 38, 40 may remain off the board 9, 12 until the other piece 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41 of the same player is moved off starting positions 45, 46.
The methods of play in the second embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment except for the movements and capabilities of the knights 37, 39 and the squires 38, 40, the use of sets of chess-like pieces comprising squires 36, the placement of the sets of pieces comprising squires 36 and optionally the use of the squire game board 9. The methods of play associated with this second embodiment shall be referred to as the novice squire variation.
In yet a third embodiment the methods of play are identical to those in the second embodiment except that same are adapted to provide that squires 38, 40 may additionally move two squares on any diagonal, in any direction, on any one turn. The squires 38, 40 may also jump over any piece on a diagonal between the squire's 38, 40 position at the start of a turn and the squires's 38, 40 position at the end of a turn. The capture capabilities of the squires 38, 40 with respect to any square on which it may land are the same as in the second embodiment. The methods of play associated with this third embodiment shall be referred to as the advanced squire variation.
It is of course to be understood that the game board and the game pieces of all the embodiments may be presented via computer software. The game may be played by two, three or four players via a computer network. The game may also be implemented wherein a computer plays one, two, or three sets of pieces.
Accordingly, it is an advantage to provide a chess-type game board with a simple way to remind children and adults alike of the row each player must reach to have pawns or other pieces promoted.
It is a further advantage to provide a new piece designated a squire with unique movement capabilities of intermediate reach between a king and a rook for the novice squire variation and of intermediate reach between a king and a queen for the advanced squire variation which adds challenge to the game without diluting the movements of other traditional chess pieces and without detracting from the style of traditional chess.
It is a further advantage to provide a new piece designated a squire with a unique allegiance to a particular knight wherein the squire is removed form the board when the knight to which the squire owes its allegiance is captured, but wherein the knight is not removed from the board when the squire is captured.
Other advantages will be evident to those playing the game. The above embodiments of the game are not intended to limit the way the game may be played and the above embodiments are to be understood to be by way of example only.

PARTS LIST

9. squire game board chess-type game.
10. board base.
11. chess-type board.
12. playing surface.
13. white squares.
14. grey squares.
15. border.
16. perimeter (of playing surface).
17. side (of perimeter).
18. corners (of the playing surface).
19. dividing lines.
20. corners (of the chess board).
21. black border side.
22. blue border side.
23. yellow border side.
24. red border side.
25. first row (of pieces).
26. second row (of pieces).
27. third row (of pieces).
28. set of standard chess pieces.
29. king.
30. queen.
31. bishop.
32. knight.
33. rook.
34. pawn.
35. set of chess-like pieces comprising squires
36. first knight with green base.
37. first squire with green flag.
38. second knight with brown base.
39. second squire with brown flag.
40. squire.
41. knight base.
42. squire flag.
43. (not used)
44. White square squire starting position.
45. Grey square squire starting position.
46. Squire variations first row (of pieces).
47. Squire variations second row (of pieces).
48. Squire variations third row (of pieces).
49. Green S (on square).
50. Brown S (on square).
51. Green edge (of square).
52. Brown edge (of square).

Claims

1. A chess-type game board comprising:

a game board having a playing surface with a multiplicity of squares arranged to define a plurality of contiguous rows and a plurality of contiguous columns; and

a generally rectangular border substantially surrounding the playing surface, the border comprising four sides visually distinguishable from one another,

for use with a chess-type game having two, three or four sets of visually distinguishable chess-type playing pieces, each of the sets corresponding to a different one of the four sides of the border.

2. The chess-type game board of claim 1 wherein the border is noncontinuous proximate the corners of the playing surface.

3. The chess-type game board in either of claim 1 wherein the four sides of the border are visually distinguishable from one another by four different colours.

4. The chess-type game board of claim 3 wherein the four different colours are black, yellow, blue, and red.

5. The chess-type game board of claim 4 wherein the colours black, yellow, blue and red are arranged in a clockwise order of black, yellow, blue and red, as viewed from above the playing surface.

6. The chess-type game board of claim 3 wherein the squares alternate to be visually distinguishable from each other forming a checkered pattern.

