Category: Fairy Classification

This time, we have:

1. A revised version of the “Tree and Leaf” article, based on additional information from Peter Wong
2. Maryan Kerhuel’s revised documents on the classification of fairy conditions: document, Spreadsheet with list of elements
3. Maryan Kerhuel’s documents on the classification of fairy pieces: document, Spreadsheet with list of elements
4. A sneak peek at the future unified model (see the image!), with multiple categories for the same element or group.

Happy Reading! – Shankar Ram

The FCCP – March 2022 Update

After the initial release in April 2021, the last release in August 2021 covered some 476 elements. No updates to the database have since been made. This was mainly due to our decision to implement a new format wherein alternative classification choices could be shown together. While this “Grand Unified Theory” is still under progress, we are happy to present some new  classification ideas by Thomas Maeder, Maryan Kerhuel and Chris Tylor. These will, hopefully, be eventually integrated into our GUT!

1. Back in May 2021, Thomas Maeder proposed a classification model for the Stipulations group. It used a two-dimensional matrix for the “Play” group. His original outline is here and a slightly modified and coloured version by NSR is here.
2. Maryan Kerhuel started work on a classification model for the Conditions group from October 2021. He has included the relationship between conditions and piece attributes. His latest version can be seen here (Group and sub-group definitions) and here (Spreadsheet with 300+ conditions from WinChloe sorted by name [sheet 1] and by classification code [sheet 2]).
3. After a break, Chris Tylor returned to the project from February 2022, with a comprehensive document covering all the existing plus some new elements and attempting a different approach, which can be seen here. Chris’s words from the introduction: “…I would like to dedicate it and any further versions to Julia – as being the person with the vision to set this project in motion in the first place.”

– NSR on behalf of FCCP team

Our project has now covered more than 90% of the top frequently used elements in WinChloe and almost all the elements in Popeye, as well as other unsupported ones. We are taking a break while we continue adding new elements and also work on modifying the visual interface to show alternative classifications of elements and groups, as also other related information like history and example problems. This may take some more time.

Till then, for your reading pleasure, we present one more “by-product” article and a listing of matplus forum posts on fairy definition and classification related content (with hyperlinks to each post)! – Shankar Ram, FCCP project

Fairy Chess Classification Project

We are happy to release our next version (0.2)!

• Various corrections and modifications were made.
  54 new elements added: Stipulations(3), Pieces(7), Conditions(44).
  Now has a total of 476 elements, up from the earlier 422.
• Almost all additions are from the Popeye supported list.
• Thanks to Torsten Linss and Christian Poisson for their help with the newly added Reciprocal stipulations.
• Thanks to Juraj Lorinc and Niels Danstrup for pointing out faulty definitions. They have been corrected!

THE FAIRY CHESS CLASSIFICATION (V.0.2, 30.07.2021)                                                                    – The FCCP Team

On 1-May-21, Julia made a post  on the matplus forum about our project. After this, many concerns were raised in the thread. This is our response.

We thank all the contributors of the thread for their opinions and insights.
We have added notes, at various points in our document, to present the alternative views expressed:

=> See (hide) more…

We do feel that our work is of value, despite the scepticism and disdain expressed.
During our discussions and correspondence,

• We have searched for, compiled, catalogued, acknowledged and used a long list of sources on the internet by our other friends covering the same subject.
• We discovered gaps in various groups which could be filled by new elements.
• We found and corrected mistakes in existing definitions.
• We identified and resolved ambiguities in the definitions of some elements.
• We came across differences in the software implementations of the same element.
• We saw the relationships between seemingly different elements.
• We found the same elements existing under different names.
• We have contacted various friends for help with some elements and they have generously responded.
• We have presented an easy and searchable interface for the user to navigate and explore the various groups, elements and their definitions in three different modes.
• In the depressing climate which pervades the world today, our project was a source of friendly interaction and inspiration.
• Finally, We have, once again, come to understand and experience what TRD meant when he said: “Fairy Chess sets the heart and mind of all who know it aflame with passionate love of its joy“.

