Challenge game

Abstract

A method and apparatus for playing a game of chance and skill. The apparatus includes a group of dice comprising a scoring die, a challenge die, and a choice die. The scoring die relates to the scoring of points. The challenge die relates to challenging another player in attempt to take points away from the other player, and to having an opportunity to roll the choice die. The choice die provides opportunities for challenging, gaining a free turn, losing a turn, and gaining extra points. The players take turns in rolling the dice. A player becomes the winner of the game by acquiring a predetermined number of points, having a predetermined excess of points of points relative to the points of any other player, and rolling one of predetermined die combinations to end the game.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A game apparatus, comprising a group of dice, said group of dice including a scoring die and a challenge die: 
 said scoring die having six faces, wherein each face of the scoring die includes a scoring symbol of N scoring symbols, wherein N is at least 2 and no greater than 6, and wherein each of the N scoring symbols appears on at least one face of the scoring die,    said challenge die having six faces, wherein each face of the challenge die includes a null symbol, a challenge symbol, a pick-challenge symbol, or a choice symbol, wherein the challenge symbol and at least one of the choice symbol, the null symbol, and the pick-challenge symbol must each appear on at least one face of the challenge die, wherein if the choice symbol appears on at least one face of the challenge die then the group of dice further comprises a third die.    
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein N=3, and wherein the N scoring symbols include a first scoring symbol, a second scoring symbol, and a third scoring symbol.  
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first scoring symbol, the second scoring symbol, and the third scoring symbol each appear on opposite faces of the scoring die.  
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first scoring symbol, the second scoring symbol, and the third scoring symbol does not appear on opposite faces of the scoring die.  
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first scoring symbol includes a first color, wherein the second scoring symbol includes a second color, and wherein the third scoring symbol includes the second color and a mark within the second color.  
     
     
         6 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein S n  denotes an n th  scoring symbol of the N scoring symbols for n=1, 2, . . . , N, wherein P n  denotes a scoring power of S n  for n=1, 2, . . . , N, and wherein P n+1 >P n  for n=1, 2, . . . , N−1.  
     
     
         7 . The game apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the choice symbol appears on at least one face of the challenge die.  
     
     
         8 . The game apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the third die comprises a choice die, wherein the choice die has six faces, wherein the six faces include the challenge symbol, the pick-challenge symbol, or both the challenge symbol and the pick-challenge symbol.  
     
     
         9 . The game apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the six faces of choice die further include a free-turn symbol, a lose-turn symbol, or both the free-turn symbol and the lose-turn symbol.  
     
     
         10 . The game apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the six faces of choice die further include at least one free-roll symbol.  
     
     
         11 . The game apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the third die comprises a choice die, wherein the choice die has six faces comprising: a first face that includes a first free-roll symbol, a second face that includes the first free-roll symbol or a second free-roll symbol, a third face that includes the challenge symbol, a fourth face that includes a pick-challenge symbol, a fifth face that includes a lose-turn symbol, and a sixth face that includes a free-turn symbol.  
     
     
         12 . The game apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second face of the choice die includes the first free-roll symbol.  
     
     
         13 . The game apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second face of the choice die includes the second free-roll symbol, wherein a math power of the first free-roll symbol exceeds a math power of the second free-roll symbol.  
     
     
         14 . The game apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the game apparatus further comprises at least one free-turn token, wherein the at least one free-turn token is used in connection with the free-turn symbol on the choice die.  
     
     
         15 . The game apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the game apparatus further comprises a scoring sheet, said scoring sheet comprising a player's portion for at least one player of a game that uses the group of dice, said player's portion comprising a Scoring Dice column, Challenges columns, a Total Score Of Turn column, and a Total Game Score column.  
     
     
         16 . The game apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the game apparatus further comprises: 
 a scoring board that includes a plurality of scoring regions, each said scoring region identifying a scoring value; and    a plurality of score pointers, wherein the score pointers are each placed in a scoring region of the plurality of scoring regions while a Challenge Game is being played, and wherein the Challenge Game utilizes the game apparatus.    
     
