Chess game variant and method of playing the same

Abstract

A board game that includes a traditional chessboard and two sets of playing pieces, where the playing pieces correspond to that of Western chess, but where each playing piece (possibly save the king) has a top portion and a removable corresponding bottom portion. Each player also is given a second group of top portions that can be interchanged with the original top portions. While game set up and playing piece movement is similar to Western chess, a piece is not “captured” when an opponent lands on the same board square but “converted.” The opponent removes the top portion and replaces the piece with a different tone top portion to provide visual indication that the playing piece has been converted to the other side. That converted piece stays on the board instead of being removed with few exceptions. The game ends when one player checkmates the other player's king.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A board game for two players comprising:
 a board having 64 bi-tonal squares arranged into one large square having eight rows and eight columns with one tone adjacent to another tone forming a uniformly arranged bi-tonal pattern where no one tone is adjacent its own tone;   two sets of board playing pieces with one set for each player; the first set being one tone and the other set being another tone, wherein each set includes one highest ranked piece or “king”, a second highest ranked piece or “queen”, two third highest ranked pieces or “bishops”, two fourth highest ranked pieces or “knights”, two fifth highest ranked pieces or “castles”, and eight lowest ranked pieces or “pawns”; and further wherein each ranked piece is readily identifiable by size and shape and each piece has a top portion and a bottom portion;   said top portion of each said pawn, castle, knight, bishop, and queen playing piece forming a first group of top portions, wherein the first group of top potions being removable from their corresponding bottom portions; and   a second group of top portions with one top portion of the second group for each said pawn, castle, knight, bishop, and queen playing piece that is configured to fit atop of each playing piece's respective bottom portion, wherein said second group of top portions are interchangeable with the first group of top portions and each half of the second group of top portions are one tone corresponding to one player and the other half of the second group of top portions are a different tone corresponding to the other player.   
     
     
         2 . The board game according to  claim 1  wherein the second group of top portions for the first player's set of board pieces are the same tone as the second player's set of board pieces and the second group of top portions for the second player's set of board pieces are the same tone as the first player's set of board pieces. 
     
     
         3 . The board game according to  claim 1  wherein the shape of each top portion in the second group is the same as the first top portion that it replaces. 
     
     
         4 . The board game according to  claim 1  wherein each playing piece capable of removing the top portion further comprises a top surface of the bottom portion, wherein the top surface defines a slot; and
 each said removable top portion of the original and second groups includes a base having a lower surface and a peg extending outwardly from the lower surface; said peg is of a size and shape to be received into the slot of the top surface of the bottom portion; and 
 wherein each said top portion is capable of being seated upon its corresponding bottom portion when the peg of the top portion is inserted within the slot of the top surface and the lower surface of the base of the top portion contacts the top surface. 
 
     
     
         5 . A chess piece with a removable top; said chess piece comprising:
 a bottom portion having a top surface that defines a slot;   a top portion having a base; said base including a lower surface and an outwardly peg extending from the lower surface, wherein said peg is of a size and shape to be received into the slot of the top surface;   wherein said top portion is seated atop of the bottom portion to form a unitary chess piece with the lower surface of the base of the top portion making contact with the top surface of the lower portion and the peg of the top portion inserted into the slot of the bottom portion.   
     
     
         6 . The chess piece according to  claim 5  further comprising two top portions that are interchangeable with the bottom portion and one of the top portions is a different color than the other top portion.