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

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.

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: 
 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 froth 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; 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: 
 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 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;    (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; 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: 
 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;    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;    (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;    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: 
 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;    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: 
 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;    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: 
 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, 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;    (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.    
   
   
       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;    (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;    (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; 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.    
   
   
       47 . A method of playing the chess-type game of  claim 42  for two 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, 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;    (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.    
   
   
       48 . A method of playing the chess-type game of  claim 42  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, 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;    (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;    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    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: 
 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, 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;    (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;    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 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: 
 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, 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;    (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;    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.    
   
   
       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; 
 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, 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;    (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;    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;    (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.    
   
   
       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.