Board game

Abstract

A method of playing a chess-like board game with four players. The method includes the providing of a game board having a primary grid of one-hundred forty-four playing spaces arranged as a square surrounded by four secondary grids each having sixteen playing spaces and providing a set of sixteen chess pieces to each of the four players. Afterward, the players alternatingly move one of the chess pieces from each of the sets of chess pieces according to the rules of chess. Next, the players attempt to reach a checkmate position against the Kings of their opponents. Any player having a checkmated King is eliminated from the game and the checkmated King is removed from the game board. The chess pieces on the game board forming part of the set with the checkmated King are combined with the set of chess pieces that established a checkmate position against the checkmated King. The players continue in the above manner until only one King remains free of checkmate, thereby establishing the winner of the game.

1 . A method of playing a chess-like board game providing for the simultaneous play of four players, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a game board having:
 a primary grid of one-hundred forty-four playing spaces arranged as a square in twelve rows of twelve of the playing spaces and twelve columns of twelve of the playing spaces, the primary grid having a top, a bottom, and opposed sides; and, 
 a plurality of secondary grids each of which having sixteen playing spaces,
 one of the secondary grids being longitudinally centered upon, and contiguous with, the top of the primary grid and being arranged as a rectangle in two rows of eight of the playing spaces and eight columns of two of the playing spaces; 
 another one of the secondary grids being longitudinally centered upon, and contiguous with, the bottom of the primary grid and being arranged as a rectangle in two rows of eight of the playing spaces and eight columns of two of the playing spaces; and, 
 still another pair of the secondary grids being respectively centered upon, and contiguous with, one of the sides of the primary grid and being arranged as a rectangle in eight rows of two of the playing spaces and two columns of eight of the playing spaces; 
 
   providing a respective one of four sets of chess pieces to each of the players with each of said sets of chess pieces being distinguishable from the other of said sets of chess pieces;   alternatingly moving one of said chess pieces from each of said sets of chess pieces over said primary and secondary grids, with none of said playing spaces being excluded from game play as a neutral zone, according to the rules of chess;   attempting to reach a checkmate position against each of the Kings of each of said sets of chess pieces with the player having a checkmated King being eliminated from said game;   removing a checkmated King from said game board;   combining said chess pieces on said game board of each of said sets of chess pieces having a checkmated King with said set of chess pieces that reached a checkmate position against said checkmated King; and,   continuing in the above manner until a King of only one of said sets of chess pieces remains free of checkmate, thereby establishing the winner of said board game.