     
         17 . A method of playing a game for play by a plurality of M players, comprising: 
 providing a game apparatus, said game apparatus including a group of dice, said group of dice including a scoring die and a challenge die: 
 said scoring die having six faces, wherein each face of the scoring die includes a scoring symbol of N scoring symbols, wherein N is at least 2 and no greater than 6, and wherein each of the N scoring symbols appears on at least one face of the scoring die,  
 said challenge die having six faces, wherein each face of the challenge die includes a null symbol, a challenge symbol, a pick-challenge symbol, or a choice symbol, wherein the challenge symbol and at least one of the choice symbol, the null symbol, and the pick-challenge symbol must each appear on at least one face of the challenge die, wherein if the choice symbol appears on at least one face of the challenge die then the group of dice further comprises a third die;  
   establishing an initial order of play wherein the M players are denoted and order-sequenced as P 1 , P 2 , . . . , P M ;    initializing each player's score;    playing the game in which the players each have at least one turn of play in the order of P 1 , P 2 , . . . , P M , P 1 , P 1 , P 2 , . . . until an end-game condition occurs, wherein for m=1, 2, . . . , and M executing P m 's turn of play includes: 
 firstly rolling the scoring die by P m ,  
 rolling the challenge die by P m ,  
 if k is one of 1, 2, . . . , M such that k≠m and if one of P m  and P k  procedurally challenges a remaining other of P m  and P k  and if the one of P m  and P k  is challenge-qualified, then executing a challenge sequence between P k  and P m ;  
 updating P m 's score if P m  gains or loses points during executing P m 's turn of play exclusive of any points gained or lost by P m  during the challenge sequence if executed; and  
   ending the game by occurrence of the end-game condition.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein if the one of P m  and P k  procedurally challenges the remaining other and if the one is not challenge-qualified then said challenge by the one is void and the one loses the one's next turn of play.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one is not challenge-qualified if the one lacks a positive point score.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising during executing P m 's turn of play secondly rolling by P m  the scoring die or a second scoring die, wherein updating P m 's score includes algebraically incrementing P m 's score by a number of points that is a function of S α  and S β  wherein S α  denotes a scoring symbol rolled by said firstly rolling, and wherein S β  denotes a scoring symbol rolled by said secondly rolling.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the secondly rolling the scoring die by P m  occurs prior to executing a challenge die result, and wherein executing the challenge die result follows rolling the challenge die by P m .  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the secondly rolling includes secondly rolling by P m  of the second scoring die at a same time as the firstly rolling by P m  of the scoring die.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the secondly rolling the scoring die by P m  occurs following executing a challenge die result, and wherein executing the challenge die result follows rolling the challenge die by P m .  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a face of the six faces of the challenge die includes the null symbol, and wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the null symbol.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the challenge symbol.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein a face of the six faces of the challenge die includes the pick-challenge symbol, and wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the pick-challenge symbol.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein predetermined numerical values V α  and V β  are associated with S α  and S β , respectively, and wherein the number of points is a function of the algebraic sum of V α  and V β .  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein executing P m 's turn of play includes executing the challenge sequence, wherein after the challenge sequence ends secondly rolling the scoring die by P m , wherein updating P m 's score includes algebraically incrementing P m 's score by a number of points that is a function of S α  and S β , wherein S α  denotes a scoring symbol rolled by said firstly rolling, and wherein S β  denotes a scoring symbol rolled by said secondly rolling.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein executing P m 's turn of play includes executing the challenge sequence, and wherein after the challenge sequence ends terminating executing P m 's turn of play without updating P m 's score exclusive of any points gained or lost by P m  during the challenge sequence.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein executing P m 's turn of play includes executing the challenge sequence, wherein the challenge sequence includes alternately rolling the scoring die by P k  and P m  until a predetermined first symbol of the N symbols is rolled by a particular one of P k  and P m , and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises transferring at least one point between the particular one of P k  and P m  and a remaining one of P k  and P m  as a consequence of the rolling of the predetermined first symbol by the particular one.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the challenge symbol.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a face of the six faces of the challenge die includes the pick-challenge symbol, and wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the pick-challenge symbol.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a face of the six faces of the challenge die includes the choice symbol, wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, wherein the third die includes a choice die, wherein the choice die has six faces, wherein a face of the six faces of the choice die includes the challenge symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die; and    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling the challenge symbol.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the choice symbol appears on at least one face of the challenge die, wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, wherein the third die includes a choice die, wherein the choice die has six faces, wherein a face of the six faces of the choice die includes the pick-challenge symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die; and    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling the pick-challenge symbol.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein transferring at least one point includes transferring the at least one point from the particular one to the remaining one.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein transferring at least one point includes transferring the at least one point from the remaining one to the particular one.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein a first rolling of alternately rolling the scoring die by P k  and P m  is by the one of P k  and P m .  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein if updating P m 's score or executing the challenge sequence would make P m 's score numerically negative then alternatively updating P m 's score to zero points, and wherein if executing the challenge sequence would make P k 's score numerically negative then alternatively updating P k 's score to zero points.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of initializing each player's score includes setting the initial score of each player to a common initial score.  
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of initializing each player's score includes setting initial scores of players P i  and P j  to different numerical values, wherein i is one of 1, 2, . . . , M, and wherein j is another of 1, 2, . . . , M.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the end-game condition determines a winner P i  of P 1 , P 2 , . . . , P M , and wherein the end-game condition must occur during execution of one of P i 's turns of play.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the end-game condition determines a winner P i  of P 1 , P 2 , . . . , P M , and wherein the end-game condition must occur after execution of one of P M 's turns of play.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the end-game condition determines a winner P i  of P 1 , P 2 , . . . , P M , and wherein the end-game condition comprises P i  reaching at least a predetermined.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the end-game condition further comprises P i 's score exceeding each other player's score by at least a predetermined numerical amount.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the end-game condition further comprises a final turn of play by P i  in which P i  has secondly rolled the scoring die, wherein P i  has firstly rolled S A  and secondly rolled S B , and wherein S A  and S B  collectively comprise a predetermined game-ending combination.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein firstly rolling the scoring die and rolling the challenge die are performed simultaneously.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein firstly rolling the scoring die is performed prior to rolling the challenge die.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein N=3, and wherein the N scoring symbols include a first scoring symbol, a second scoring symbol, and a third scoring symbol.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the first scoring symbol, the second scoring symbol, and the third scoring symbol each appear on opposite faces of the scoring die.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of the first scoring symbol, the second scoring symbol, and the third scoring symbol does not appear on opposite faces of the scoring die.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein S n  denotes an n th  scoring symbol of the N scoring symbols for n=1, 2, . . . , N, wherein P n  denotes a scoring power of S n  for n=1, 2, . . . , N, and wherein P n+1 >P n  for n=1, 2, . . . , N−1.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the choice symbol appears on at least one face of the challenge die.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the third die comprises a choice die, wherein the choice die has six faces comprising: a first face that includes a first free-roll symbol, a second face that includes the first free-roll symbol or a second free-roll symbol, a third face that includes the challenge symbol, a fourth face that includes a pick-challenge symbol, a fifth face that includes a lose-turn symbol, and a sixth face that includes a free-turn symbol.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the third die comprises a choice die, wherein the choice die has six faces, wherein the six faces include the challenge symbol, a pick-challenge symbol, or both the challenge symbol and the pick-challenge symbol.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the six faces of choice die further include a free-turn symbol, a lose-turn symbol, or both the free-turn symbol and the lose-turn symbol.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein a first face of the choice die includes a first free-roll symbol.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die;    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling the first free-roll symbol; and    incrementing P m 's score by a math power of the first free-roll symbol.    
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein a second face of the choice die includes a second free-roll symbol, and wherein a math power of the first free-roll symbol exceeds a math power of the second free-roll symbol.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die;    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling a free-roll symbol selected from the group consisting of the first free-roll symbol and the second free-roll symbol; and    incrementing P m 's score by the math power of the free-roll symbol.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die;    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling the first free-roll symbol, wherein the first free-roll symbol has an associated dynamic game rule;    rolling the scoring die, the scoring die twice, or the scoring die and a second scoring die, as dictated by the dynamic game rule; and    changing P m 's score as a result of the rolling the scoring die, the scoring die twice, or the scoring die and a second scoring die.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein a face of the choice die includes a free-turn symbol.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the game apparatus further comprises at least one free-turn token, wherein the at least one free-turn token is used in connection with the free-turn symbol on the face of the choice die.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die;    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling the free-turn symbol; and    taking by P m  a free-turn token of the at least one free-turn token.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein playing the game further comprises using the free-turn token for executing another of P m 's turn of play immediately after termination of executing P m 's turn of play.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein a face of the choice die includes a lose-turn symbol.  
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65 , wherein rolling the challenge die by P m  includes rolling the choice symbol, and wherein executing P m 's turn of play further comprises: 
 electing by P m  to roll the choice die;    rolling the choice die by P m  including rolling the lose-turn symbol; and    terminating executing P m 's turn of play without further rolling the scoring die by P m .    
     
