The subject of this invention is a space chess, which facilitates playing a three dimensional chess game, which is based on the extension of the two dimensional chess board into a three dimensional game space as well as on the use of chess pieces while the various levels of the game space are marked by various height level supports. A further subject of the invention is the procedure for playing the space chess.

Chess was invented more than two thousand years ago and for the past four or five hundred years practically it has not changed. An important feature of the era when it was formed is that the shape of the Earth was thought to be two dimensional and wars were also conducted along two dimensional sceneries. The chess of today still reflects the same two dimensional view in spite of the facts that both wars and the conception of our world became three dimensional. Several proposals have been made both in Hungary and internationally for the modification of the game, the characteristics of most of which are that they change the numbers, shape and layout of the squares but they do not step out of the two dimensional environment. Examples for this are for instance the hexa chess or the millennium chess. The hexa chess is a variant of the original chess in which the board is hexagonal and the three-colored squares are also hexagonal. Marking the rows and columns with numbers and letters of the alphabet is maintained but due to the extension of the board extended numbering is used. Further on, compared to the traditional chess the chess figures are supplemented by an additional pawn and a bishop. The moves of the chess figures are similar to those of the traditional chess, but the differences due to the change of the shape of the board have to be taken into account. In summary the shape of the squares on the board changes but the chess does not step out of the two dimensional layout.

The Millenium 3D chess, however, uses three layers of chess boards. A basic characteristic of it is that it changes the rules of the traditional chess game to the least possible degree. As there is a possibility to move from one board to the other, for this change new rules are set. All figures can make their moves starting from their actual positions on the same level as per the traditional chess rules. When changing one level they can carry out their usual moves but one square only. A similar rule applies to the change over two levels, as the move in the proper directions is allowed but two squares must be involved. This game facilitates playing on more than one level, exactly on three levels. Its disadvantage is that it can only be played on a computer generated interface. The content of the Hungarian patent with the name of "Sakk keszlet", number P0000535, is a set of chess that can be played with an extended board and introducing new figures. In this set up some rules change e.g. it is allowed to jump over other figures, which in the traditional chess game is not allowed except for the knight. The name of the new figure is "tuzer" and similarly to the queen it can move in each direction, but it must cover two sqares and cannot check the king. This layout also remains in the traditional two dimensional environment.

For the spatial extension of the chess various proposals have been made and various structures have been produced. In the patent number US20110127720 Al the TOWER: 3D CHESS PLATFORM presents a layout in which the layers of the chess boards materialize physically. Altogether 8 levels are formed that are fixed onto a support structure. At various levels of the support structure are fixed the units holding the boards, the number of which can be determined by the user, but it is limited to 8. The description does not present strictly the process of playing a chess game, it rather shows the details of the three dimensional structure. This layout presents a possible solution for the multiplication of the chess boards. Patent No. DE3908416 with a name "Dreidimensionales Spiel, insbesondere Schachspiel" the central question is the three dimensional allocation of the chess pieces. A three dimendional structure is introduced, in the units of which the pieces can be put in. The moves can be done in the three dimensional chess board with 8 squares lengths, 8 squares widths and 8 squares heights. The pieces can be placed to the relevant space with the help of a stick. To the empty places where there is no chess piece, no supplementary support is placed, not to spoil visibility. The disadvantage of the presented layout is that moving the pieces is difficult and visibility is not good.

Another German patent desription, the "Dreidimensionales Schachspiel, No. DE3104612 Al" presents a layout, in which the repetition of the chess board is done in a way that the second board is transparent. In this set up the extension of the chess to the third dimension is achieved by an earlier reviewed method, by the repetition of the chess board. Novelty is, however, that the upper layer is transparent, specifically plastic or glass. The difference between black and white squares is marked by small black dots glued to the locations of black squares. This way there is little on the upper layer to cover the content of the lower layer. This solution provides a transparent structure. Fixing the upper layer is possible with supports at the corners of the board.

The goal of the present invention is the creation of chess sets for two players in which the number of the chess pieces matches that of the traditional chess game, however the game space is extended to the third dimension where eight levels can be created, which means that the game can be played on eight levels, where the first level is the traditional chess board and the game can be played by applying the rules of the traditional chess but extending them to the third dimension.

