Patent Application
20140197597
The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
Foreign Patent Document
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Nonpatent Literature Documents
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A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.
Backgammon is a centuries old game of strategy two opponents roll dice on individual turns and move marker around a board while trying to be the first to bare all of their own markers off the board. There are no less than sixty-five variants of the game of backgammon. The version most commonly played in the United States is typically referred to as Western Backgammon.
Western Backgammon is played on a board consisting of twenty-four narrow triangles called points. The board is divided into four quadrants each player's “home” and “outer” boards; a player's “home board” is the quadrant to any given player's right while their opponents “outer board” is the quadrant to that players left. The boards are separated by a ridge down the center called the bar. The point furthest away from a player is their twenty-four-point and it is also their opponent's number-one-point.
At the start of the game each player has fifteen markers. All of a player's markers are one color which is different from the opponents. The first player's markers are positioned as follows: Two on the twenty-four-point, five on his thirteen-point, three on the eight-point, and five on the six-point. One player's marker arrangement is a mirror image of their opponents.
A doubling cube with the numerals two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two and sixty-four is used to raise the stakes of the game. It is not rolled like the two cubed dice but is used as a marker denoting the stakes of the game.
Each player rolls two cubed dice with numbers or pips indicating the number one through six. The player then moves their men around the board towards their “home” according to the numbers rolled. The object of the game is to be the first to get all your markers into your “home board” and then bare them off before your opponent does.
As the markers move around the board, they may encounter and opposing maker. If that marker is alone on a point it is called a blot. If a blot is landed on by an opposing marker it is said to be “hit” and is sent to the bar. Any time a player has one or more hit markers on the bar, their first obligation is to enter those markers into the opposing “home board”. The marker may be entered by moving it to an open point, which is not occupied by two or more opposing markers, corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice.
Once the game is over meaning one player has borne off all of their markers, the losers gets the value shown on the doubling cube (which is one if there have been no doubles) as long as they have borne off at least one marker. If the loser has not borne of any markers, they are said to have been gammoned and lose twice the number on the doubling cube. Finally, if that player has not borne off any markers and still has a marker on the bar, they are said to be “backgammoned.” When this happens, the loser gets three times the value of the doubling cube.
One very popular version of backgammon is known commonly as Takhteh. This embodiment of the game originated in the Middle East and shares many of the same rules and game pieces as Western backgammon. The initial setup and the way the markers are moved around the board are identical. However, there are a few key differences between Takhteh and Western backgammon. These difference include:
An improved gammon game which would increase the number of possible moves is a desirable tool for making Takhteh more entertaining and intellectually stimulating.
Even though several types of improved backgammon-like games have been proposed, all of the games and methods of play heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages:
Therefore, there is a need for an improved gammon game and method of play which allows for a more interesting and thought-provoking player experience. Such a game would utilize a unique type of die with markings which have never before been seen in Takhteh or backgammon. The present invention effectuates these needs.
In accordance with one embodiment, an improved gammon game and method of play which utilizes eight-side dice is envisioned. In one embodiment, said eight-sided dice may be in the shape of an octahedron. One embodiment of the eight-side die, each of the first seven dice faces will contain one of the numbers zero through six. The remaining side of the dice will be the joker side.
Adding a zero to the dice generates a possibility that any given player may be prevented form moving on a given roll. This will be the case when that player rolls the empty set zero. Adding a joker to the dices generates the possibility that given player may be allowed to choose exactly where they want to move a marker. An improved gammon game and corresponding method of play will reduce the impact of luck on the game of Takhteh and increase the need for strategy and well thought out play.
It is envisioned that in one embodiment the eight-sided dice, Arabic numerals will be used for the numbers zero through six. However, it is further envisioned that the numbers on the dice may be indicated in a variety of different ways. By way of example, dots, pips, or Roman numerals are all similarly effective ways of differentiating numbers zero through six. In the embodiments using dots, pips, or roman numerals the number zero may be differentiated by leaving that side of the dice face blank.
In one embodiment of the eight-sided dice, the joker-side of the dice may be marked with the image of a joker. In a further embodiment of the eight-sided dice, the joker-side of each die may be marked with the word “joker.”
In one embodiment of the improved gammon game, the aforementioned dice will comprise one of the components of the gaming apparatus. The remaining components include a backgammon board consisting of twenty-four narrow triangles called points.
The board is divided into four quadrants with each player having an “inner table” and an “outer table.”
The first players “inner table” or “home” is demarcated by the first six points. Points are numbered in order from one to twenty four beginning with the point furthest to the first player's right and then counting counter-clockwise around the board. The first player's “outer board” is demarcated by the points thirteen through eighteen. The opponent or second player's home board is demarcated by the points nineteen through twenty-four while their “outer board” consist of the quadrant containing points seven through twelve.
The addition of unique playing pieces which are adapted to be used by players to designate movements throughout a game with rules similar to that of historic Takhteh complicates and makes for a more challenging and mentally stimulating gaming experience. Players both young and old will have their mental agility tested by the new rules created specifically for the improved gammon game and method of play.
The inventors further envision that, in one embodiment of an improved gammon game and method of play, no physical board, dice, or marker shall be required. In this embodiment, the game may be played in an electronic format through the use of a computer and computer software. In this embodiment, the software will mimic the use of physical components of the apparatus by presenting players with a virtual backgammon board, eight-sided dice, and markers on their computer screens. Nevertheless, in this embodiment, the same rules of the improved backgammon game will apply.
The inventors envision that, in another embodiment of the electronic version of the improved backgammon game, players need not be in the same room to compete against one another. Through the use of an internet-enabled computer, players may be networked together and challenge one another even though they are located great distances apart from one another.
