US 2014/0084539 A1Published application

Strategy, and training game and method for enhancing memorization and decision making

AssigneeThe John Marshall Law School Patent Clinic

InventorBrian T. Dolk

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Abstract

A chess variant strategy game enhancing decision-making skills and memorization comprises most pieces being concealed within housing shells, except for the King, so that players must identify and memorize the opponent's game pieces from their movements. The use of at least one “hold and secure” placeholder on a square allows a player to “hold and secure” squares upon capturing an opponent's piece on that square and more realistically emulates battle situations. A method for training comprising plural training phases, including increasingly complex rules variations, all of which have game pieces concealed within housing shells and the “hold and secure” feature, and some or all pieces starting in non-traditional chess starting positions. The phases are customizable with different variations and may include time constraints, variable piece starting positions and alternative goals, as well as other features that alter the conditions and parameters of play.

A strategy game adapted to enhance a player's skill in critical decision making, memorization and strategy, comprising:

a) a substantially horizontal playing surface comprising a plurality of checkered squares, comprising opposed first and second sides, each side providing for placement of a player, 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;
b) a housing shell for concealing each of the game pieces, with the exception of the King, and wherein one side of the housing shell reveals the game piece disposed inside that shell, wherein an opening in the shell faces the first side of the playing surface and the other side of the housing is opaque such that the game piece disposed inside that shell is not viewable from the second side of the playing surface, wherein the housing shell further comprises a base that supports the game piece on the horizontal playing surface, and a predetermined game piece of the game pieces being visible to all players consisting of at least one opponent player;
and
c) a plurality of game pieces having playing characteristics that essentially follow the rules identical to game pieces used in playing traditional chess, essentially each game piece being concealed within one of the housing shells,
wherein the game pieces of the player's side disposed inside the shells are placed on the horizontal playing surface by at least one player to provide a concealed game piece, and wherein each player moves each shell containing the concealed game piece according to traditional chess game rules, and wherein a hold and secure placeholder is laid onto the square when one of the opponent's pieces is captured, thereby obstructing the captured held and secured square from being used by the opposing player to pass through or land on,
and wherein the first player to capture or corner an opposing player's predetermined game piece wins the game.

3 more elements

Abstract

Claims20