Method of training for enhancing memorization and strategic decision making

Abstract

The present invention relates to a strategy game to enhance decision-making skills and memorization. In addition to the basics of traditional chess, the invention expands upon traditional chess rules by comprising some or all pieces being concealed within housing shells, except for the King, so that players do not have full disclosure of their opponent's pieces and must identify and memorize the opponent's game pieces from the movement made during the game. An essential feature at the discretion of the participant is to use at least one “hold and secure” placeholder on a square that allows a player to “hold and secure” up to two, or more, squares in a match upon capturing an opponent's piece on that square. Also, a method for training that comprises phases including, but not limited to, game pieces being concealed within housing shells, a “hold and secure” feature, and some or all pieces starting in non-traditional chess starting positions. The training method comprises phases with increasingly more complex rules in each phase so that as proficiency is achieved in one phase, the player moves on to the subsequent more complex, challenging phase. The phases are customizable with different variations including, but not limited to, time constraints, variable starting positions for all of the pieces, and alternative goals other than only the traditional capture of the King.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A device for concealing a playing piece in a game of concealed playing pieces on a horizontal surface having a plurality of checkered squares, comprising:
 a base that is smaller in surface area than a checkered square on the horizontal surface;   said base having at least one wall extending vertically from base defining at least one wall, said at least one wall containing an opaque surface that essentially encloses concealing the interior to at least three sides;   a top cap; and   an interior platform extending essentially horizontally disposed adjacent the base, wherein the device is capable of concealing the playing piece within the enclosure of the opaque wall so that it is not visible from the direction of the opposed edge.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the opaque wall is disposed on at least four sides, said four sides forming a polygon when viewed from above, and one of the sides comprises a door that can be opened and closed to provide a clear view of the concealed playing piece only to the player on the side of the board toward whom the side with the door faces 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein said at least one wall is cylindrical. 
     
     
         15 . A training method for teaching critical decision making skills, memorization, and strategy to a participant, comprising the steps of:
 a) determining whether a participant can play chess;   b) providing a game having horizontal playing surface and concealed game pieces;   c) launching at least a two phase method for teaching strategy comprising a first phase and a second phase, each phase comprising a variation of the traditional game of chess, wherein at least one of the phases includes a hold and secure square feature;   d) completing the first phase until the participant achieved proficiency thereof;   e) evaluating the proficiency in said first phase and advancing the participant to a second phase,   wherein the second phase is more challenging in respect to the desired characteristics of decision making skills, memorization and strategy than the first phase.   
     
     
         16 . The training method according to  claim 15 , wherein the first phase comprises:
 providing a substantially horizontal playing surface containing a plurality of squares, said playing surface comprising first and second sides and first and second edges, forming a polygon of one set of parallel sides and one set of parallel edges and four substantially right angle corners;   providing a plurality of game pieces having playing characteristics identical to game pieces used in playing chess, each game piece being concealable within a housing shell, with the exception of a predetermined visible piece, wherein one side of the housing shell reveals the game piece facing the first side of the playing surface and the other side of the housing is opaque such that the game piece is not viewable from the second side of the playing surface, wherein the housing shells contain a base that supports the game piece on the horizontal playing surface, and the king is visible to all players;   implementing rules wherein each player moves each game piece enclosed within the shells according to traditional chess game rules; and   implementing a rule, wherein when a game piece is captured on a captured square according to the rules of traditional chess, a hold and secure placeholder is indicated on the square on which the game piece is captured, wherein said captured square can no longer be used by the opposing player to pass through or land by that player's pieces.   
     
     
         17 . The training method according to  claim 16 , further comprising evaluating the participant's proficiency in said second phase; and
 launching a third phase of the training wherein the third phase further comprises a chess variation that includes additional rules to that of the second phase, and wherein the third phase is more challenging to the participant than the second phase.   
     
     
         18 . The training method according to  claim 16 , wherein the captured game pieces are not revealed to the participant on the other side after capture. 
     
     
         19 . The training method according to  claim 15 , wherein the second phase variation further comprises at the start of a game arranging the chess pieces on the playing surface in nontraditional chess positions. 
     
     
         20 . The training method according to  claim 17 , wherein the third phase variation further comprises the additional step of completing at least one additional mission before capturing the predetermined visible piece. 
     
     
         21 . The training method according to  claim 15 , wherein a participant is accorded a predetermined amount of time to move a game piece. 
     
     
         23 . The training method according to  claim 16 , wherein said captured square can no longer be used by an opposing participant for a plurality of moves following which the captured square becomes available to both players after a predetermined number of moves. 
     
     
         24 . The training method according to  claim 16 , wherein a participant is allowed a plurality of said captured squares during a match. 
     
     
         25 . The training method according to  claim 16 , wherein said captured square can no longer be used by an opposing participant during the remainder of a match. 
     
     
         26 . A method for training of decision making skills, memorization, and strategy to a participant, comprising the steps of:
 a) launching an initial first phase comprising the steps of:
 i) providing a substantially horizontal playing surface containing a plurality of squares and playing pieces. 
 ii) determining a level of chess proficiency of a participant; 
 iii) deciding if the level of chess proficiency is not at least equal to a pre-determined level of chess proficiency, 
 iv) if not proficient, teaching the participant a traditional game of chess until the level of chess proficiency is at least equal to the pre-determined level of chess proficiency; 
 v) completing the initial phase and advancing the participant to a second phase; 
   b) launching at least two concealed chess phases, each concealed chess phase comprising a variation of the traditional game of chess, wherein each concealed chess phase further comprises the steps of:
 i) providing enclosures for the game pieces, with the exception of a predetermined visible piece; 
 ii) determining a level of concealed chess phase proficiency of the participant; 
 iii) if the level of phase proficiency is not at least equal to a pre-determined first level of concealed chess phase proficiency, teaching the participant a variety of skills until the level of concealed chess phase proficiency of the participant is at least equal to the pre-determined first level of phase proficiency; 
 iv) upon achieving the pre-determined first level of phase proficiency, completing the first phase of concealed chess and advancing the participant to a second phase having a pre-determined second level of phase proficiency, 
   
       wherein the predetermined second level of phase proficiency is greater than the first concealed chess phase. 
     
     
         27 . The training method according to  claim 26 , wherein said concealed chess phase includes a hold and secure feature wherein at least one of the squares in which an opposing piece has been captured during a chess match cannot be used by an opposing participant for the duration of the match. 
     
     
         28 . The training method according to  claim 26 , wherein said concealed chess phase includes a hold and secure feature wherein a plurality of captured squares during a chess match cannot be used by an opposing participant for a predetermined number of moves. 
     
     
         29 . The training method according to  claim 26 , wherein a participant is given a predetermined time to move a game piece. 
     
     
         30 . The training method according to  claim 26 , wherein said concealed chess phase contains game pieces that are concealed from said opposing participant. 
     
     
         31 . The training method according to  claim 26 , wherein said concealed chess phase further comprises capturing the predetermined visible piece and an additional step of completing at least one additional mission before capturing the predetermined visible piece to win the game.