Board game assembly and playing techniques

Abstract

A board game assembly and related game playing method is described herein. The board game assembly includes a base, a dividing wall structure extending from the base, and a plurality of removable polygonal blocks, each having a grid of holders for playing pieces. The base and dividing wall structure retain the blocks in an adjacent configuration such that the blocks combine to form an overall playing surface having an overall grid of holders. The objective of the game is to be the first to create a pattern of five playing pieces in a row. Players alternate turns, and each turn is initiated by moving a playing piece into an unoccupied holder on any of the blocks. The turn is completed by rotating any one of the blocks 90 degrees in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. The dynamic nature of the board game assembly makes the game interesting, challenging, and difficult to master.

1 . A method of playing a game on a board game assembly comprising a base having a support surface, a dividing wall structure configured to divide said support surface into four square retaining areas, and four square blocks shaped to fit within the retaining areas, each of the square blocks having a three-by-three grid of holders for playing pieces, said method comprising: 
 (a) a first player placing one of a first group of playing pieces into any empty holder on one of the square blocks;    (b) thereafter, said first player rotating one of the square blocks to change its orientation within its respective retaining area;    (c) thereafter, a second player placing one of a second group of playing pieces into any empty holder on one of the square blocks;    (d) thereafter, said second player rotating one of the square blocks to change its orientation within its respective retaining area; and    (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) as necessary until either five-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces results, five-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces results, or playing pieces occupy all of the holders.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising initializing the board game assembly prior to step (a) by emptying all of the holders on the square blocks.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said step (b) comprises said first player rotating one of the square blocks 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise relative to its original orientation; and    said step (d) comprises said second player rotating one of the square blocks 90 degrees clockwise or counterclockwise relative to its original orientation.    
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising declaring said first player a winner when any iteration of step (a) results in five-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising declaring said second player a winner when any iteration of step (c) results in five-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising declaring said first player a winner when any iteration of step (b) creates five-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising declaring said second player a winner when any iteration of step (d) creates five-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising declaring a tie when playing pieces occupy all of the holders.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1 , further comprising declaring a tie when rotation of one of the square blocks creates five-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces and five-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a game on a board game assembly comprising a plurality of polygonal blocks that combine to form an overall playing surface when the polygonal blocks are placed into respective playing areas adjacent to one another, each of the polygonal blocks comprising a plurality of holders for playing pieces, said method comprising: 
 (a) a first player placing one of a first group of playing pieces into any empty holder on one of the polygonal blocks;    (b) thereafter, said first player rotating one of the polygonal blocks to change its orientation within its respective playing area;    (c) thereafter, a second player placing one of a second group of playing pieces into any empty holder on one of the polygonal blocks;    (d) thereafter, said second player rotating one of the polygonal blocks to change its orientation within its respective playing area; and    (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) as necessary until either n-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces results, n-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces results, or playing pieces occupy all of the holders, where n is an integer greater than two.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the board game assembly includes four square blocks, each having a three-by-three grid of holders for playing pieces; and    said step (e) is performed until either five-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces results, five-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces results, or playing pieces occupy all of the holders.    
   
   
       12 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising initializing the board game assembly prior to step (a) by emptying all of the holders on the polygonal blocks.  
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising declaring said first player a winner when any iteration of step (a) results in n-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising declaring said second player a winner when any iteration of step (c) results in n-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising declaring said first player a winner when any iteration of step (b) creates n-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising declaring said second player a winner when any iteration of step (d) creates n-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces.  
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising declaring a tie when playing pieces occupy all of the holders.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 10 , further comprising declaring a tie when rotation of one of the polygonal blocks creates n-in-a-row of said first group of playing pieces and n-in-a-row of said second group of playing pieces.