Word spelling and word crossing board game

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a board game that includes a game board and game pieces for placement on the game board during game play. The game pieces have letters, phonic symbols, wild card symbols, or other language symbols or indicia on both sides of the pieces that are in different colors corresponding to the two players but which show the same letter or symbol on both sides. The game board of the preferred embodiment includes a grid arrangement of spaces of a size and shape to permit the game pieces to be laid on the grid spaces. Words or phrases are spelled out by the arrangement of game pieces on the game board, the words or phrases being formed by game pieces in straight lines. The game pieces are placed on the game board by the players during turns and if one or more words or phrases are formed by the just-placed letters or language symbols in conjunction with other game pieces on the board, the player placing the most recently played game piece owns all the game pieces in the new words or phrases. Ownership of the game pieces is indicated by flipping any opponent game pieces over to display the color of the player who's turn it is. The game is won by determining which player has the most pieces on the board at the end of the game.

1 . An apparatus for playing a game by two players or teams, comprising:
 a playing surface marked with a grid of spaces arranged in rows and columns, said spaces being of a size and shape to receive a game piece;   a plurality of game pieces each of a size and shape to be received at ones of the spaces of the playing surface, said game pieces having first and second opposite faces and being shaped to permit placement at a space of the playing surface with either said first or said second opposite face directed upward;   indicia on both said first and second opposite faces of said game pieces, said indicia indicating a predetermined letter on each game piece, said indicia indicating a same letter on both the first and second opposite faces of each respective game piece, said indicia being of different colors on respective ones of said first and second opposite faces of each game piece, said indicia indicating a set of letters on said plurality of game pieces such as to permit selected ones of said game pieces to be received at said spaces on said playing surface to form words by adjacent arrangements of the letters.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said indicia indicates letters in a first color on said first faces of said plurality of game pieces, said first color corresponding to a first of said two players or teams, and said indicia indicating letters in a second color on said second faces of said plurality of game pieces, said second color corresponding to a second of said two players or teams. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said indicia includes background colors on which the letters are indicated, said background colors being mutually different as between said first and second faces. 
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said indicia being of different colors on respective ones of said first and second opposite faces of each game piece include mutually different colors of the letters on the first and second opposite faces. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said indicia being of different colors on respective ones of said first and second opposite faces of each game piece include mutually different colors of backgrounds on the first and second opposite faces. 
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said letters on the first and second opposite faces of each game piece are of a same color. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said game pieces are disk shaped. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said indicia of said plurality of game pieces indicate a set of letters having a frequency of occurrence approximately corresponding to a frequency of occurrence of the corresponding letters in a language. 
   
   
       9 . A method for playing a game between two players or teams, comprising the steps of:
 providing a playing surface marked with a grid pattern of spaces each having a size and shape to accommodate a game piece;   a first of the players or teams placing a first game piece on a first space of the playing surface with a first face of the game piece directed upwardly, said first face having an indicia of a letter and being of a first color corresponding to the first player, said game piece having a second face opposite said first face, said second face having an indicia with a same letter as said first face and being of a second color corresponding to the second of the players or teams, said first and second colors being different from one another;   a second of the players or teams placing a second game piece on a second space of the playing surface with a second face of the second game piece directed upwardly, said second face having a letter and being of a second color corresponding to the second player, said second game piece having a first face having a same letter as said second face and being of the first color corresponding to the first player;   if a word is formed by the letter of the newly added game piece of the second player in combination with at least one letter of-at least one game piece on the playing surface, turning over any letters of the word having said first color directed upwardly so that all letters of the word are displayed with said second color directly upwardly;   the first player placing a third game piece on a third space of the playing surface with the first face of the third game piece directed upwardly, said first face of the third game piece having a letter and being of said first color;   if a word is formed by the newly added game piece of the first player in combination with at least one letter of at least one game piece on the playing surface, turning over any letters of the word having the second color directed upwardly so that all letters of the word are displayed with the first color directed upwardly; and   continuing alternating turns of the first and second players by adding game pieces and turning over letters to corresponding colors of the players if words are formed by the letter pieces.   
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing each of said first and second players with a predetermined number of game pieces;   ending the game when the players have placed all of their game pieces on the playing surface;   counting the game pieces having each color directed upwardly; and   declaring a winner of the player having more game piece showing the player's color.