Apparatus and method for a board game

Abstract

A game apparatus including a plurality of first and second player game pieces, each having a first portion that is a chess piece, such that the plurality of first and second player game pieces include all the pieces for a first and second player, respectively for a game of chess. Each of the plurality of first and second player game pieces has a second portion fixed to a corresponding first portion. Each second portion has a recess so that a cube can be inserted into the recess so the cube cannot be seen from a front of the second portion. The game apparatus may further include a base; a grid; and a first and/or second plurality of insert pieces. The grid and the base form a chessboard pattern of a plurality of grid spaces. Each of the insert pieces fits within a space of the plurality of grid spaces.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A game apparatus comprising:
 a layer of a plurality of sensors;   a circuit board having a plurality of groups of electrical connections;   a base having a bottom surrounded by a peripheral wall   wherein each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors is configured to electrically connect to at least one of the plurality of groups of electrical connections;   wherein the circuit board is configured to fit within the peripheral wall of the base;   wherein there is at least one sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors for each group of the plurality of groups of electrical connections; and   wherein the layer of the plurality of sensors is configured to be placed on the circuit board, so that each group of the plurality of groups of electrical connections is covered by one sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         2 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 a grid wherein the grid provides an n-by-n matrix of a plurality of openings, such that each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors fits within one opening of the n-by-n matrix; and 
 wherein the grid is configured to lie on the circuit board. 
 
     
     
         3 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  wherein
 the base includes a first video display screen which is configured to provide information about one or more of the sensors of the layer of the plurality of sensors. 
 
     
     
         4 . The game apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising
 a plurality of first player game pieces, each of which has a front surface and a rear surface both of which include indicia of a single type of conventional chess piece, and no other type of conventional chess piece, such that the plurality of first player game pieces include indicia of two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen, one king, and eight pawns, which are used in a conventional game of chess, for a first player; 
 a plurality of second player game pieces, each of which has a front surface and a rear surface both of which include indicia of a single type of conventional chess piece, and no other type of conventional chess piece, such that the plurality of second player game pieces include indicia of two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen, one king, and eight pawns, which are used in a conventional game of chess, for a second player; 
 one or more trap pieces which are configured to be removably attached to each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces, in a manner which allows the one or more trap pieces to be seen from a view of the rear surface of each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces, but which cannot be seen from a view of the front surface of each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces, and which allows the indicia of the single type of conventional chess piece to be seen from a view of the rear surface while the one or more trap pieces are removably attached to each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces; and 
 wherein each of the one or more trap pieces provide indicia for one or more rules of gameplay. 
 
     
     
         5 . The game apparatus of  claim 3  wherein
 each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors includes a computer memory which is configured to be programmed to have a trap, such that the trap for each sensor may be different from the trap for each other sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors; and 
 wherein the trap of each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors provides information to the first video display screen for gameplay. 
 
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 playing a game using a game apparatus comprising:
 a layer of a plurality of sensors; 
 a circuit board having a plurality of groups of electrical connections; and 
 a base having a bottom surrounded by a peripheral wall 
   wherein each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors is configured to electrically connect to at least one of the plurality of groups of electrical connections;   wherein the circuit board is configured to fit within the peripheral wall of the base;   wherein there is at least one sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors for each group of the plurality of groups of electrical connections; and   wherein the layer of the plurality of sensors is configured to be placed on the circuit board, so that each group of the plurality of groups of electrical connections is covered by one sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the game apparatus includes a grid wherein the grid provides an n-by-n matrix of a plurality of openings, such that each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors fits within one opening of the n-by-n matrix; and 
 wherein the grid is configured to lie on the circuit board. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the base includes a first video display screen which is configured to provide information about one or more of the sensors of the layer of the plurality of sensors. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6  wherein
 the game apparatus is further comprised of a plurality of first player game pieces, each of which has a front surface and a rear surface both of which include indicia of a single type of conventional chess piece, and no other type of conventional chess piece, such that the plurality of first player game pieces include indicia of two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen, one king, and eight pawns, which are used in a conventional game of chess, for a first player; 
 a plurality of second player game pieces, each of which has a front surface and a rear surface both of which include indicia of a single type of conventional chess piece, and no other type of conventional chess piece, such that the plurality of second player game pieces include indicia of two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen, one king, and eight pawns, which are used in a conventional game of chess, for a second player; 
 one or more trap pieces which are configured to be removably attached to each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces, in a manner which allows the one or more trap pieces to be seen from a view of the rear surface of each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces, but which cannot be seen from a view of the front surface of each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces, and which allows the indicia of the single type of conventional chess piece to be seen from a view of the rear surface while the one or more trap pieces are removably attached to each of the plurality of first player game pieces and each of the plurality of second player game pieces; and 
 wherein each of the one or more trap pieces provide indicia for one or more rules of gameplay. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein
 each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors includes a computer memory which is configured to be programmed to have a trap providing indicia for one or more rules of gameplay, such that the trap for at least one of the plurality of sensors is different from the trap for at least one other of the plurality of sensors; and 
 wherein the trap of each sensor of the layer of the plurality of sensors provides information to the first video display screen for gameplay.