Our above response may not satisfy everybody. But we are here for the long haul and all suggestions for improvement will be considered. Gens Una Sumus.

Shankar Ram

The Jungle and the Garden

We are happy to announce the next release of our classification (v 0.1)!

Our work to make a beautiful garden from the mysterious jungle continues

In this, we have been joined by Andrew Buchanan. A warm welcome to him!

Thanks to Juraj Lörinc and Eric Huber for help with some fairy conditions

Many corrections, modifications, rearrangements and additions have been made

There are now a total of 422 elements, up from 390 earlier

All 173 items in the JF Fairy Terms list are now included!

Some alternative viewpoints about the classifications have been added at various places

The list of other sources on the internet has been updated on the project page

– The FCCP Team

FAIRY TERMS menu of JF is updated, so the main page presents 2 subpages:

• The Fairy Chess Classification Project (created in April, 2021)
• JF Fairy Terms database (the old JF’s database of fairy elements which is still in use for the definitions of fairy pieces/conditions for the original problems). With the time the FCC should replace the old database fully.

The Fairy Chess Classification Project: Initial Release!

After nearly 6 months work, Our inaugural release (version 0) with over 390 elements is ready for public viewing!

We have used the BCPS Glossary as the basis to which we added some more elements found in JF,
the Die Schwalbe Märchenschachlexikon, Christian Poisson’s Website, and others on the web.

Our thanks to all the maintainers of these sources.
Going forward, we plan to add more elements from all these sources as well as any interesting elements that are freshly invented.
We will also add more information to each element like history, popularity, solving program support and example problems.
Also planned is a user interface to search and explore the elements.
In these dark days, some light and order!
We welcome you to join us!

Please post your opinions, suggestions and queries!                                    – The Fairy Chess Classification Project Team

The human touch: Chris Tylor
by Shankar Ram

Some interesting information about Chris Tylor, our most active contributor to the Fairy Chess Classification Project: In December 1888, T. Fisher Unwin, the London publishing house, published a 112 page book of poetry called “Chess: A Christmas Masque” by Chris’s Grandfather, Louis Tylor. (Masque: a type of theatre entertainment including poetry, singing, and dancing, performed in England in the 16^th and 17^th centuries).

The British weekly The Spectator, in its 22-Dec-1888 issue, described the book as “A LITTLE poem, this, but dealing with great mysteries, and one which will commend itself to those who, like Milton’s fallen angels, love to reason of- ” Providence, Fore-knowledge, Will, and Fate, Fixed Fate, Free-will, Fore-knowledge absolute.”

In 2019, Andriy Frolkin and Viktor Kapusta published an article about this on Valery Kopyl’s site, in English and Ukrainian, titled: The Tylors: A Family Chess Poem Created in … 130 Years! and Тайлори: родинна шахопоема творилася… 130 років! (http://www.chess-kopyl.com.ua/ua/novini/978-svitova-antologiya-shakhopoeziji).

Viktor and Andriy quoted this book as a new addition to their anthology of world chess poetry. And with poetic license, they said Chris’s work in chess problems was a creative link to and a continuation of his Grandfather’s book!

The book has been considered culturally important and has been reprinted recently. A public domain PDF is available here.

Somewhat in the spirit of Lewis Caroll, it starts with a dream by a boy who falls asleep on Christmas eve, before a chess board and sees the chessmen start to move and speak. Here are some excerpts:

A pleasant dream. Me thought the smooth square board
Grew rugged as the chequered field of life;
My chessmen took a human shape and moved,
The White with purpose good, and the Black with ill.
….
When the play is over, and the match is won,
Times of joyous contest ended, joyous rest begun;
Then the players, foes no longer, only rival friends,
Drink a parting health together; So the evening ends
When the play is over.
….

Read the full book from the link above, or better still, buy a hard copy online!

Published with a gratitude to the initiator and author of this article, the soul of Fairy Chess Classification Project, Shankar Ram! (JV)