Apparatus and method of playing double chess game

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now in detail to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout, there is illustrated in FIG.
1 a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention as it is arranged during game play designated generally by reference numeral 10.
Game set 10 generally comprises a modified chess game having an enlarged playing surface and one set of thirty-two chess pieces for each player.
The playing surface preferably constructed of wood, plastic, or other rigid material is foldable at its midsection so as to create a carrying case for the pieces.
More particularly, game board 12 is eight squares wide and sixteen squares deep.
As with a conventional chess or checkerboard, alternating squares are distinguished by contrasting colors, indicated by the hatched lines in the drawings.
In a first embodiment, board 12 is segmented along its midline, wherein the sections are attached by a hinge 16.
As best viewed in FIG.
3 vertical sides 14 depend from board 12 so as to define a recess in the underside of each section of the board.
As viewed in FIG.
2, the recesses defined in the underside of both sections are adapted to receive an insert 18 constructed of any suitable sponge-like material.
Insert 18 defines a plurality of cut-outs 20 shaped to receive the chessmen during storage.
A closure means 22 is provided to secure the two sections of the board when it is closed.
Each player is provided with a set of thirty-two playing pieces 24, visibly distinguishable from the other player's pieces by color or other means.
Playing pieces 24 comprise sixteen pawns, four rooks, four knights, four bishops, two queens, and two kings.
The pieces are positioned as in conventional chess, except that each row is doubled.
Thus, for example, as illustrated in FIG.
1, in the first four rows of the first column two rooks adjacent to one another would be positioned behind two pawns.
Alternatively, the pieces may be set up so that rows of royalty pieces alternate with rows of pawns, rather than positioning both rows of royalty pieces behind both rows of pawns