Board game and method of playing the same

Abstract

The present invention is a game board in which game pieces positioned on the game board are exchanged with one another on the game board until a winning combination of positioned game pieces on the board is evident. Each game piece has at least two defining characteristics and no two pieces have the same two defining characteristics.

1 . A game board apparatus, comprising: 
 a board comprising a grid of multiple rows and multiple columns of playing spaces in a fixed area;    a set of individual game pieces, wherein each individual game piece comprises at least a first predetermined characteristic and a second predetermined characteristic such that none of the individual game pieces comprise an identical first predetermined characteristic and an identical second predetermined characteristic as any other of the individual game pieces of the set, and the number of individual game pieces in the set is equal to a number of playing spaces on the board;    each of the individual game pieces is positioned on the board such that each of the individual game pieces singly occupies a related playing space; and    individual game pieces are positioned, exchanged with other individual game pieces positioned on the board, or a combination thereof, until one or more predetermined winning configurations of game piece arrangements are evident on the board.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of color, shape, size, and printed symbol.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of color, shape, size, and printed symbol.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined characteristic and the second predetermined characteristic are not of the same group.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of first predetermined characteristics is equal to a number of rows.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of second predetermined characteristics is equal to a number of columns.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a number of rows is equal to a number of columns.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of rows is at least four.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the board comprises multiple levels of play perpendicular to the grid.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third predetermined characteristic.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predetermined winning configurations is selected from an arrangement having rows and columns of the grid each consisting of different first predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each row, different second predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each row, different first predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each column, and different second predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each column.  
   
   
       12 . A method of playing a game board apparatus, wherein the game board apparatus comprises a board and a set of individual game pieces, the board comprising a grid of multiple rows and multiple columns of playing spaces in a fixed area, and the set of individual game pieces, wherein each individual game piece comprises at least a first predetermined characteristic and a second predetermined characteristic such that none of the individual game pieces comprise an identical first predetermined characteristic and an identical second predetermined characteristic as any other of the individual game pieces of the set, and the number of individual game pieces in the set is equal to a number of playing spaces on the board, the method comprising: 
 positioning the individual game pieces on the board such that each of the individual game pieces singly occupies a related playing space; and    arranging the individual pieces, exchanging the individual game pieces with other individual game pieces positioned on the board, or a combination thereof, until one or more predetermined winning configurations of game piece arrangements are evident on the board.    
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first predetermined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of color, shape, size, and printed symbol.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the second predetermined characteristic is selected from the group consisting of color, shape, size, and printed symbol.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first predetermined characteristic and the second predetermined characteristic are not of the same group.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a number of rows is equal to a number of columns.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the number of rows is at least four.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the board comprises multiple levels of play perpendicular to the grid.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising a third predetermined characteristic.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the one or more predetermined winning configurations is selected from an arrangement having rows and columns of the grid each consisting of different first predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each row, different second predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each row, different first predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each column, and different second predetermined characteristics in each playing space of each column.