Board game and method of play

Abstract

A game apparatus for one or more players having at least a first game member that includes a puzzle or a game area having indicia forming a grid having a plurality of cells, the first game member displaying the solution indicia for some of the cells and the remaining cells are divided into a number of sub-cells bearing the possible solution indicia for the corresponding cell such that each sub-cell includes a distinct indicia. A player speculates which sub-cell bears the correct solution indicia for the respective cell using a process of elimination and the rules of play. Selection tools may be used to puncture the first playing member to reveal the third playing member, which bears indicia of correctness for each sub-cell.

1 . An apparatus for playing a board game, comprising:
 a playing plane having a master grid with a plurality of cells formed in columns and rows, the master grid subdivided into sub-grids, each sub-grid having a number of cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, each cell divided into a number of sub-cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, and each sub-cell assigned a distinct indicia, the total number of distinct indicia equal to the number of columns in the master grid; and   a solution plane having a plurality of cells corresponding to respective cells of the playing plane and positioned adjacent the playing plane with the cells in the playing plane aligned with the cells in the solution plane, the solution plane configured to provide an indication of correctness of a user-proposed solution.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a number of columns of the master grid is equal to a number of rows of the master grid. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each cell of the solution plane is divided into a plurality of sub-cells corresponding to respective sub-cells of the playing plane, each sub-cell associated with a circuit to generate a selection signal comprising one of a first and a second signal, the first signal indicating a correct selection and the second signal indicating an incorrect selection.   
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein each cell of the solution plane comprises one sub-cell associated with a circuit to generate the first signal, the sub-cell corresponding to a playing plane sub-cell indicia that is a solution indicia for the corresponding cell, each solution indicia occurring once in each sub-grid, row and column of the master grid. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one plate having a plurality of apertures, respectively corresponding to the sub-cells of the playing plane and the solution plane;   a plurality of selection pieces insertable in the apertures of the at least one plate; and   mounting means for stackably mounting the at least one plate, the playing plane, and the solution plane, wherein a surface of the playing plane is contiguous to a surface of the at least one plate, and the solution plane is revealably concealed by at least the playing plane.   
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of game pieces positionable on the respective cells of the playing plane, wherein the game pieces are respectively marked with distinct indicia substantially similar to the indicia of the solution plane and indicate the corresponding revealed cell solution indicia. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the selection pieces include means for relaying the first and second signals. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the selection pieces include at least one fiber optic device. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the selection pieces include at least one magnifying device. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising an audible device and wherein the first and second signals are audible sounds produced by the audible device in response to one or both of the first and second signals. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one illumination device and wherein the first and second signals generate illuminations of a first and a second color, respectively, on the illumination device. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising at least one illumination device and wherein the first and second signals generate illuminations of a first and a second intensity, respectively, on the illumination device. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the distinct indicia comprise numeric indicia. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a data storage device. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one removable memory media and at least one port operable to electrically couple the removable memory media to the apparatus for playing a board game. 
   
   
       16 . A method of game play for one or more players, that is played with a game apparatus having predetermined solution indicia corresponding to a cell on a playing plane having a master grid with a plurality of cells formed by an equal number of columns and rows, wherein the master grid is subdivided into sub-grids, each sub-grid having a number of cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, each cell divided into a number of sub-cells equal to the number of columns in the master grid, and each sub-cell assigned a distinct indicia, the total number of distinct indicia equal to the number of columns in the master grid, wherein one sub-cell per cell is assigned the indicia that is the assigned solution indicia for the corresponding cell and each solution indicia occurs once in each sub-grid, row and column of the master grid, the method comprising:
 selecting a sub-cell on the playing plane;   revealing an indicia on a solution plane having a plurality of sub-cells, respectively corresponding to the selected sub-cell of the playing plane;   placing a game piece on the cell of the playing plane corresponding to the selected sub-cell, wherein the corresponding sub-cell on the solution plane exhibits a positive indication and the game piece exhibits the indicia assigned to the selected sub-cell;   selecting subsequent sub-cells on the playing plane until a negative indication is revealed, triggering a subsequent player to select a sub-cell on the playing plane; and   tallying points received during play for each player as selection of sub-cells associated with the solution indicia assigned to the corresponding cell takes place, wherein the player with the highest points is the winner.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the distinct indicia include distinct numeric indicia. 
   
   
       18 . A game apparatus, comprising:
 a first game member having indicia formed on a surface thereof, the indicia forming a master grid having rows and columns that form a plurality of cells, each cell having at least one numeric indicia formed thereon;   a second game member comprising a first plate adapted to support the first game member on a first surface of the second game member, the first plate having a plurality of openings formed therein, each opening formed in alignment with a respective cell on the first game member; and   a third game member having a first surface positioned against a second surface of the second game member and comprising first indicia indicating an incorrect selection and second indicia indicating a correct selection, each of the first and second indicia positioned in alignment with a respective cell of the first game member.   
   
   
       19 . The game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the plurality of cells of the first game member are arranged in groups. 
   
   
       20 . The game apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a tool for selecting a cell, the tool having a size and shape to be received in the plurality of openings in the second game member, revealing one of the first and the second indicia of the third game member. 
   
   
       21 . The game apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising a substrate member positioned against a second surface of the third game member and fabricated from a transparent material. 
   
   
       22 . The game apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising fastening means for securing the first, second and third game members to the substrate member. 
   
   
       23 . The game apparatus of  claim 22 , further comprising a cover member having a surface at least partially contiguous to a surface of the first game member and fabricated from a transparent material. 
   
   
       24 . The game apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first game member is fabricated from a puncturable material. 
   
   
       25 . A method of playing a game for one or more players, the game having a game apparatus that includes a first game member having indicia formed on a surface thereof, the indicia forming a master grid having rows and columns that form a plurality of cells, each cell having at least one numeric indicia formed thereon, a second game member comprising a first plate adapted to support the first game member on a first surface of the second game member, the first plate having a plurality of openings formed therein, each opening formed in alignment with a respective cell on the first game member, and a third game member positioned against a second surface of the second game member and comprising first indicia indicating an incorrect selection and second indicia indicating a correct selection, each of the first and second indicia positioned in alignment with a respective cell of the first game member, the method comprising:
 selecting a cell on the first game member and determining a correctness of the selected cell.   
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising selecting a cell by inserting a tool through the first game member and into an opening in the second game member corresponding to the selected cell to reveal to the player the corresponding indicia of correctness on the third game member. 
   
   
       27 . A game, comprising:
 a first display that displays a grid divided into rows and columns, the grid divided into sub-units and each sub-unit containing a plurality of cells that each display a unique indicia; and   a second display having a plurality of indicators arranged thereon that are associated with the first display so that selection of one of the unique indicia from the first display will generate a display of one of the plurality of indicators on the second display.   
   
   
       28 . The game of  claim 27 , wherein the first and second displays each comprise planar display members with the first display positioned in spaced parallel relationship with the second display so that the unique indicia on the first display are positioned over a respective indicator on the second display. 
   
   
       29 . The game of  claim 28 , comprising a frame for holding the display members and configured to enable removal and replacement of the first and second display members. 
   
   
       30 . The game of  claim 29 , comprising a plurality of die having indicia thereon. 
   
   
       31 . The game of  claim 29 , comprising at least one tool, and wherein the first display is adapted to allow the at least one tool to create an opening there-through to enable viewing of the respective indicator on the second display. 
   
   
       32 . The game of  claim 31  comprising one of a visible and audible indication of correctness of a selection made by the tool creating the opening in the first display. 
   
   
       33 . The game of  claim 31 , comprising a timer adapted to provide an alarm after a period of time.