Spherical Game Apparatus

Abstract

A game apparatus and corresponding method of playing chess on a substantially spherical playing surface marked with playing positions of fourteen ranks and eight files with each file forming a continuous loop around said spherical surface. Ranks terminate or are bordered at the top and bottom of the sphere, therefore not continuous. Two sets of chess pieces are provided for in said game apparatus; each set comprising eight major chess pieces and sixteen pawns with eight of the sixteen pawns being distinguishable from the other eight, each set of eight pawns traveling opposite directions across ranks. Means are provided for adherence of the chess pieces to the spherical playing surface such that gravity would not remove the chess pieces from said playing surface. Said game apparatus does not require players to learn variations to the well known rules of chess play while providing a novel means to play chess.

1 . A game apparatus of a substantially spherical shape having a playing surface marked with playing positions in fourteen ranks and eight files in a grid orientation about said playing surface for playing a variation of the game of chess. 
   
   
       2 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 1  where each file forms a continuous loop around claimed playing surface while ranks terminate or are bordered at either end and are therefore not continuous. 
   
   
       3 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 2  where two ranks are marked, each said marked rank being at opposing sides or ends of claimed playing surface so that six non-marked ranks appear between said marked ranks in either direction around claimed playing surface. 
   
   
       4 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 3  where each player begins a game with:
 eight pawns positioned along a single rank adjacent to said players marked rank and said pawns designated to travel one direction along a file around claimed playing surface away from player's marked rank;   eight major pieces positioned along said player's single marked rank comprising a rook, a knight, a bishop, a queen, a king, a bishop, a knight and a rook;   eight additional pawns positioned along other single rank adjacent to said players marked rank and said additional pawns designated to travel one direction, opposite of prior mentioned pawns, along a file around claimed playing surface away from player's marked rank;   each player's set of chess pieces comprises twenty-four chess pieces and are visually or physically differentiated from opposing players chess pieces.   
   
   
       5 . A game apparatus as defined in  claim 4  where claimed playing surface interfaces with claimed chess pieces in that gravity will not remove chess pieces from playing surface yet will not deny those playing claimed game from removing chess pieces from playing surface. 
   
   
       6 . A method of playing a game of chess on game apparatus as defined in  claim 5  where queen and rook pieces cannot travel across exactly fourteen ranks on a single file on claimed playing surface coming to rest in the same space in a single turn and have such a maneuver count as said players turn. 
   
   
       7 . A method of playing a game of chess on game apparatus as defined in  claim 6  where a pawn that has advanced six ranks from originating position and is at the opposing players marked rank is immediately upgraded to a rook, knight, bishop or queen at the choice of the player who moved the pawn to said marked rank.