Originals June 2022

JF Original Problems | June, 2022

The judge of JF-2022/I: Vlaicu Crişan
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand

July’s publications (new half-year period!) will come with a delay, after some announcements and FCCP updates

  • (30.06) No.1725 & 1725.A (ser-h#8 ; Chameleon ; Circe Equipollents) – Chris Feather“Both problems show a double chameleon cycle…” (CJF)
  • (30.06) No.1724 (#2 ; Quintessence) – James Quah“This is a quadruple Grimshaw incorporating an English Grimshaw (line-pinned rook), a pawn Grimshaw, and a vertically moving rook…” (JQ)
  • (30.06) No.1723 (ser-s#33) – Paul Rãican“Promotions:QRBBBBB” (PR)
  • (29.06) No.1722 (h#2 ; Breton Adverse) – Manfred Rittirsch“2x repositioning of black obstructing piece to eliminate defense by indirect capture.” (MR)
  • (29.06) No.1721 (#2 ; Senora ; Immune chess) – Michael Barth & Franz Pachl “Schedey cycle” (Authors)
  • (29.06) No.1720 (#10 ; MinDister) – Ralf Krätschmer – The Dister condition was invented for the tourney in Andernach 2022, see the bulletin. Dedicated to Andreas Thoma, who invented the Dister.
  • (29.06) No.1719 (h#2.5 ; Neutral pieces, Moose ; Take&Make, Anti-Take&Make) – Ján Golha“4-fold exact echo mates” (JG).
  • (29.06) No.1718 (h#2 ; illegal/shadow pieces) – János Csák & Béla Majoros – different solutions in the twins, b) bBe8<–>bBd8.
  • (20.06) No.1717 (hs#3 ; Anticipés, Anti-Circe Cheylan) – Eric Huber“The fairy condition Anticipés was the theme of the Messigny 2006 TT. It is not defined yet in the FCCP.” (EH)
  • (19.06) No.1704.1 (h#2 ; Breton Adverse) – Borisas Gelpernas & Thomas Maeder & Jacques Rotenberg –  “Jacques Rotenberg has found many improved settings, but the following one has the agreement of Borisas, Jacques and myself“ (TM)
  • (19.06) No.1716 (hs#4) – Daniel Novomesky – after Mihail Croitor No. 25

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals May-June 2022

JF Original Problems | May-June, 2022

The judge of JF-2022/I: Vlaicu Crişan
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand

Coming soon (dear composers, please let me know if I’ve missed you in this list!) : Daniel Novomesky, János Csák & Béla Majoros, Eric Huber, Ján Golha

First of all, the problems featuring JF10JT theme, almost thematical.
Thanks a lot to the composers for a long waiting for this publication!

  • (02.06) No.1715 (hs#2.5 ; Rose) – Hans Uitenbroek“The idea was half a move too short for the Jubilee Tourney”
  • (02.06) No.1713.1 (h#2 ; Circe) – Aleksey Oganesjan – “with a little ‘cosmetic’ imrpovement to No.1713″
  • (28.05) No.1714 (h#3 ; Bishop-Locust, Rook-Locust, Royal piece ; Patrol Chess) – Maryan Kerhuel“theme of JF10JT doubled in each solution, with 2 unpinnings of the same white S” – but with Patrol Chess
  • (28.05) No.1713 (h#2 ; Circe) – Aleksey Oganesjan“Almost thematical for JF10JT, but having 2 pieces more” – Three steps for the unpin to happen.
  • (28.05) No.1712 (#2 ; Rose-Lion ; Anti-Circe) – Michel Caillaud – “Almost JF10JT theme, except that Rose-Lion was not among the allowed Fairy pieces.” – Published with a gratitude for the dedication!

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals April 2022

JF Original Problems | April, 2022

The judge of JF-2022/I: Vlaicu Crişan
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand

Coming soon: New publications of original problems will appear after ECSC in Riga 13-15.05.22. Please, don’t hurry to send your new problems now, I might get lost in all different emails and can miss them. – Julia

10.04.2022: Julia’sFairies website celebrates its 10 years! I’m happy to have a real celebration on May 15th, with those of you who arrives to ECSC 2022. The Award of JF10JT will appear right after our prize giving ceremony.