Thus several advantages of one or more aspects are to provide:
These and other advantages of one or more aspects will become apparent from consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings. Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments but as merely providing illustrations of some of several embodiments. For example, the dice may be constructed from plastic in one embodiment and with porcelain or other suitable material for playing dice in another. Thus the scope of the embodiments should be determined by the claims that are appended and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given.
The description of the invention which follows, together with the accompanying drawings should not be construed as limiting the invention to the example shown and described, because those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains will be able to devise other forms thereof within the ambit of the appended claims.
Illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below. The following explanation provides specific details for a thorough understanding of an enabling description for these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand that the invention may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well-known structures and functions have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of the embodiments.
One embodiment of an improved gammon game is shown as set-up in
The introduction of the new eight-sided joker 10 dice creates a plurality of potential dice landing position.
The introduction of the eight-sided dice 10 with a joker on at least one side greatly impacts the probabilities of a player rolling different dice positions. Not only is there a significant difference in the number of landing possibilities, because the dice have more sides, there is also an increased difference in the number of playing possibilities because one of the sides (i.e. the joker) may be played as any one of the other seven sides (i.e. zero through six).
By way of example, if there were no jokers and you were to roll two dice, there would exist two possible ways of rolling a two and a one. You could roll a two on the first die and a one on the second; or you could roll a one on the first and a two on the second. However, by introducing the joker onto one side of each die, the number of ways a two and a one can be rolled goes up to seven. The following is a list of ways a given player can roll a two and a one:
Similarly, the introduction of a joker onto one face of a die, significantly effects the probability of rolling double. By way of example, there is only one possible way of rolling a pair of sixes using a traditional pair of dice. However, if one of the faces is replaced with a joker, there are four possible ways of rolling double sixes:
By introducing such a wide array of possibilities, both the strategy and concentration required to be successful at the improved gammon game have been substantially impacted over traditional gammon games that lack a joker dice. The dramatic difference in probabilities between playing with traditional six-sided dice (numbered one through six) and an eight-sided joker dice 10 with a zero and a single joker is illustrated in the following chart:
The inventors envision a variety of ways in which the joker can be introduced into dice games and do not limit the scope to the eight-sided joker dice embodiment discussed herein by way of example. For instance, the inventors further envision the introduction of the joker onto a traditional six-sided die with indicia for the numbers one through six. In this embodiment of the joker dice, one of the six numbers on the traditional dice may be replaced with a joker.
Moreover, the inventors also envision that, in other embodiments, the joker-dice may be introduced into other games which use dice with similar consequences on landing and playing probabilities as illustrated in the chart above. For example, a joker may be introduced onto one of the sides of the dice in a well-known dice game such as craps. Just as with backgammon or Takhteh, this will have a significant effect on the landing and playing probabilities which can change the way individuals play this as well as a wide variety of other well known games requiring dice. In other words, the inventors envision uses of joker dice which go beyond gammon games and which are not limited to just eight-sided dice.
Game play proceeds in manner similar to Takhteh with several modifications to help deal with the introduction of the eight-sided joker dice 10. Just like in western backgammon and Takhteh, the object of the game is to move your markers according to the numbers shown on the dice after they have been thrown. The players always move their markers forward to a lower numbered point. Each player's first objective is to get all of their markers into their “home” board. Once they have done this, they can begin bearing off individual markers. The first player to bear off all of their markers is victorious.
While a player is trying to get their markers into the their home board they risk having their marker sent to the bar 16 by their opponent. A point on which any given player only has one marker is referred to as a blot. If your opponent lands on one of your blots, your blot marker is said to be hit. A hit marker is placed on the bar 16 and your opponent replaces your marker with their own.
Any time a player has one or more hit markers on the bar 16, their first obligation is to enter those markers into the opposing “home board”. The marker may be entered by moving it to an open point, which is not occupied by two or more opposing markers, corresponding to one of the numbers on the rolled dice.
A player who rolls doubles, plays the numbers shown on the dice twice. By way of illustration, if a player rolls a two and a two, that player is allowed to use four two's and they are allowed to move any legal combination of markers to complete this requirement.
As long as it is legally possible, a player must use all of the numbers of a roll to move their markers around the board. When only one number can be played, the player must play that number. If either number rolled can be played but not both, then the player must choose the larger of the two numbers. Finally, when doubles have been rolled and cannot all be legally played, then the player must play as many numbers as they can.
As illustrated in
If a player rolls two zero's then they are not allowed to move at all. They effectively lose a turn. This is illustrated in
Finally, in the event that the improved gammon player rolls two jokers, they are allowed to play any of the numbers on the joker dice 10 that they choose. Moreover, if they choose two of the same number, the doubling rules still apply. In other words, and by way of example, if the player chooses two fives, they would be allowed to move four fives just as they would had they actually rolled a pair of fives.
While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the markers are illustrated as being bright and dark in the drawings even though the inventors contemplate the possibility that the sets of markers may both be dark but with different colors. Accordingly, is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims.
The teachings provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described herein. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the above patents and applications and other references, including any that may be listed in accompanying filing papers, are incorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can be modified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various references described above to provide yet further embodiments of the invention.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being refined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the improved gammon game and method of play with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be constructed to limit the improved gammon game and method of play to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above Detailed Description section explicitly define such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the disclosed game and method of play. The above detailed description of embodiments of the improved gammon game and method of play is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the precise form disclosed above or to a particular field of usage. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the game and method of play are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible which those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.
While certain aspects of the improved gammon game and method of play are presented below in particular claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects of the improved gammon game and method of play in any number of claim forms. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additional claims after filing the application to pursue such additional claim forms for other aspects of the improved gammon game and method of play.
This application is a first divisional patent application and claims the benefit of U.S. NonProvisional patent application Ser. No. 13/337,847, filed on Dec. 27,2011.
