Game of Strategy Having Dividable Game Pieces

Abstract

A game of strategy includes a plurality of game pieces that are dividable into smaller game pieces. The game pieces initially comprise some in a first color and some in a second color. The game pieces are arranged in a pattern on a playing surface to define a playing field. Each of the pieces has a legal shape such that the pieces may only be divided into legal shapes. The game pieces may be one or more of divided, joined, swapped and captured during play. A process for playing a game of strategy is also described. A winning position for a game of strategy includes a contiguous chain of game pieces of a single color that extends from one or both of the left side to the right side and the top side to the bottom side of a playing field. A notation system for describing the moves of play is also described.

1 . A game of strategy comprising:
 a plurality of game pieces that are dividable into smaller game pieces, said game pieces initially comprising some in a first color and some in a second color, and arranged in a pattern on a playing surface to define a playing field, with each of the pieces having a legal shape such that the pieces may only be divided into legal shapes.   
   
   
       2 . The game of  claim 1 , wherein half of the pieces are a first color and half of the pieces are a second color. 
   
   
       3 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein a legal shape for the game pieces is either square or a 2 L rectangle. 
   
   
       4 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein a legal shape for the game pieces is either square and golden rectangle or square and silver rectangle. 
   
   
       5 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein the game pieces are dividable, but only into smaller, legal-shaped game pieces. 
   
   
       6 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein the game pieces may be joined to form a single legal-shaped game piece from a plurality of game pieces. 
   
   
       7 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein the game pieces of the first color may be swapped with game pieces of the second color and vice versa. 
   
   
       8 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein in order to swap pieces, said pieces must share a common width or length. 
   
   
       9 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein in order to divide the game pieces, a split line is defined and any like-colored game pieces along said split line are dividable. 
   
   
       10 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein the game pieces of the first color may be captured by the game pieces of the second color and vice versa. 
   
   
       11 . The game of strategy of  claim 1 , wherein in a starting position, half of the pieces are a first color and half of the pieces are a second color, the game pieces are dividable into smaller game pieces, multiple game pieces may be joined to form a single game piece from a plurality of game pieces, the game pieces of the first color may be swapped with game pieces of the second color and vice versa, and the game pieces of the first color may be captured by the game pieces of the second color and vice versa. 
   
   
       12 . A game of strategy comprising:
 a plurality of playing pieces, each playing piece being dividable into two playing pieces and being arranged in a pattern on a playing surface, wherein the playing pieces may be one or more of divided, joined, swapped, and captured during play, wherein the playing pieces comprise a first set of pieces having a first color and a second set of pieces having a second color.   
   
   
       13 . The game of  claim 12 , wherein, during play, one or more playing pieces may be captured such that said one or more playing pieces change from either the first color to the second color or from the second color to the first color. 
   
   
       14 . A process for playing a game of strategy having a plurality of playing pieces that are dividable, joinable, swappable, and capturable, said playing pieces being arranged in a pattern on a playing surface, said playing pieces including a first set of pieces having a first color and a second set of pieces having a second color, said process comprising:
 a first move that includes splitting one playing piece of the first color into two smaller playing pieces of the same color and optionally swapping one of the split playing pieces of the first color with one of the playing pieces of the second color;   a second move that includes either splitting one or more playing pieces of the second color into two or more smaller pieces of the second color or joining two or more playing pieces of the second color into a single larger playing piece of the second color and optionally swapping one of the split or joined playing pieces of the second color with one of the playing pieces of the first color;   a further move of one or more playing pieces of the first color that includes one or more of splitting, joining, or swapping; and   a further move of one or more playing pieces of the second color that includes one or more of splitting, joining or swapping.   
   
   
       15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein initially half of the playing pieces are the first color and half of the playing pieces are the second color. 
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 14 , further comprising assessing whether one or more playing pieces have been captured during each move, with capturing involving surrounding one or more playing pieces of the other color. 
   
   
       17 . A winning position for a game of strategy having a plurality of game pieces arranged on a playing surface, the pieces being arranged in a pattern defining a playing field that has a West side; an East side, a North side, and a South side, with the game pieces being split into a first set having a first color and a second set having a second color, said winning position comprising:
 a contiguous chain of game pieces of a single color that extends between at least two of the West Side to the East side to the North Side to the South side.   
   
   
       18 . The winning position of  claim 17 , wherein the winning position requires a contiguous chain of game pieces that extends between all four sides from the West side to the East side to the North side to the South Side of the playing field. 
   
   
       19 . The winning position of  claim 17 , wherein the game pieces abut each other along at least part of the length or width of one of their sides to form the chain.