  • (30.04) No.1711 (PG 11.5 ; All-in-Chess, Kk Chess) – Andrey Frolkin & Chris Tylor & Paul Raican“The combination All in Chess and Kk Chess shown first time.” – Thank you for the dedication for the ten years of JF!
  • (30.04) No.1710 (hs#8.5) – Torsten Linß“Critical moves with switchbacks, bristols, a few Klasinc manoeuvres and a model mate.”
  • (30.04) No.1709 (s#2 ; Royal Grasshopper ; SAT) – Neal Turner & Henry Tanner“I’ve included a full commentary – unfortunately it still seems to be necessary.” (NT) – But the editor believes that it is always good to give a comment, and that many readers will appreciate it!
  • (30.04) No.1708 (hs#4.5 ; Lortap, White Maximummer) – Daniel Novomeskyafter Peter Harris No.55
  • (30.04) No.1707 (PG 20) – Velmurugan Nallusamy
  • (30.04) No.1706 (ser-h#10) – Anirudh Daga.
  • (13.04) No.1705 (h=3 ; NorskSjakk) – Ali Okan Pandar“Hide the bS or bQ away”
  • (11.04) No.1704 (h#2 ; Breton Adverse) – Borisas Gelpernas & Thomas Maeder“inspired by No.1699
  • (10.04) No.1703 (h=8.5) – Ben SmolkinWarm welcome to 16 year old composer (participant of the 5.YCCC)!
  • (10.04) No.1702 (hs#6) – Vitaly Medintsev“Both sides destroy their direct batteries and then rebuild them…”
  • (10.04) No.1701 (-2 & #1 Proca ; Anti-Circe Cheylan) – Andreas Thoma“The white king always stays on e1!”
  • (10.04) No.1700 (PG 15.0 ; Andernach Chess) – Michel Caillaud – “for the 10 years of JF
  • (09.04) No.1699 (h#2 ; Breton Adverse) – Borisas Gelpernas.

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


WFCC sanctions & JF’s originals

WFCC sanctions in reaction to hostilities in Ukraine are based on the voting result you can see on the official website. I’m glad about some of our decisions, I regret about the voting result related to 11.WCCT. And I’m very much disappointed about the ignorant behavior of some delegates who never appeared on any WFCC meeting and didn’t trouble themselves with the voting. I apologize to all composers who had trust in our organization. Please, stay patient, stay healthy, and I will try to keep JF out of politics, as a fairy garden where fairy composers are always glad to meet each other and to share their creativity.

My kid is 8. She was a troublesome student because she couldn’t stay concentrated for longer than five minutes and was not interested in studying at all. I didn’t want to medicate her, but after long considerations and consultations, I started giving https://healthylombard.com/buy-adderall/ her Adderall. The situation at school changed completely. She is now motivated and tries to do her best.

JF will continue to publish original problems by individuals from any countries. Our creativity, good will, positive emotions, support to each each other are needed to keep the peace where we can, to calm our minds and to warm our hearts.

This month JF celebrates its 10 years jubilee. Please, join me with the smile!


Originals March 2022

JF Original Problems | March, 2022

The judge of JF-2022/I: Vlaicu Crişan
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand

Coming soon: Nobody in the waiting list…


  • (19.03) No.1698 (h#2 ; Neutral pieces) – Kıvanç Çefle. “The Grimshaw interference between two neutral pieces” (KÇ)
  • (18.03) No.1697 (h#2 ; Breton) – Thomas Maeder. “A logical ODT…” (TM)
  • (14.03) No.1696 (h#2 ; Nightrider, LEO, PAO, VAO) – Michal Dragoun. 4 solutions. “It is a pity that in this pattern…” (MD)
  • (13.03) No.1695 (h#2 ; Equipollents AntiCirce) – Chris Feather. “Of course the WK is NOT in check in either diagram position!” (CJF)
  • (13.03) No.1692.1 (ser-s#8 ; Anti-Circe) – Gábor Tar. Correction to No.1692 after comment by Joost de Heer.

I would gladly publish your problems partly featuring JF10JT theme (not included into the tournament because of number of pieces or fairy element used), but after May 15th, when the Award of JF10JT is published.
Thank you for your understanding!


Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals February 2022

JF Original Problems | February, 2022

The judge of JF-2022/I: Vlaicu Crişan
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand

Coming soon: nobody in the waiting list. Next originals will be published starting the 2nd week of March.


  • (26.02.) No.1694 (h==15.5 ; Haaner Chess, ABC for white, ABC inverse for black) – Sébastien Luce (France). This problem was initially published on the same page with No.1690 as variation of the theme. But moved to be presented as a separate original problem by author’s request.
  • (28.02) No.1693 (h=8) – Ya’aqov Mintz (Israel) & Hans Gruber (Germany). “Black Allumwandlung, white Excelsior.” (Authors). Warm welcome to Hans!
  • (28.02) No.1684.1 (h=2 ; legality / shadow solution?) – János Csák & Béla Majoros (Hungary). Authors say that the new version fixes the bug in No.1684.
  • (28.02) No.1692 (ser-s#8 ; Anti-Circe) – Gábor Tar (Hungary).
  • (27.02) No.1691 (ser-h#10 ; Camel, Rose, Ibis) – Manfred Rittirsch (Germany). “Cyclic change of fairy promotions.”
    Dedicated to Petko A. Petkov for his 80th birthday

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PETKO!!!
  • (26.02.) No.1690 (h==14.5 ; Haaner Chess, ABC for white, ABC inverse for black) – Sébastien Luce (France).

