Originals 02-060415

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2-6th of April, 2015

  • (06.04) No.771Michael Grushko (h#2.5; Circe; Phantom Chess). Neutral AUW with only 3 men!
  • (05.04) No.769, 770Sébastien Luce. Neutral Pawns in action with combination of two different rarely used fairy conditions: No.769 (ser-h#4; Norsk Chess); No.770 (h#3; The board turns 180° after each white move).
  • (04.04) No.768Krassimir Gandev (9->Ser-S=13; Circe; Berolina Super Pawn). A complicated two series of black and white, double AUW!
  • (03.04) No.766, 767Geoff Foster (h#2,5; Back-To-Back; Anti-Kings). Very strange and interesting combination of fairy elements!
  • (03.04) No.765Anatoly Stepochkin (s#5; KoKo; Maximummer; Grasshopper). Tanagra s# with two variations in every phase!
  • (02.04) No.764Vladislav Nefyodov (h#2; NAO). Cycle of white and black moves with a rich additional strategy!

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge of informal fairy tournament JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems 2015-2016Thomas Brand.


Originals 27-310315

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27-31st of March, 2015

  • (31.03) No.763.1Franz Pachl & Petko A. Petkov (h#3; Anti-Circe; Camel, Zebra). An improved version of No.763, published as a joint version by decision of the both authors.
  • (29.03) No.763Franz Pachl (h#3; Anti-Circe; Camel, Zebra). Specific Anti-Circe blocks of neutral mating pieces nZ and nCA!
  • (28.03) No.762Geoff Foster (h#2,5; Back-To-Back, Face-To-Face). Inverted echo mates with opposite fairy conditions (Back-To-Back & Face-To-Face) in two twins!
  • (27.03) No.761 – Anatoly Stepochkin (s#6; KoKo, Maximummer; Lion). Valladao theme in Miniature!
  • (27.03) No.760Nicolas Dupont (PG20; Extinction Chess). PG problem with Extinction Chess shown for the first time on JF!

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge of informal fairy tournament JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems 2015-2016Thomas Brand.


Originals 22-250315

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22-25th of March, 2015

  • (25.03) No.759Illo Krampis (h#3; Grasshopper, Berolina-Pawn). Light problem on the theme of Superproblem’s TT-131 (сyclic shift of guards). Warm welcome to Illo in Original problems section of JF! I’m happy to meet and introduce to you a new Latvian fairy composer!
  • (25.03) No.758Geoff Foster (h#2,5; Back-To-Back). A neutral King in a Back-To-Back problem!
  • (24.03) No.757Geoff Foster (h#2,5; Back-To-Back). Three nice mates by Back-To-Back neutral pair in a three-men problem!
  • (24.03) No.756Misha Shapiro (h#2; Gnu). Gnu-promotions + black pins after white Annihilation captures! Warm welcome to Misha in Original problems section of JF!
  • (23.03) No.754, 755Sébastien Luce – Non-standard implementation of castling in two different problems! No.754 (h#10.5; Black UltraSchachZwang); No.755 (h#2.5; Circe RexInclusive; Kamikaze RexInclusive; Duplex).
  • (22.03) No.753Julia Vysotska (h#2; Back-To-Back; Take & Make). Back-To-Back specific pin of the mating neutral piece! Hopefully, shown for the first time. 🙂 I should admit, that the solutions might look weird here and the interpretation of neutrals’ behavior with Back-To-Back can be a topic of some discussions. Myself, I find such interpretation reasonable.

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge of informal fairy tournament JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems 2015-2016Thomas Brand.


