A game apparatus in which each of a plurality of players attempt to extend a single layer horizontal chain of game pieces while blocking such chain extensions of the other players during alternate "turns" defined by a timer, said game apparatus comprising:
- (a) a flat game board comprising a playing surface having a plurality of unit-sized squares forming a grid of longitudinal and transverse rows, with each of said unit-sized squares including a downwardly tapered recess, with the longitudinal distance between adjacent recesses being the same as the transverse distance between adjacent recesses;
- (b) at least two sets of different sized playing pieces for each of the players of the game, each set having a standard length constituting multiples of said unit-sized squares, the top surface area of the individual units of each of said pieces generally comprising a shape essentially conforming to the size of each of said unit-sized squares on said game board, each unit length of said pieces defined by linear groove-like indicia extending perpendicular to the longitudinal edges of said piece, each unit of said pieces having a downwwardly tapered plug conforming to the shape of said recesses for allowing said pieces to slide down quickly and easily to detachably secure said playing pieces in selected areas on said playing surface enabling a player to quickly secure a piece to said board while reaching over previously positioned pieces without dislodging such other pieces that have already been secured to said board, with each playing piece having a low vertical profile with the vertical thickness of the playing piece which rests on top of the playing board surface less than each of the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of said unit-square of the playing board;
- (c) a different player identification on each of said sets of said playing pieces, so that each player's pieces are visually distinguishable;
- (d) said playing pieces and said game board playing surface being shaped, arranged and proportioned so that said pieces may be positioned on said board only perpendicular or parallel to said longitudinal and transverse rows in said board and so that two pieces of the same or different unit lengths which are placed on adjacent spaces in a selected path form a visually continuous chain;
- (e) said playing pieces and said game board telescoping by said plug entering said recess to enable said game apparatus to be low in height for conveniently playing as well as storing said game apparatus;
- and
- (f) a timer mounted on said game board beneath the surface of said board said timer comprising:
- a spring wind-up motor including a spring;
- a rotatable drive shaft connected to said spring, said shaft winding said spring when rotated in one direction, said shaft rotated in the other direction by the unwinding of said spring;
- an arm one end of which is perpendicularly connected to said shaft such that said shaft is rotated by raising and lowering said arm, said arm being movable from an upper position to a lower position, said arm rotating said shaft to wind said spring when said arm is moved from an upper position to a lower position, said shaft rotated by said spring to raise said arm from a lower position to an upper position when said spring moves from a wound state to an unwound state;
- a pin extending through the surface of a portion of said game board and abutting said arm, said pin being operable to push said arm to its lower position and thereby wind said spring and start the running of said timer to start a new time period for a player when said pin is pushed by a player, said timer establishing a limited time interval for each player to rapidly select a playing piece of suitable length for quick positioning of said playing piece, with said pin constituting manually resetting means in the form of a push button for resetting the timer at the end of each player's turn without disrupting the pieces on the board with each player attempting to continue the extension of his or her playing pieces and to block the extension of the opposing player(s) by placing his or her playing pieces at selected locations before the end of said limited time interval.