Spherical chess board

Abstract

Claimed is a new invention, namely a unique way of placing a grid on the surface of a sphere, for the purpose of playing strategy board games. A grid is placed on the globe in such a way that some oddly shaped areas result, the result being a playing field for strategy game such as chess that is similar to the usual two dimensional chess board, yet more complex.

1 . What is claimed is a strategy game board design that is laid out on the surface of a sphere, in the manner described herein. Due to the geometry of this design, a modified version of chess can be played on this spherical game board. The grid laid out on the sphere does not contain perfect right angles like a normal chess board; indeed, it also has some game areas (or “squares”) that are a different shape, which enables interesting game play and a more even game board.  
     
     
         2 . The game board described in  claim 1 , has a grid of squares covering the sphere, with 8 “triangles” (three sides and three vertexes, although the sides are not straight lines), that enable the squares to connect on the closed surface. One of these triangles appears on each quadrant of the sphere, i.e. if the playing surface is divided into 8 equal areas (quadrants), each with the same number of game areas (or “squares”), then each one of these 8 equal areas will contain one abnormal “square”, specifically one with 3 sides.  
     
     
         3 . The game board described in  claim 1 , in any physical implementation, for the purposes of playing said strategy games or their variants. For example, A physical sphere, of wood, plastic, metal, or other suitable material, with pigmented or scored surface to represent the described grid, and with velcro, glue, clasps, or other such fastening method to enable game pieces to stay on the board.  
     
     
         4 . The game board described in  claim 1 , in any virtual implementation, for the purposes of playing said strategy games or their variants. For example, graphical software that displays on a computer monitor or display a simulated sphere with the described grid, that allows users to play strategy games either against a computer, against another player, or over a worldwide computer network.  
     
     
         5 . The game board described in  claim 1 , in which the grid is formed in such a way that the oddly shaped squares (“triangles”) come together in groups of two. These groups of two squares are then taken as the same color, with the border between them eliminated. This design creates a grid with 4 “two sided” squares, instead of 8 “three sided” squares, in addition to all the normal or four sided squares.