Originals 01-140315

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01-14th of March, 2015

  • (14.03) No.752Kjell Widlert (#6; Circe; Maximummer). The eternal Albino theme, with a use of Circe and Maximummer here.
  • (14.03) No.751Karol Mlynka (h=2; Face-To-Face; Circe; Phantom Chess). Nice thematic play of the two Pawns!
  • (13.03) No.750Julia Vysotska (h#2; Back-To-Back; Take&Make; Lion; Rabbit). A combination of Back-To-Back and Take & Make.
  • (13.03) No.748.1Stephen Emmerson (h#3; Relegation Chess). A new version to No.748, commented by the author as “In both settings, the dual choice Se6/Sf7 is avoided by check to the wK, but thanks to James Quah, with wKd8 it needs the Relegation rule for the avoidance to work. (BR prevents new cooks).
  • (11.03) No.749Mike Neumeier (ser-h=8 / Pser-h=11; Royal piece; Grasshopper). A nonstandard way to the well known (classic) stalemate finals! Warm welcome to Mike in Original problems section of JF!
  • (09.03) No.748Stephen Emmerson (h#3; Relegation Chess). One more variation of 100$ theme called “-$60 theme” by the author! 🙂
  • (08.03) No.747Gani Ganapathi & S.K.Balasubramanian (h=2; Take & Make). Two pairs of thematic pieces in action!
  • (08.03) No.746Aleksey Oganesjan (h#12; White Minimummer; White UltraSchachZwang). A nice journey of the wP and a promoted wQ!
  • (07.03) No.745Peter Harris (ser-#7; Royal piece; White Maximummer; Sentinelles Pion Advers; Super-Circe; Chameleon Chess). An exotic mate with 4 fairy conditions and white royal S!
  • (07.03) No.744Stephan Dietrich (h#4; Glasgow Chess). A question: if it is still 100$ theme in case of 4 moves with Glasgow chess?
  • (06.03) No.743Vlaicu Crișan (4→ser-#2; PWC). Rundlauf of the black King combined with neutral AUW in Miniature!
  • (05.03) No.742Sébastien Luce (ser-#16; Anti-Circe). A new interpretation of Albino theme shown in No.725, but this time with a neutral pawn and a neutral Excelsior in Anti-Circe!
  • (05.03) No.740, 741Alberto Armeni – two different problems with AUW: No.740 (#2; Anti-Circe); No.741 (PG5,5; Annan Chess).
  • (04.03) No.739Tadashi Wakashima (h#2; Invisibles; PAO). A new interesting example of the Invisible(s) piece, that was a theme of 9th Japanese Sake TT, 2009.
  • (01.03) No.738Vlaicu Crișan & Andreas Thoma (-20 & #1 Proca Retractor; Anti-Circe). Unusually long interesting Retro-play!
  • (01.03) No.706.1Andreas Thoma (-8 & #1 Proca Retractor; Anti-Circe). Improved version of No.706!

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge of informal fairy tournament JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems 2015-2016Thomas Brand.


Originals 19-270215

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19-27th of February, 2015

  • (27.02) No.737Oliver Sick (h#1,5; Circe; Wormhole). Wormhole condition with specific e.p. capture. To my opinion, the logic of this solution is debatable, however it is C+ by Popeye. Still, the animation by Py2Web seem to be impossible for such e.p. capture. I’d appreciate reader’s comments!
  • (26.02) No.734, 735, 736Thomas Pantalacci. Three problems with a nice strategic complexes in a typical author’s style: No.734 (h#2,5; Patrol Chess), No.735 (h#2,5; Anti-Circe), No.736 (h#2,5; Lortap).
  • (23.02) No.733Paz Einat & Stephan Dietrich (h#5; Duplex; Functionary chess). Surprising AUW with Functionary Chess! Warm welcome to Paz in Original problems section of JF!
  • (21.02) No.732Peter Harris (h#2 / hs#3; Sentinels Pion Advers; Einstein Chess; Royal pieces). Interesting miniature in a typical elegant author’s style!
  • (20.02) No.730, 731Stephen Emmerson (ser-=11 / ser-=17; Protean Chess; Royal pieces; Reverse Pawn). Nice light miniatures, showing Protean Chess. Enjoy solving!
  • (19.02) No.729Stephen Emmerson (h#6; KoKo; Reverse Pawn; Antelope). 100$ theme with Slow excelsiors.

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge of informal fairy tournament JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems 2015-2016Thomas Brand.


