Cylindrical Chess Game Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A chess game played on a cylindrical chessboard with two sets of chess pieces and a playing surface made up of a plurality of 14 ranks and 8 files. The knight pieces of each side are actually two-sided knights that can be separated during play to generate additional knights with an ultimate eight knights involved in the game.

1 . A chess game apparatus comprising:
 a. two sets of chess pieces   b. a cylinder having a playing surface marked with playing positions in a plurality of 14 ranks and 8 files;   c. each set of chess pieces comprising a plurality of major pieces equal in number to the number of files on the playing surface and a plurality of pawns equal in number to twice the number of files on the playing surface;   d. said sets being distinguishable from each other by color;   e. wherein the major pieces for each set include one, one Queen, two bishops, two Knights, and two Rooks;   f. wherein the major pieces of each of the two sets are initially configured on ranks separated from each other with six ranks in between them;   g. and wherein each of said two Knights is a double sided Knight that can be separated into two single sided knights at any time.   
     
     
         2 . The chess game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cylinder and chess pieces include a means for holding the chess pieces onto the cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The chess game apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said means for holding the chess pieces onto the cylinder is magnetic. 
     
     
         4 . The chess game apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said means for holding the chess pieces onto the cylinder is by means of pegs in the base of each chess piece are inserted into holes in the cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The chess game apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said means for holding the chess pieces onto the cylinder is with Velcro fabric on the cylinder and on the base of each piece. 
     
     
         6 . The chess game apparatus of claim  21  wherein the base of each piece is curved to adapt to the curvature of the cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . A method for playing a game of chess on a cylindrical chessboard comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a chessboard comprising a plurality of fourteen ranks and eight files of checkered alternating colored squares configured around a cylindrical chessboard;   b. providing a first set of chess pieces including 16 Pawns, two Rooks, two two-sided Knights, two Bishops, two Rooks, one Queen, and one King;   c. providing a second set of chess pieces including 16 Pawns, two Rooks, two two-sided Knights, two Bishops, two Rooks, one Queen, and one King; said first set of chess pieces being visually distinguishable from said second set of chess pieces as a lighter colored and darker colored set;   d. providing two King ranks for the major pieces on the chessboard separated from each other with 6 ranks in-between them;   e. placing of said Rooks at opposing ends of the associated one of said King ranks;   f. placing of said two-sided Knights into the associated one of said King ranks and into said squares positioned adjacent to said rooks;   g. placing of said Bishops into the associated one of said King ranks and into said squares positioned adjacent to said Knights;   h. placing one each of said King and Queen into the remaining two squares of said King ranks positioned between said Knights with the lighter colored King on a lighter color square and the darker colored King on a darker square;   i. designating said ranks on each side of said King ranks as pawn ranks;   j. placing of said Pawns into each of said squares of the associated one of said Pawn ranks;   k. initiating a game of chess with the players alternating turns of play;   l. selecting of one of said chess pieces of the associated one of said sets of chess pieces by each of the players during their turn;   m. moving of one of said Bishops to any of said squares along a diagonal including said square on which the associated one of said Bishops is positioned on when one of said bishops is selected during one of the payers turns; said Bishop being able to move any number of squares unless they are blocked by another piece or reach the edge of the board;   n. moving of one of said Rooks to any of said squares along one of the ranks or one of the files including said square on which the associated one of said Rooks is positioned on when one of said rooks is selected during one of the payers turns; said Rook being able to move any number of squares unless they are blocked by another piece or reach the edge of the board;   o. moving of said Queen to any of said squares along one of the ranks, one of the files or one of the diagonals including said square on which the associated one of said queen is positioned on when one of said queens is selected during one of the players turns; said Queen being able to move any number of squares unless they are blocked by another piece or reach the edge of the board;   p. moving of said King to any of said squares being positioned adjacent to said square occupied by said King when said King is selected during one of the players turn;   q. moving of one of said two-sided Knights to any of said squares nearest to said square occupied be the associated one of said Knights but is not in the same the rank, the same file or one of the diagonals including said square occupied by the associated one of said knights when one of said Knights is selected during one of the players turns;   r. choosing, when appropriate during one of the players turns to separate either of that players two-sided Knights and move both of the resulting Knights to any of said squares nearest to said square occupied be the associated one of said knights but is not in the same the rank, the same file or one of the diagonals including said square occupied by the associated one of said two-sided Knights;   s. capturing of one of said chess pieces controlled by an opponent when one of said Rooks, said Knights, said Bishops, said Queen or said King moves into one of said squares occupied by one of said chess pieces controlled by the opponent during moving of one of said Rooks, said Knights, said Bishops, said Queen or said King;   t. choosing by the players to move said Pawn forward a maximum of two of said squares in said file occupied by the associated one of said Pawns during initial movement of the associated one of said Pawns when the associated one of said Pawns is selected during one of the players turn;   u. moving of one of said Pawns forward one of said squares in said file occupied by the associated one of said Pawns when the associated one of said Pawns is selected during a players turn wherein Pawns on each of the Pawn ranks advance around said cylindrical chessboard only in the direction of the opposing rank.;   v. capturing of one of said chess pieces controlled by the opponent by one of said Pawns when the associated one of said chess pieces is positioned diagonally forward of the associated one of said Pawns and on an adjacent file to the associated one of the Pawns;   w. continuing of the players to take turns;   x. winning of the chess game by one of the players when one of the players positions their associated chess pieces to place said King controlled by the opponent into checkmate.