     
         67 . A scoring sheet for a Challenge Game, said scoring sheet comprising a player's portion for at least one player, said player's portion comprising a Scoring Dice column, Challenges columns, a Total Score Of Turn column, and a Total Game Score column.  
     
     
         68 . The scoring sheet of  claim 67 , wherein the player's portion further comprises a Choice Die columns.  
     
     
         69 . The scoring sheet of  claim 68 , wherein the Choice Die columns include a Side column and a Results column.  
     
     
         70 . The scoring sheet of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one player is one player.  
     
     
         71 . The scoring sheet of  claim 67 , wherein the at least one player is two players.  
     
     
         72 . A scoring board apparatus for a Challenge Game, said scoring board apparatus comprising: 
 a scoring board that includes a plurality of scoring regions, each said scoring region identifying a scoring value; and    a plurality of score pointers, said score pointers each being placed in a scoring region of the plurality of scoring regions while the Challenge Game is being played.    
     
     
         73 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the scoring values include all possible positive cumulative scores in accordance with rules of the Challenge Game.  
     
     
         74 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the score pointers are intrinsically distinguished from each other.  
     
     
         75 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein the scoring board includes a plurality of lanes.  
     
     
         76 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein the score pointers are not intrinsically distinguished from each other.  
     
     
         77 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 75 , wherein all said identifications of scoring values are in one lane of the plurality of lanes.  
     
     
         78 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein all scoring regions have same dimensions.  
     
     
         79 . The scoring board apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein two scoring regions have different dimensions.