I would gladly publish your problems partly featuring JF10JT theme (not included into the tournament because of number of pieces or fairy element used), but after May 15th, when the Award of JF10JT is published.
Thank you for your understanding!


Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals January 2022

JF Original Problems | January, 2022

The judge of JF-2022/I: Vlaicu Crişan. The 3rd time judging JF tournaments, after JF-2014-I (Award) and the recent retro JF-R2019-20 (Award). A very positive and helpful person, a very experienced judge I’m glad to welcome on JF again! 

The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand.

  • (31.01) No.1689 (h=10 ; Grasshopper) Vaclav Kotěšovec (Czech Republic). Dedicated to Sébastien Luce “4-fold exact echo in 4 corners of chessboard”. (Author)
  • (31.01) No.1688 (ser-h#8 ; Mars Circe) Armin Geister & Daniel Papack (Germany). A logical try on the 1st move comes as a solution on the 8th.
  • (28.01) No.1687 (ser-h#8* ; Take&Make, Circe Equipollents) Chris Feather (England). “The inventor of Take&Make intended that it should take priority over any other fairy condition with which is is combined…” (Author)
  • (26.01) No.1686 (h#3 ; Neutral Berolina Super Pawn ; Circe, Take&Make) János Mikitovics (Hungary). Mates by Berolina Super Pawn or its promotions.
  • (25.01) No.1685 (h#2.5 ; Neutral VAO,PAO,MAO) Kenneth Solja (Finland). The only Kings are not neutral.
  • (25.01) No.1684 (h#2 ; legality / shadow solution?) János Csák & Béla Majoros (Hungary).  Warm welcome to Béla! 
    “Yes, the chess problem problem (H#2) and the solution is orthodox. However, the chess problem is not considered orthodox…” (Authors). For now the problem included in the Retro competition because of the question of legality. But the judges might see it differently.
  • (19.01) No.1683 (h=3 ; PAO ; ChecklessChess) Ľuboš Kekely (Slovakia). “Model pin stalemates.” (Author)
  • (17.01) No.1551.4 (Ser-S#23 ; Circe Rex Inclusiv) Dirk Borst (Netherlands). Accepted by Hans Gruber, the judge of JF-2020/II, as the award is not completed yet. “This 4th correction is dedicated to Arno in gratitude of his help.” (Author)
  • (15.01) No.1682 (#6 ; Rokagogo) Andrew Buchanan (Singapore) & James Malcom (USA). “This composition is intended as an economy record for the Rokagogo/Staugaard excelsior. If someone can produce the same effect with lighter material, we would be very pleased to see it.” (Authors)
  • (15.01) No.1681 (hs#3.5 ; LEO, PAO, VAO, NAO) Igor Kochulov (Russia).
  • (15.01) No.1680 (h++1* ; Circe Couscous, Promotion before rebirth) Joost de Heer (Netherlands). An improvement of No.1607 (previous period, but not included in the Award JF-2021/I). “No idea why I didn’t see that when I composed 1607.” (Author)
  • (15.01) First of all, I’d like to include into this tournament the problem No.1630 (#3 ;  Equileaper, Wazir, Zebra, Right Zebra ; Diagram Circe, Black must capture) by Shankar Ram, originally belonging to JF-2021/II , which was later accepted by Shankar to judge.

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals December 2021(2)

JF Original Problems | December, 2021 (2)

The judge of JF-2021/II: Shankar Ram
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand.

Happy New Year 2022!

  • (31.12) No.1679 (hs#3 ; BUL PAO, BUL VAO, BUL Lion) Vlaicu Crişan (Romania). “Probably this is one the first examples using Bulgarian pieces of the very difficult “Avant-Garde Indian theme” invented by Petko Petkov.” (Author)
  • (30.12) No.1666.1 (h=17 ; Circe Mirror) Sergey Shumeiko (Russia). The correction to No.1666.
  • (28.12) No.1678 (ser-#40 ; White Maximummer) Kıvanç Çefle (Turkey).
  • (28.12) No.1677 (PG 19,5) Velmurugan Nallusamy (India).

