Three or more player chess game

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for playing chess with more than two players. The apparatus implemented for playing chess with more than two players according to the invention includes a game board having a plurality of hexagonal playing spaces contiguously disposed thereon, the game board having setup areas where players position their playing pieces prior to the start of a match. In addition the apparatus includes the hexagonal playing spaces having three different designations, the hexagonal playing spaces designations being alternatively arranged such that no two adjacent hexagonal playing spaces are the same. Furthermore, the hexagonal playing spaces being present on the game board in a predetermined number.

1 . An apparatus for playing a three player game of chess, comprising:
 a triangular shaped game board having three end points, three sides, and a plurality of hexagonal playing spaces contiguously disposed thereon, the triangular shaped game board having three player setup areas where players position their playing pieces prior to the start of a match;   the hexagonal playing spaces having three different designations, the hexagonal playing spaces designations being alternatively arranged such that no two adjacent hexagonal playing spaces are the same; and where   the hexagonal playing spaces are present on the triangular shaped game board in a predetermined number, each hexagonal playing space disposed at the end points of the triangular shaped game board have four of six sides exposed and each hexagonal playing space disposed at the three sides of the triangular shaped game board have two of six sides exposed.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of chess piece sets for being set up on the player set up areas, each chess piece set having playing pieces including at least a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.   
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the hexagonal playing space designations are chosen from the group consisting of contrasting colors and different patterns. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the predetermined number of hexagonal playing spaces is selected from the group consisting of 78 spaces, 91 spaces, 105 spaces, and 120 playing spaces. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the knights can move two hexagonal playing spaces in any direction through any flat hex side of a pre-move hexagonal playing space and one hexagonal playing space in any direction through any flat hex side of an inter-move hexagonal playing space other than either flat hex side in the same or opposite direction the knights moved prior to landing on the inter-move hexagonal playing space. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the pawns have a first move option and an in-game move option. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the first move option of the pawns includes moving the pawns one or two hexagonal playing spaces in any direction, the two hexagonal playing spaces moved not restricted to the same direction. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the in-game move option of the pawns can be one hexagonal playing space in any direction. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for playing chess with three or more players, comprising:
 a star shaped game board having six star points, six star point transition areas where each one of the six star points transitions into another one of the six star points, and a plurality of hexagonal playing spaces contiguously disposed thereon, each of the six star points of the star shaped game board having an end point, the star shaped game board having six player setup areas where players position chess pieces prior to the start of a match;   the hexagonal playing spaces having three different designations, the hexagonal playing spaces designations being alternatively arranged such that no two adjacent hexagonal playing spaces are the same; and where   the hexagonal playing spaces are present on the star shaped game board in a predetermined number, each hexagonal playing space disposed at the end point of each of the points of the star shaped game board have four of six sides exposed, each hexagonal playing space disposed at the six joint areas of the star shaped game board have one of six sides exposed, and every other hexagonal playing space disposed on the star shaped game board have two of six sides exposed.   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a plurality of chess piece sets for being set up on the player set up areas, each chess piece set having playing pieces including at least a king, a queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  wherein the predetermined number of hexagonal playing spaces is selected from the group consisting of 181 spaces, 253 spaces, and 337 playing spaces. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the knights can move two hexagonal playing spaces in any direction through any flat hex side of a pre-move hexagonal playing space and one hexagonal playing space in any direction through any flat hex side of an inter-move hexagonal playing space other than either flat hex side in the same or opposite direction the knights moved prior to landing on the inter-move hexagonal playing space. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the pawns have a first move option and an in-game move option. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the first move option of the pawns includes moving the pawns one or two hexagonal playing spaces in any direction, the two hexagonal playing spaces moved not restricted to the same direction. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the in-game move option of the pawns can be one hexagonal playing space in any direction.