Three-dimensional alignment board game

Abstract

A three-dimensional alignment board game includes four substantially aligned, spaced vertical levels of playing boards. Each level includes a grid forming a “5×5” planar matrix defining twenty-five placement areas for a total of one-hundred placement areas. At least two sets of playing pieces are distinguishable from each other and assigned to players of the game. Each piece can be placed and rest upon any of the one-hundred placement areas. A scorekeeping system keeps score by tracking points of the players. The game is completed when a player is first to accumulate a predetermined total number of points. The players take turns between/among themselves. Each player scores a first predetermined number of points by placing four pieces on four open vertically aligned placement areas of four levels, four pieces on four open diagonally aligned placement areas of four levels, or four pieces on four open horizontally aligned placement areas of any level.

1 . A method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game comprising steps of:
 providing four vertical levels of playing boards that are substantially aligned with each other and adjacent ones of which are spaced from each other and each of which includes a grid forming a “5×5” substantially planar matrix defining twenty-five placement areas of each of said playing-board levels for a total of one-hundred placement areas of said game;   providing at least two sets of playing pieces, said sets being distinguishable from each other and assigned to respective players of said game and each said playing piece being configured to be placed by the player and rest upon any of said one-hundred placement areas;   providing a scorekeeping system for keeping score of said game by tracking points of the respective players such that said game is completed when a player is first to accumulate a predetermined total number of points, wherein the players take turns between or among themselves; and   providing that each player scores a first predetermined number of points by any of placing four of said playing pieces on four respective open vertically aligned said placement areas of said four corresponding playing-board levels, four of said playing pieces on four respective open diagonally aligned said placement areas of said four corresponding playing-board levels, and four of said playing pieces on four respective open horizontally aligned said placement areas of any of said playing-board levels.   
     
     
         2 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said playing-board levels are substantially uniform with respect to each other and parallel with each other and adjacent ones of which are spaced substantially equidistantly with respect to each other. 
     
     
         3 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said game includes at least one spacer positioned between adjacent ones of said playing-board levels for spacing said adjacent playing-board levels from each other. 
     
     
         4 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein each of said playing-board levels includes a frame entirely enclosing said respective matrix. 
     
     
         5 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein said spacer extends substantially vertically from a top surface of said frame of a lower one of said adjacent playing-board levels to a bottom surface of said frame of an upper one of said adjacent playing-board levels. 
     
     
         6 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said spacer extends from a corner of said lower one of said adjacent playing-board levels to a proximate corner of said upper one of said adjacent playing-board levels. 
     
     
         7 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said spacers, in combination together, are aligned substantially vertically with respect to each other. 
     
     
         8 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein said game includes a pair of spacers extending from respective opposite corners of said lower one of said adjacent playing-board levels to respective proximate corners of said upper one of said adjacent playing-board levels. 
     
     
         9 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of said playing-board levels is substantially square. 
     
     
         10 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each of said matrix and frame is substantially square. 
     
     
         11 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each of said placement areas is substantially square. 
     
     
         12 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said placement areas are substantially equally sized with respect to each other. 
     
     
         13 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein each side of each of said placement areas is substantially parallel with a corresponding side of said frame. 
     
     
         14 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a lowest one of said playing-board levels is configured to rest upon a surface used for playing said game. 
     
     
         15 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said scorekeeping system includes a set for each player of a desired number of scorekeeping indicia each of which represents a total number of points scored by the corresponding player and a scorekeeping marker for each player that is used to mark a correct one of said indicium as the player progressively scores points during play of said game. 
     
     
         16 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein each of said sets of scorekeeping indicia is positioned along at least one of said frames. 
     
     
         17 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said scorekeeping indicia are scorekeeping holes and each of said scorekeeping markers is a scorekeeping pin configured to be matingly received in said holes. 
     
     
         18 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein a subset of scorekeeping holes of said set is defined along each of said frames and each of said scorekeeping pins is manually moved from a respective one of said holes of a first of said frames to another respective one of said holes of said first or another of said frames as the corresponding player progressively scores points during play of said game. 
     
     
         19 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein each player receives a second predetermined number of points by obtaining two said scoring alignments in a single turn and a third predetermined number of points by obtaining three said scoring alignments in a single turn. 
     
     
         20 . Said method of playing a three-dimensional alignment board game as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the players take only single turns between or among each other throughout playing of said game.