By creating the above, the aim of the invention is to promote "three dimensional thinking", to improve space vision and working out a simple game that can be manufactured in series production.

The invention is based on the recognition that on a two dimensional chess board playing in the third dimension is possible by raising the chess pieces to various levels by various height level supports.

The space chess as described in this invention consists of one chess board, level supports and chess pieces in such a way that the pieces can be flexibly fitted to the chess board and to the level supports. The area of the chess board, similarly to the traditional chess is eight squares wide and eight squares long. This forms the first, alpha level. By repeating the alpha level 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 times we arrive at the 2, 3, ...8 level space chess. The various levels are marked by the first eight letters of the Greek alphabet. In reality physically only the first, alpha level is created, the other levels have to be imagined in such a way that the levels are parallel with each other and the various squares are located above each other. Representation of the various levels is done by putting the chess figures onto the various height level supports, which means that various height supports mark the various levels or the other way, to a given level a given height support belongs. In case of mechanical fitting on the alpha level there is a 17 joint socket on each square. The lowest part of the level support is the base, followed by the leg and above all is the top. Those level supports that represent third or higher levels are equipped with a level marker placed on the leg. The third level level support is equipped with one level marker, the fourth level level support with two, the fifth support with three, the sixth level support with four, the seventh with five and the eight level level support with six level markers, which also means that the height of the various level supports is different.

Chess pieces can be flexibly joined to the top of the level supports and the level supports can be flexibly joined to the alpha level. Joining the level supports to the chess board can be mechanical or magnetic.

In the case of mechanical joints at the base of the level support a joint unit is fixed that exactly fits into the joint socket.

In the case of magnetic joints a circle magnet is fixed to the bottom of the base that provides connection with the chess board.

The number and type of the chess pieces concur with those of the traditional chess. The design of the chess figures can be of two types: one is the traditional type, the other is in the form of a disc. In case of the discs the type of the chess figure is marked by a label glued to the disc. Traditional chess figures are recommended for use in case of the 1-3 level chess game and discs for use in case of the 1-8 level chess games.

Chess pieces can be fitted to the chess board or the level supports. Fitting the pieces can be done in two ways. Both the traditional and the disc form pieces can be fitted mechanically or magnetically. In case of the mechanical fitting a joint unit is fixed to the base of the chess piece which fits exactly to the joint socket in the board or on top of the level support.

In case of magnetic fitting the base of the chess piece is equipped with a circular magnet that provides contact with the squares of the board or with the thin metal disk fixed to the top of the level support. Moving the disc shaped chess pieces sometimes might be difficult, therefore forceps are suggested to use for moving them. In the course of the game the number and the layout of the chess pieces on a given level concurs with those of the traditional chess. In starting position the light and dark pieces are placed on the same level, depending on the choice of the number of levels played. In case of one or two level game they are placed on level one (alpha), in case of three or four level game they are placed on level two (beta), in case of five or six level game on level three (gamma), in case of seven or eight level game on level four (delta). The space chess can be played from one to eight levels, however at the beginning only the three level game is proposed.

Another form of the space chess is the one created in digital environment by computer software that shows a three dimensional picture of the chess board, the level supports and the chess pieces. The game can be controlled by the computer keyboard, the computer controls the regularity of the moves, the capturing of the opponet's pieces and managing checks.

The space chess as per this invention is described with the help of the figures below.

Figure 1: Schematic sketch of the levels of space chess;

Figure 2: Traditional and disc shaped chess pieces with mechanical and magnetic fittings - plan view and sections;

Figure 3: Magnetic level supports. The second level level support is shown in plan view, side view and section, the third level and fourth level level support in side view;

Figure 4: Mechanical level supports. The second level level support in plan view, side view and section, the third and fourth level in side view;

Figure 5: Fitting of mechanical chess pieces and level supports;

Figure 6: Chesss pieces and level supports of the three level space chess at the start in spatial view;

Figure 7: Chess pieces and level supports of the three level space chess during the game in spatial view;

Figure 8: Joining the mechanical parts - plan view with cutting out and section.