7. The chess-type game board of claim 6 wherein the squares which alternate are visually distinguishable from each other by two alternating colours.

8. The chess-type game board of claim 7 wherein the two alternating colours are white and grey.

9. A chess-type game comprising:

the chess-type game board of any one claim 7,

two, three or four sets of visually distinguishable chess-type playing pieces,

each of the sets corresponding to a different one of the four sides of the border.

10. The chess-type game of claim 9 wherein each of the sets of playing pieces are visually distinguishable from one another by different colours.

11. The chess-type game in either of claim 10 wherein each of the sets of playing pieces visually distinguishable from one another by different colours correspond to a different one of the four sides of the border of the same colour.

12. The chess-type game of claim 111 wherein each set of playing pieces comprise a plurality of standard chess pieces including at least one pawn and at least one king.

13. The chess-type game of claim 12 wherein the plurality of standard chess pieces consists of thirty standard chess pieces.

14. The chess-type game of claim 13 wherein the thirty standard chess pieces consists of:

One King;

One Queen;

Two Bishops;

Two Knights;

Two Rooks; and

Twenty Two Pawns.

15. The chess-type game board of claim 14 wherein the plurality of rows consists of twenty contiguous rows and the plurality of columns consists of twenty contiguous columns.

16. The chess-type game of claim 15 wherein pawns comprise the following characteristics:

may move one space along any row onto an unoccupied square on any one move;

may move one space along any column onto an unoccupied square on any one move;

may move one space along any diagonal onto an unoccupied square on any one move; and

may move one space along any diagonal onto a square occupied by a piece, except a king of another player, in which case the piece of the other player is captured and removed from the board.

17. The chess-type game of claim 11 wherein the different colours for each of the sets of playing pieces are black, yellow, blue and red.

18. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for four players, comprising:

selecting a different one of the sets of playing pieces for each of the players;

assembling player starting positions for the players on different sides of the board using the selected sets of pieces, the assembling of the starting position for each player comprising placing pieces from the set selected for the player on three side-by-side rows of the playing surface opposite and most distant from one of the border side that corresponds to the set selected for the player, the three rows including a first row farthest from the one border side, a second row closer to the one border side, and a third row still closer to the one border side, the placing of the pieces from the selected set on the three rows comprising:

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order, a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop, a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook, and a pawn; from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

(b) placing on the second row ten pawns from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left; and

(c) placing on the third row ten pawns from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board with each of the players attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner until the king of one of the players is put into checkmate at which time all of the remaining pieces of the player who was checkmated are removed from the board;

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues a substantially chess-like manner until another player's king is check-mated, at which time all of the remaining pieces of that player are removed from the board; and

after another of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner until another player's king is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.

19. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for three players, comprising:

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order, a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop; a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook, and a pawn; from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

(b) placing on the second row ten pawns froth the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left; and

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board with each of the players attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner until the king of one of the players is put into checkmate at which time all of the remaining pieces of the player who was checkmated are removed from the board; and

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, until another player's king is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.

20. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for two players, comprising:

assembling player starting positions for the players on different sides of the board using the selected sets of pieces, the assembling of the starting position for each player comprising placing pieces froth the set selected for the player on three side-by-side rows of the playing surface opposite and most distant from one of the border side that corresponds to the set selected for the player, the three rows including a first row farthest from the one border side, a second row closer to the one border side; and a third row still closer to the one border side, the placing of the pieces from the selected set on the three rows comprising:

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order, a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop, a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook, and a pawn, from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

(c) placing on the third row ten pawns from the sixth square from, the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left; and

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board with each of the players attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner until the king of one of the players is put into checkmate leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.

21. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for four players, comprising:

designating a first player, and a third player a pair of partners;

designating a second player and a fourth player another pair of partners;

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board, in the order first player, second player, third player and fourth player, with each player attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player, and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king of one of the players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the remaining pieces of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board; and

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, with the player now not having a partner now taking every second turn, until:

(d) the next player put into check-mate is the partner of the player last check-mated, leaving a remaining pair of partners who are declared the winners and the game is over; or

(e) one of the players of the remaining pair of partners is check-mated, at which time all the remaining pieces of said player are removed from the board, and continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with each remaining player now taking alternating turns, until the king of one of the remaining players is check-mated, leaving one player of a pair who are declared the winners and the game is over.

22. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for three players, comprising: selecting a different one of the sets of playing pieces for each of the players; assembling player starting positions for the players on different sides of the board using the selected sets of pieces, the assembling of the starting position for each player comprising placing pieces from the set selected for the player on three side-by-side rows of the playing surface opposite and most distant from one of the border side that corresponds to the set selected for the player, the three rows including a first row farthest from the one border side, a second row closer to the one border side, and a third row still closer to the one border side, the placing of the pieces from the selected set on the three rows comprising:

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order, a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop; a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook, and a pawn, from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners; and

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board, in the order first player, second player, third player and second player, such that the second player has every second turn, with each player attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player, and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner, until:

(d) the player put into check-mate is the player without a partner, leaving a remaining pair of partners who are declared the winners and the game is over; or

(e) one of the players of the pair of partners is cheek-mated, at which time all the remaining pieces of said player are removed from the board, and then continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until one of the last two remaining players is also check-mated, leaving the one player never having had a partner who is declared the winner and the game is over, or leaving one of the partners of the pair who are declared the winners and the game is over.

23. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for four players, comprising:

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners;

designating a second player and a fourth player another pair of partners;

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board, in the order first player, second player, third player and fourth player, with each player attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player, and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king of one of the players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the remaining pieces of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board;

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, with the player now not having a partner now taking every second turn, until the king of the partner of the player who was check-mated is also check-mated, at which time all of the remaining pieces of said partner are also removed from the board, leaving the two players of the remaining pair; and

after another of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner between the remaining pair of players, who are now designated opponents, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until the king of one of the players is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.

24. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 16 for three players, comprising:

assembling player starting positions for the players on different sides of the board using the selected sets of pieces, the assembling of the starting position for each player comprising placing pieces from the set selected for the player on three side-by-side rows of the playing surface opposite and most distant from one of the border side that corresponds to the set selected for the player, the three rows including a first row farthest from the one border side, a second row closer to the one border side; and a third row still closer to the one border side, the placing of the pieces from the selected set on the three rows comprising:

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners;

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board, in the order first player, second player, third player and second player, such that the second player has every second turn, with each player attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player, and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king of the player not associated with a partner is put into check-mate, at which time all of the remaining pieces of said player who was check-mated are removed from the board;

and after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner between the remaining pair of partners, who are now designated opponents, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until the king of one of said players is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.

25. The chess-type game of claim 12 wherein each set of playing pieces further comprises one or more than one of a novel chess-type playing piece, designated a squire, comprising the following characteristics:

may move two spaces along any row or any column on any one turn;

may jump over any piece;

may capture any opponent's piece, except a king, on any square onto which the squire moves; and

may put an opponent's king into check.

26. The chess-type game of claim 25 wherein each set of playing pieces further comprises one knight for each squire, each pair of said knight and said squire being visually associated with each other, the squire further comprising the further characteristic that the squire is removed from the board when its associated knight is captured.

27. The chess-type game of claim 26 wherein each pair of visually associated knight and squire of each set of playing pieces is visually associated by a different associating colour.

28. The chess-type game of claim 27 wherein the associating colour of each pair is different from the colours of the borders and different from the colours of the sets of playing pieces and different from the colours of the squares of the playing surface.

29. The chess-type game of claim 28 wherein each set of playing pieces comprises two squires and two knights.

30. The chess-type game of claim 29 wherein for each set of playing pieces one pair of visually associated knight and squire are associated by the associating colour green and another pair of visually associated knight and squire are associated by the associating colour brown.

31. The chess-type game of claim 30 wherein the associating colour of each pair of visually associated knight and squire are on a base of each knight and on a flag of each squire.