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals December 2021

JF Original Problems | December, 2021

The judge of JF-2021/II is Shankar Ram, who will judge JF fairy section for the 3rd time (JF-2012 / Award ; JF-1017-0318 / Award)!  Oh, I felt guilty to invite this so much overloaded man again, but he’s as Santa coming to us with Christmas gifts, always positive, always reliable! Shankar is active in composing and judging, in FCCP project, in virtual online meetings with Indian composers, following WFCC activity and many other websites related to chess composition, still working in IT and currently enjoying discovering Chromebook!
Anything else? 🙂 . Welcome, Shankar! And thank you very much!

The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand.

Coming soon: Velmurugan Nallusamy (India);
questionable problems moved to the end of queue: James Malcom (USA), Sergey Shumeiko (Russia), János Csák & Béla Majoros (Hungary)

  • (22.12) No.1676 (Retro ; add pieces for an illegal cluster) Bojan Bašić (Serbia). “In comparison to the Baibikov & Keym’s problem (feenschach III–IV/2019, Nr. 12009; also WJP 2019, 2.-3. Place ex æquo), here we have twice as many pieces in the initial position!” (Author)
  • (22.12) No.1675 (#2 ; Berolina pawns) Ralf Krätschmer (Germany). Dedication to Stephan Dietrich 50. Birthday. “A #2 with Berolina pawns and a theme which was a great discussion in the MAT-Plus Forum” (Author)
  • (19.12) No.1674 (hs#4) Borislav Gadjanski (Serbia). “The mechanism uses all 8×8 space of the board, and all 4 edges.” (Author)
  • (19.12) No.1673 (h#2 ; Circe) Menachem Witztum (Israel).
  • (19.12) No.1524-2.1 (-30 & #1 Proca ; Anti-Circe) Dmitrij Baibikov (Israel). The problem in a process for about 1.5 years, first version –  No.1524 (JF-R2019-20) – published in July,2020!
  • (12.12) No.1672 (PG 9.5 ; Pandemic) Mario Parrinello (Italy). The Pandemic condition invented by Alexandre Leroux, 2020.
  • (11.12) Dear composers, I have a tight time at the end of year. Mostly office work, plus more of original problems expected at the end of cycle. Also updating wfcc.ch and preparing ecsc2022.wfcc.ch. I would very much like to help you to publish your problems this year. But, planning today several hours to publish all I’ve got, I’m facing the fact that none of 6(!) entries are really ready for publication. Something is missing or not working and I’ve spent most of my time for writing requests. So, please, if you’d like to be published this year, the entry should have: notation and diagram for initial position, solution in full notation (departure and arrival squares), if computer tested and what program used. Thank you!
  • (11.12) No.1651.1 (h#2 ; LEO, PAO, VAO, Grasshopper, Nightriderhopper) Michal Dragoun (Czech Republic). In the comment to No.1651 author wrote: “A little pity is RHg4…”. So, no RHg4 anymore in this version!
  • (05.12) No.1671 (hs#3 ; LEO, PAO, VAO) Kjell Widlert (Sweden) & Thomas Maeder (Switzerland). “Started for the Tzuica tourney in Rhodes…” (Authors)
  • (04.12) No.1670 (#2 ; Nightrider, Half-Neutral pieces) Kjell Widlert (Sweden). “The theme from SuperProblem 232-TT doubled…” (Author)
  • (04.12) No.1669 (PG 10.5) Velmurugan Nallusamy (India). “Schnoebelen & Prentos theme doubled” (Author)
  • (01.12) No.1668 (h=10.5 ; Blac kMaximummer, White Maximummer) Kıvanç Çefle (Turkey). Warm welcome to Kıvanç!

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson


Originals November 2021

JF Original Problems | November, 2021

The judge of JF-2021/II: not appointed yet.
The judge of Retro & PG problems 2021-2022: Thomas Brand.

Coming soon: nobody in the waiting list

  • (26.11) No.1667 (h#2 ; Loco, Faro) Franz Pachl (Germany).
  • (14.11) No.1666 (h=17 ; Mirror Circe) Sergei Shumeiko (Russia). Author writes he was able to test only 6 last moves with Popeye, but intuitively feels the problem is correct.
  • (12.11) No.1665 (hs#3 ; Take & Make) Borislav Gadjanski (Serbia). The idea for the 19th Tzuica not finished by Borislav in time. “3×2 paradoxical Pelle movements” (Author)
  • (12.11) No.1664 (PG 8 ; Sentinels) Mario Parrinello (Italy).

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe‘s graphics, Christian Poisson