In Figure 1 the layout of the game space of the eight level space chess is depicted. The various 2 levels are named after the first eight letters of the Greek alphabet: the first level is alpha, the second level is beta, the third gamma, the fourth delta, the fifth epsilon, the sixth zeta, the seventh eta and the eigth theta. The 2 alpha level is the 1 physical chess board, the other levels physically are not constructed.

On the 1 chess board the layout of the squares concurs with that of the traditional chess and the squares of the theoretical beta-theta 2 levels that are parallel with the 1 board concur with the 3 squares of the 1 board. In case of magnetic chess the board is made of metallic material.

Figure 2 shows the possible forms of chess pieces, that is the traditional and the disc shaped figures and their joining to the 1 board. The figure demonstrates both the disc shaped and the traditional chess pieces with mechanical and magnetic fittings. In Figure 2. a one 4 disc shaped figure is shown with a 18 mechanical joint. Figure 2.b shows in plan view of a 4 disc shaped mechanical chess piece. Figure 2.c containes the section of a 5 traditional figure with an 18 mechanical joint and Figure 2.d shows the same in plan view. Figure 2.e shows a 6 disc shaped figure with a 14 magnetic joint and figure 2.f shows the same in plan view. Figure 2.g demonstrates a 7 magnetic traditional piece, the base of which is equipped with a 14 circular magnet, and Figure 2.h depicts the same in plan view.

Figure 3 demonstrates the 19 magnetic level supports. (Under ref. 19 all level supports are meant). Figure 3. a, b and c depict the 8 level support of the second level in various views, which consists of 20 base, 21 leg and 22 top. It can be seen that the 20 base of each of the 19 level supports has a 14 circular magnet and the 22 top has a 15 thin circular sheet metal piece, the role of which is to provide contact with the magnetic chess pieces.

Figure 3.d shows the 9 third level magnetic level support which consists of 20 base, 21 leg, 22 top and a 16 level marker.

Figure 3.e shows the 10 fourth level magnetic level support which consists of 20 base, 21 leg, 22 top and two 16 level markers.

Figure 4 demonstrates the 19 level supports with mechanical joints. Figures 4. a, 4.b and 4.c depict the 11 level support of the second level that consists of 20 base, the 18 joint unit protruding from the base, 21 leg and 22 top. In the 22 top there is a 17 joint socket formed. Figure 4.d depicts the 12 level support of the third level that consists of 20 base, the 18 joint unit protruding from the base, 21 leg, 16 level marker and 22 top. In the 22 top there is a 17 joint socket formed. Figure 4.e shows the 13 level support of the fourth level, which only differs from the 12 level support by the fact that two 16 level markers are formed on it. The 17 joint sockets are created in such a way that the 18 joint units of the chess pieces exactly fit into them.

Figure 5 presents the method of joining the mechanical chess pieces and the 19 mechanical level supports. Various mechanical chess pieces equipped with 18 joint unit can fit into the relevant 19 level supports, more exactly into the 17 joint sockets. The diameters of the 18 joint unit and the 17 joint socket are made close enough to fit into one another but due to the friction without external force they do not slip apart. Figures 5. a, 5.b, 5.c and 5.d are examples for the fitting of a 12 third level level support and a 5 figure with a mechanical joint.

Figure 6 demonstrates the starting arrangement of a three level space chess. The chess pieces are placed on the 2 second level of the 1 chess board in a starting position with the help of 19 level supports. In this example 5 traditional chess pieces are placed on the second level 11 level supports. The 3 squares of the 1 board have 17 joint sockets into which fit the second level 11 mechanical level supports with the 18 joint units and the 5 mechanical chess pieces are fitted into the 22 top of the second level 11 mechanical level supports. As it can be seen, the starting position is similar to that in the traditional chess game, the only difference is that all chess pieces are located on the 2 second level.

Figure 7 demonstrates a possible situation in a three dimensional game. All traditional chess pieces with mechanical fittings are located on the 2 alpha, beta or gamma levels with the help of the 19 level supports. The pieces on the 2 alpha level are there without level supports. The chess pieces on 2 beta level are placed on 11 second level mechanical level supports, while the pieces on 2 gamma level are placed on third level 12 mechanical level supports.

