GB2237999A - Snooker board game - Google Patents

Abstract

A board game is described comprising a rectangular playing surface (1) provided with a plurality of location holes (2) for receiving a plurality of playing pieces. The locations can be holes (2) joined together by indented lines (3) providing a choice of eight different directions to move to an adjacent hole. The playing surface is marked out, for example, as a snooker table with conventional spot marks (6) for placing the coloured balls (10) a baulk line (7), a 'D' (8) for the cue ball, and pockets (4) (5). The cue ball is represented by a die which is thrown to determine the number of locations the selected ball is moved. Alternative locations can be provided as depressions for spherical pieces or as magnetic/magnetisable locations. <IMAGE>

Description

A BOARD GAME This invention relates to a board game based on the concept of the games of snooker, pool and billiards.

Many board games have been devised to simulate indoor and outdoor sports and games. The difficulty in maintaining the enjoyment of such board games rests in successfully transferring the skills and rules of the game or sport to the confines of a board playing surface using playing pieces and tokens.

An aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned difficulty and provide an enjoyable game simulating the games of snooker, pool and billiards.

According to the present invention there is provided a game comprising a rectangular playing surface marked with a plurality of locations for a plurality of playing pieces, the surface having zones marked at the corners of the playing surface and at two opposite sides thereof to represent scoring locations for the playing pieces and at least one chance device for indicating the random movements of each playing piece as it is moved between zones over the playing surface.

Preferably, the playing surface represents the playing area of a snooker table. However, it could also represent the playing area of a pool or billiard table.

Conveniently, the zones marked at the corners and at two opposite sides of the playing surface represent pockets.

Embodiments of the game according to the invention, will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a board game according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a playing piece representing a 'ball'; Figure 3 is a cross-section of a second embodiment of a playing piece representing a 'ball' when resting in a location on the playing surface, and; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a magnetic score board.

The game apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a playing surface 1 in the form of a rectangular wooden base board approximately 3/8 inch thick drilled with a plurality of holes 2 throughout its surface. Each hole 2 is joined to an adjacent hole by indented lines 3 which provide a choice of eight different directions to move to an adjacent hole 2. Four zones representing pockets 4 are marked at the corners of the rectangular playing surface as well as two zones on opposite sides of the playing surface representing side pockets 5.

The playing surface is marked out as a snooker or billiard table with the conventional spot marks 6 for placing the coloured 'balls' and a baulk line 7 and 'D' 8 for the cue 'ball'. The sides and ends of the board are provided with borders 9 representing the snooker table cushions.

In one embodiment shown in Figure 2 the snooker balls are represented by coloured ball shaped playing pieces 10 with pegs 11 for insertion in the appropriate holes 2 in the playing surface.

In an alternative embodiment of the game apparatus illustrated in Figure 3, the locations marked by drilled holes 2 are replaced by depressions 12 formed in the playing surface in which ball shaped playing pieces in the form of coloured marbles 13 are located.

Figure 4 illustrates a score board which is drawn to represent a snooker or billiard score board 14 with rails 15 and sliding markers 16. The board may be placed inside a lid (not shown) for the game board or on the outside of a container for the playing surface. The rails 15 may be provided with metal strips to which magnetic sliding markers 16 are attracted by magnetic force.

In a still further embodiment the playing surface may be made of or incorporate a layer of metal to which magnetic playing pieces are attracted by magnetic force.

This embodiment is particularly suitable for a pocket travelling version of the game.

The above described game is based on the concept of the games of snooker, pool and billiards using different coloured balls or tokens representing balls played in accordance with a set of rules.

A brief description of the rules representing the game of snooker is as follows: A die or dice represent the 'cue ball' and the number shown on the thrown dice is the 'shot'. On the throw of the dice or other chance device the playing piece representing a red ball is selected and moved in the chosen direction the number of locations corresponding to the number thrown, a maximum of three 'shots' per ball is permitted for each player. If the 'red ball' is 'potted', into a pocket by throwing the correct number of moves, a coloured ball, i.e. a colour other than 'red' , is chosen and the player attempts to 'pot' the chosen 'coloured' ball in accordance with the three 'shot' rule.If the 'coloured' ball is potted, the player continues his 'break', after re-spotting the 'potted' 'coloured' ball, by trying to 'pot' another 'red' ball and so on until he fails to 'pot' a ball. This ends his 'break' and the score is recorded on the score board.

Foul 'strokes' are made when the player overshoots the 'pockets' which incur penalties when attempting to 'pot' coloured balls. The next player then throws the dice to make a 'break'.

As each ball is chosen it is possible to move it in any of eight directions following the lines connecting each location marked on the playing surface. The choice of ball and direction in which it is moved provide a large permutation of moves making it a game of both skill and chance.

The object of the game is to 'pot' the balls in sequence, as in the real game of snooker including 'rebounds off the cushion, 'cannons', 'safety shots, 'making breaks and placing ones opponent in a 'foul' prone position while endeavouring not to incur a 'foul' stroke oneself. The points scored on the red and coloured 'balls' and the 'foul' strokes are the same as in the real game of snooker. The game can be played by two or more players and the winning person or team is the one making the highest score.

To provide a variation and make the game more interesting the game could be played as the best of three frames. When playing the game a player must indicate the direction, and location in which he intends to move his playing piece to. The player can point with his finger but this can obscure the playing surface and may cause a misunderstanding. To overcome this, it is proposed that each player has a pointer in the form of a stick which can take the form of a snooker cue.

The rules when playing a simulated game of pool are substantially the same as that described above for the game of snooker, except that the winner is usually the one potting all his set of 'balls' plus the 'eight ball'. The other rules of the game follow substantially those of the rules of the game of pool.

Similarly, in the simulated game of billiards the apparatus described above is used with two white and one red 'ball' and the rules follow closely those of the real game of billiards.

Various modifications may be made to the invention.

For example, the game apparatus can be miniaturised and packaged for use as a pocket travelling game.

Alternatively it can be adapted and computerised as a video game.

Claims (15)

1. A game comprising a rectangular playing surface marked with a plurality of locations for a plurality of playing pieces, the surface having zones marked at the corners of the playing surface and at two opposite sides thereof to represent scoring locations for the playing pieces and at least one chance device for indicating the random movements of each playing piece as it is moved between zones over the playing surface.

2. A game as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the playing surface represents the playing area of a snooker table.

3. A game as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the zones marked at the corners and at opposite sides of the playing surface represent pockets.

4. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the locations are spaced over the whole of the playing surface.

5. A game as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the locations are joined by lines showing the permitted movements of the playing pieces.

6. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the playing surface has a border representing a raised cushion from which the playing pieces rebound.

7. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the playing pieces are coloured markers to represent balls.

8. A game as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the markers are ball shaped.

9. A game as claimed in Claim 7 or 8 wherein the coloured markers are magnetically attracted to the playing surface.

10. A game as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the locations are formed by holes in the playing surface.

11. A game as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the locations are formed by curved depressions in the playing surface.

12. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the playing surface is housed in a container the internal or external surface of which has a score board.

13. A game as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the score board has markers which are magnetically attracted to the score board.

14. A game as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein pointing sticks in the form of a snooker cue are provided to assist a player in indicating the zone which he intends to move his playing piece to.

15. A game substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.