Originals 03-180215, Fairings-42

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03-18th of February, 2015

  • (18.02) No.728Cornel Pacurar (-2b & h=1). Series Retractor showing the BB/SS/RR/QQ uncapture pairs.
  • (18.02) No.716.1Cornel Pacurar (-2b & h=1). An improved version to series retractor No.716!
  • (16.02) No.727Stephan Dietrich (h#5; Functionary chess). 100$ theme with Functionary Chess.
  • (16.02) No.726Anatoly Stepochkin (h#4; KoKo; Lion). An interesting play of white and black (promoted) Lions!
  • (16.02) No.725Sébastien Luce (ser-=10; Take & Make). Non-standard realization of Albino theme!
  • (15.02) No.724Ladislav Salai jr. & Emil Klemani? (h#2; LEO; PAO; VAO). HOTF problem with Rukhlis theme’s motives.
  • (13.02) No.723Peter Harris (h#2,5; Royal pieces; Super-Circe). Aristocrat-Miniature with a very interesting line closings of the royal Q in finals!
  • (12.02) No.722Sébastien Luce (h==6,5; Madrasi). Interesting finals created by paralyzed white and black pieces!
  • (11.02) No.721Kjell Widlert (h#6; Imitator). 100$ theme with Slow excelsiors!
  • (11.02) No.719, 720Chris Feather – two problems:
    No.719 (h#4; Nereid; Bishop-Locust; Diagram Circe) – A very interesting play of white Pe2!
    No.720 (ser-#10; Symmetry Circe; Diagram Anti-Circe) – White Excelsior combined with surprising black self-blocks!
  • (11.02) No.708.1Krassimir Gandev (W5?Ser-h=23; Reverse Pawn). Author’s improvement to No.708!
  • (10.02) No.718Gani Ganapathi & Juraj Lörinc (h#2,5; Nightrider ). HOTF problem with model mates!
  • (10.02) No.717Anatoly Stepochkin (h#2**; Lion). Lion in 2 setplays and 4 solutions!
  • (10.02) No.716Cornel Pacurar (-2b & h=1). Wenigsteiner Series Retractor with a three sets of SBRQ uncaptures!
  • (09.02) No.715Karol Mlynka (#2; UltraSchachZwang; White Super-Transmuting King; Royal Grasshopper; Nightrider). Pressburger King as Re? solus!
  • (07.02) No.709.1Oliver Sick & Stephen Emmerson (h#5; Imitator). Nice improvement to No.709, Miniature!
  • (06.02) No.714Peter Harris (hs#3; Royal pieces; Sentinels; Chameleon Chess). Rich and interesting play with only two pieces on the board!
  • (05.02) No.712, 713Stephen Emmerson. Two White and black retracts: No.712 (White and Black retract for h#1 / h=1); No.713 (White and Black retract for h#1; Circe).
  • (04.02) No.711Pierre Tritten & Chris Feather (h#2; Take&Make). Very interesting strategy and surprising echo model mates!
  • (04.02) Fairings No.42 – Chris Feather, distributed by Stephen Emmerson, is added to the Articles section!
  • (03.02) No.709, 710Oliver Sick. Interesting excelsiors with black underpromotions! No.709 (h#5; Imitator); No.710 (ser-h#13; Imitator).

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge of informal fairy tournament JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems 2015-2016Thomas Brand.


Retro and PG problems 2015 – 2016

JF-LOGO-1Retro and PG problems 2015 – 2016

Dear Friends,

In April 2013 I’ve published the first PG problem on JF, but later have organized a competition for Retro and PG problems 2013-2014 (judge:  Hans Gruber). I’m grateful for your interest and activity in this complicated genre, and I’m happy to announce a new PG & Retro tournament for the next two-years period: 2015-2016. Your compositions are very welcome!

ThomasBrandThe judge: Thomas Brand – a well known German composer, retro section editor of Die Schwalbe since 2008, the international judge for retros (and helpmates), who also runs his own retroblog (thbrand.de/retroblog). And the most exciting news: Thomas promises to provide the award very soon (about January 2017!).
Warm welcome to Thomas!


Originals 29-310115

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29-31st of January, 2015

  • (31.01) No.708Krassimir Gandev (W5→Ser-h=22; Reverse Pawn). Promotions in a serial plays of White and Black!
  • (29.01) No.707Anatoly Stepochkin (h#2; Lion, Camel, Giraffe). Interesting self-blocks after promotions!
  • (29.01) No.701.1Gani Ganapathi (h#2; Phantom Chess). An improved version to No.701, shown in the comments.

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge for informal fairy tourney JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos.


Originals 270115, Retro

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27th of January, 2015 (Retro)

  • (27.01) No.706Andreas Thoma (-8 & #1 Proca; Anti-Circe). Remis-pendulum in Proca Retractor!
    No.706 relates to Retro and PG problems. For now I haven’t announced yet a new competition for this type of problems, but will do it in a case of authors’ interest. Most probably, the competition will cover 2 years period, the same as the previous one, Retro&PG-2013-2014. Dear authors, I’d appreciate your suggestions about the judge, and of course, I’d be happy to hear if anybody would like to judge this competition. Thank you! – Julia 

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge for informal fairy tourney JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos. The judge of Retro and PG problems is not appointed yet.


Originals 250115

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25th of January, 2015

  • (25.01) No.705Ľuboš Kekely (ser-hs#10). Long SAT-play with surprising finals! Welcome to Ľuboš in Original problems section of JF!
  • (25.01) No.703, 704 – Thomas Pantalacci: 
    No.703 (h#2; Provocation Chess) – Zilahi-theme with special effects; 
    No.704 (h#2,5; Patrol Chess) – Typical effects of Patrol Chess!
  • (25.01) No.702Krassimir Gandev (h#2; Circe). Creation of reciprocal Circe batteries combined with interesting self-blocks!
  • (25.01) No.701Gani Ganapathi (h#2; Phantom Chess). Chameleon-echo mates with only 3 pieces!

Animated diagrams use Py2Web by Dmitri Turevski and WinChloe’s graphics.


All previously published problems you can find in the subsections of Original Problems menu on the top. The judge for informal fairy tourney JF-2015(I) – Kostas Prentos.