In figure 8. a the fitting of the 5 mechanical chess piece to the 12 third level mechanical level support, and the fitting of the 12 level support to the 1 chess board can be seen in section. 8.b shows the same arrangement in plan view. The characteristics and sizes of the 17 joint unit are equal to those on the 19 level supports. Due to this both the chess pieces and the level supports can be easily placed on the 1 chess board.

One preferred form of the chess set as per this invention consists of one table, the squares of which are equipped with joint sockets, 16 light and 16 dark traditional chess pieces with mechanical fittings and 32 second level mechanical level supports as well as 32 third level mechanical level supports. This form can be used for playing a maximum of three level space chess.

Another preferred form of the chess set as per this invention consists of one table, the squares of which are equipped with joint sockets, 16 light and 16 dark disc-shaped chess pieces with mechanical fittings and 32 second level mechanical level supports as well as 32 third level mechanical level supports. This form can be used for playing a maximum of three level space chess.

Another preferred form of the chess set consists of a magnetic table, 16 light and 16 dark traditional magnetic chess pieces and 32 second level magnetic level supports as well as 32 third level magnetic level supports. This form can be used for playing a maximum of three level space chess.

Another further preferred form of the chess set consists of a magnetic table, 16 light and 16 dark disc-shaped magnetic chess pieces and 32 magnetic level supports per level, representing the levels 2-8, as well as 2 special foreceps. This form can be used for playing a maximum of eight level space chess.

At the beginning of the game the players decide on the number of levels they want to use. For instance, if they want to play on six levels, at the start they set up the chess pieces on the third level, the pieces are placed on the relevant level supports.

The course of the game is similar to that of the traditional chess game, but the moves are extended to the third dimension as well, so that the chess pieces - except for the knight- move along spatial straight lines besides the traditional 2-D lines. It is understood that a spatial straight line is the one which along the distance of one square ascends/descends maximum one level. The knight moves besides the L-shapes in horizontal 2-D plane along spatial L-shapes except for the vertical plane.

In the course of the game the pieces can move across level 1 to level 8. The chess pieces cannot move or cannot capture in vertical direction, only one figure can stay above one square and the figures cannot jump over another figure (except for the knight).

The pawn can move one square forward on the actual level or one level up or down, it can capture other pieces along a diagonal line either in 2-D or 3-D direction within a distance of one square, at the first move it can move two squares along a straight line, it cannot move sideways, and when reaching the other side of the chess board it can be exchanged for any other chess piece. The rook can move or capture along a straight line forward backward or sideways on the actual level or along a spatial straight line. The knight moves besides the L-shapes in horizontal 2-D plane along spatial L-shapes except for the vertical plane, while it can jump over other pieces. (In case of a three level chess game the knight can move or capture on any of the corresponding end points on all the three levels of the 2-D L-shapes.) The bishop moves as far as it wants and captures other pieces, but only diagonally on its own level and in spatial direction in a straight line. Each bishop starts on one color (light or dark) and must always stay on that color. The queen can move in any one straight direction - forward, backward, sideways, or diagonally both on its own level or in spatial directions. And, like with all pieces, if the queen captures an opponent's piece her move is over. The king moves and captures in any direction -on its own level or spatially- forward, backward, sideways or diagonally, but covering only one square.

The space chess as per this invention can be visualized on computers by software that can show three dimensional rotatable picture of the required level space chess, executes the moves directed by the keyboard, controls the regularity of the moves, in case of check it suspends the possibility of other moves until the end of the check and manages the chess clock.

The chess clock is part of the chess game, the time duration that can be used for one move is agreed by the players at the beginning of the game, the summary of the remnant times can be used in the remaining moves, 15 seconds before the expiry of the usable time it gives a signal, then at the expiry the right to move goes over to the opponent.

List of reference numbers

1- board

2- level

3- square

4- disc-shaped chess piece with mechanical joint

5- traditional chess piece with mechanical joint

6- disc-shaped chess piece with mechanical joint

7- magnetic traditional chess piece

8- magnetic level support of the second level

9- magnetic level support of the third level

10- magnetic support of the the fourth level

11- mechanical level support of the second level

12- mechanical level support of the third level

13 - mechanical support of the fourth level

14- circular magnet

15- circular sheet

16- level marker

17- joint socket

18- joint unit

19- level support

20- base

21 leg

22- top