32. The chess-type game of claim 26 wherein the game board further comprises a visual indicator for the starting position of each of the squires.

33. The chess-type game of claim 32 wherein the visual indicator comprises a coloured letter S on a square of the playing surface designating the starting position of the squire, wherein the S is the same colour as the associating colour of the squire.

34. The chess-type game of claim 32 wherein the visual indicator comprises a coloured edge on a square of the playing surface designating the starting position of the squire, wherein the coloured edge is the same as the associating colour of the squire.

35. The chess-type game in any one of claims 33 or 34 wherein the game board further comprises two visual indicators for each of four sets of playing pieces.

36. The chess-type game of claim 35 wherein, the visual indicator is next to a starting position for a knight.

37. The chess-type game of claim 26 wherein the squire has the further characteristic that an additional knight is placed onto an unoccupied square of the board for the same set of pieces as the squire each time the squire reaches the side of the board opposite a starting position for the squire, at which time the squire is returned to the starting position for that squire, said additional knight not being associated with the squire such that the squire is not removed from the board when the additional knight is captured.

38. The chess-type game of claim 37 wherein the additional knight is placed onto an unoccupied square in the row most distant from the side of the board that the squire must reach to have the additional knight placed on the board.

39. The chess-type game of claim 38 wherein the squire further comprises the following characteristics upon the squire reaching the side of the board opposite the starting position for that squire:

(a) the squire is returned to the starting position provided that the starting position of the squire is not occupied by the king of any player;

(b) the squire is taken off the board and remains off the board until no king occupies the starting position of the squire; and

(c) the squire captures any piece of the player or an opponent on the starting position of the squire upon the squire being returned to the starting position of the squire.

40. The chess-type game of claim 39 wherein each set of playing pieces consists of thirty playing pieces.

41. The chess-type game of claim 40 wherein each set of thirty playing pieces consists of:

One King;

One Queen;

Two Bishops;

Two Knights;

Two Rooks;

Twenty Pawns; and

Two Squires.

42. The chess-type game board of claim 41 wherein the plurality of rows consists of twenty contiguous rows and the plurality of columns consists of twenty contiguous columns.

43. The chess type game of either of claims 25 or 26 wherein the squire further comprises the characteristic that it may move two spaces on any diagonal on any one turn.

44. The chess-type game of claim 41 wherein the sets of playing pieces visually distinguishable from one another by different colours are visually distinguished by the four different colours of black, yellow, blue and red.

45. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for four players, comprising:

(b) placing on the second row, in the following physical order, seven pawns, a squire, four pawns, a squire, and seven pawns, from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

46. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for three players, comprising: selecting a different one of the sets of playing pieces for each of the players; assembling player starting positions for the players on different sides of the board using the selected sets of pieces, the assembling of the starting position for each player comprising placing pieces from the set selected for the player on three side-by-side rows of the playing surface opposite and most distant from one of the border side that corresponds to the set selected for the player, the three rows including a first row farthest from the one border side, a second row closer to the one border side, and a third row still closer to the one border side, the placing of the pieces from the selected set on the three rows comprising:

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order; a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop; a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook, and a pawn; from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, until another player's king is check-mated, leaving one player, who is designated the winner and the game is over.

47. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for two players, comprising:

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order, a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop, a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook; and a pawn, from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

(c) placing on the third row ten pawns from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left; and

48. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for four players, comprising:

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners;

designating a second player and a fourth player another pair of partners;

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board, in the order first player, second player, third player and fourth player, with each player attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player, and

moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king of one of the players is put into check-mate, at which time all of the remaining pieces of the player who was check-mated are removed from the board; and

(d) the next player put into check mate is the partner of the player last check-mated, leaving a remaining pair of partners who are declared the winners and the game is over; or

one of the players of the remaining pair of partners is check-mated, at which time all the remaining pieces of said player are removed from the board, and continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with each remaining player now taking alternating turns, until the king of one of the remaining players is check-mated, leaving one player of a pair, who are declared the winners and the game is over.

49. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for three players, comprising:

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners; and

(e) one of the players of the pair of partners is check-mated, at which time all the remaining pieces of said player are removed from the board, and then continuing play in a substantially chess-like manner, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until one of the last two remaining players is also check-mated, leaving the one player never having had a partner who is declared the winner and the game is over; or leaving one of the partners of the pair who are declared the winners and the game is over.

50. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for four players, comprising:

assembling player starting positions for the players on different sides of the board using the selected sets of pieces, the assembling of the starting position for each player comprising placing pieces from the set selected for the player on three side-by-side rows of the. playing surface opposite and most distant from one of the border side that corresponds to the set selected for the player, the three rows including a first row farthest from the one border side, a second row closer to the one border side; and a third row still closer to the one border side, the placing of the pieces from the selected set on the three rows comprising:

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners; designating a second player and a fourth player another pair of partners;

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner, with the player now not having a partner now taking every second turn, until the king of the partner of the player who was check mated is also check-mated, at which time all of the remaining pieces of said partner are also removed from the board, leaving the two players of the remaining pair; and

51. A method of playing the chess-type game of claim 42 for three players, comprising: selecting a different one of the sets of playing pieces for each of the players;

(a) placing on the first row, in the following physical order; a pawn, a rook, a knight, a bishop, a king, a queen, a bishop, a knight, a rook, and a pawn, from the sixth square from the player's left to the fifteenth square from the player's left;

designating a first player and a third player a pair of partners;

after assembling player starting positions, allowing the players to take turns of one move each in a clockwise order as viewed from the top of the board, in the order first player, second player, third player and second player, such that the second player has every second turn, with each player attempting to promote with successive moves the player's pawns by advancing the pawns to the side of the board opposite the starting position of the player, and moving the player's pieces in a substantially chess-like manner, until the king of. the player not associated with a partner is put into check-mate, at which time all of the remaining pieces of said player who was check-mated are removed from the board; and

after one of the players is checkmated play then continues in a substantially chess-like manner between the remaining pair of partners, who are now designated opponents, with each remaining player now taking alternate turns, until the king of one of said players is check-mated, leaving one player who is designated the winner and the game is over.

52. A method of playing a chess-type game comprising the use of a checkered game board and a set of chess-like playing pieces for each of two, three or four players, each set comprising a plurality of standard chess type pieces and one or more than one novel chess-type piece, designated a squire, and comprising the following characteristics:

may move two spaces along any row or any column on any one turn;

may jump over any piece,

may capture any opponent's piece, except a king, do any square onto which the squire moves; and

may put an opponent's king into check.

53. The method of playing the chest-type game of claim 52 wherein the squire further comprises the characteristic that it may move two spaces on any diagonal on any one turn.

54. The method of playing the chess-type game in either of claims 52 and 53 wherein each squire is associated with a knight of the same set of playing pieces, the squire further comprising the characteristic that the squire is removed from the board when its associated knight is captured.

55. The method of playing the chess-type game of claim 54 wherein the squire has the further characteristic that an additional knight is placed onto an unoccupied square of the board for the same set of pieces as the squire each time the squire reaches the side of the board opposite its original starting position, at which tine the squire is returned to its original starting position, said additional knight not being associated with the squire such that the squire is not removed from the board when the additional knight is captured.

56. The method of playing the chess-type game of claim 55 wherein the additional knight is placed onto an unoccupied square in the row most distant from the side of the board that the squire must reach to have the additional knight placed on the board.

57. The method of playing the chess-type game of claim 56 wherein the squire further comprises the following characteristics upon the squire reaching the side of the board opposite its starting position:

(a.) the squire is returned to its starting position provided that the starting position of the squire is not occupied by the king of any player;

58. The method of playing the chess-type game of claim 57 wherein a pawn may not be promoted to a squire.

59. The chess-like game in either of claims 12 or 28 wherein the game board and the game pieces are presented via computer software.

60. The chess-like game in either of claims 12 or 28 wherein two, three or four players play the game via a computer network.

61. The chess-like game in either of claims 12 or 28 wherein a computer plays one, two, or three sets of pieces.