ñ 1. C.J. Feather

Christopher John Feather was born on 24th March 1947 in Chester. A languages graduate, he was for many years a schoolmaster. Since 1967 he has composed over 1600 problems, mostly helpmates, a field in which he is the leading British exponent and an acknowledged expert. In 1994 he published Black to Play, the first attempt at developing a systematic theory of the modern helpmate. Much of his work has been published in home-produced pamphlets with names like Moultings, Pluckings and Broodings.

A Schach-Activ 1984 H#2 2 solutions

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: Capture of white force is one of the commonest of paradoxical ideas shown in helpmates and composers continue to seek original motivations for the captures. Here the f-pawn will move to open a guard on a flight, but it also opens an unwanted guard on the king’s destination square, a fact which the knight must anticipate by removing the troublesome white piece. 1.Sxh4 f4 2.Ke1 Qc1 1.S3xh2 f3 2.Kxe2 Qd3

B Problemkiste 1992 H#2 (b) Qe2>f4

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: An example of an idea known as the Zilahi theme, where a piece which is captured in one solution mates in another solution. The capturing piece must clear a path for the queen while staying on the half-pin line to avoid an unwanted pin. a) 1.Qxf1 Qb2 2.Sc5 Rxd4 b) 1.Qxg4 Qd6 2.Bc3 Bxd3

C Rochade-Europa 1996 H#2 2 solutions

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: Another original motivation for capture of white force and a fine solving challenge. 1.Kb4 Rc3 2.Bxe2 Sxe2 1.Kc5 Bf3 2.Bxd3 Sxd3

D Shakmatnaya Kompositsya 2001 H#2 3 solutions

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: An original cycle of selfblocks, captures and shut-off mates. 1.Qxe5+ Kxa7 2.Qh2 Sd2 1.Rh7 hxg5 2.Rh2 Sc3 1.Bf4 dxc5 2.Bh2 Sa3

E Moultings 5 1991 H#3 2 solutions

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: Another example of the Zilahi theme. The white pieces move into position while a black piece takes a three-sided trip to selfblock at e2. Perfect economy. 1.Rxh3 Bd7 2.Rh2 Sf5 3.Rd2 Bb5 1.Bxf5+ Se6 2.Bg4 Rh4 3.Be2 Rd4

F Moultings 9 1992 H#3 b) Pf5-f7

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: The queen must ensure access for the king, but simply moving on to a pin-line fails because White, in guarding squares, will unpin. a) 1.Qxe8 (Qe7?) Sxe4 2.Kxe4 Be5 3.f3 Sf6 b) 1.Qxc7 (Qd6?) Sxf4 2.Kxf4 Re5 3.Rf3 Sd5

G Rybak-Murdzia Tourney 2000 H#6

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: A humorous problem in which the Black queen and bishop travel down the diagonal, to allow the advance of the white king, then back up again to block flights. 1.Bh1 Ke2 2.Qg2+ Kd3 3.Bb8 Kc4 4.Ka7 Kb5 5.Qa8 Ka5 6.Bb7 Sb5

H Schach-Echo 1978 SH#8

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Qa6 2.c1R 3.Rd1 4.Rd3 5.Qxc4 6.Qf7 7.Rd8 8.Rf8 gxh3 1.Qa8 2.c1B 3.Be3 4.Bf2 5.Qxg2 6.Qg7 7.Bc5 8.Bf8 c5 Well-matched solutions in which the piece gained by promotion provides a shield to allow the queen to self-pin before selfblocking.

I British Chess Magazine 1970 sh#27 Equihoppers Equihoppers jump over a piece to a square an equal distance beyond the hurdle.

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: Because they need the co-operation of another piece in order to move, equihoppers are well suited for help-play. The move order in I is cleverly forced; for example 1.d5 is illegal as the white king would be placed in check. 1.Eh4 2.d5 3.Ef8 4.Ed8 5.Exd2 6.Ed8 7.d4 8.d3 9.d2 10.d1Q 11.Qxg4 12.Qxb4 13.Qf4 14.b4 15.b3 16.b2 17.b1B 18.Bxg6 19.Bh5 20.g5 21.g4 22.g3 23.g2 24.g1E 25.Ee7 26.Qf8 27.Bf7 Kc6

J diagrammes 2003 (in memoriam P. Monréal) h#2 2 solutions Circe; Locusts The locust hops over an adverse man to the square immediately beyond, capturing the hurdle. The square it lands on must be empty. For a definition of Circe see the introductory article on Fairy Chess.

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: To quote Chris: “ I like the locust's power to fire a battery from immediately behind the king, and the corresponding possibility of neutralising the check by playing a piece to the same square (f2 in this case). I hope that this problem has that elusive quality of humour. In fact I was amazed to find that it could be made to work, and laughed aloud when it did!” 1.Rh3 f3+ 2.Le3xf3 (WPf2) f4 1.Rh4 f4+ 2.Le4xf4 (WPf2) f3

ñ 2. C.M. Fox

C.M. Fox, who died about 70 years ago, was an influential figure in the early development of the BCPS, Britain’s leading helpmate composer and perhaps the second most important British figure (after T.R. Dawson) in unorthodox composition at the time. Therefore it seemed appropriate to me that he should feature on this BCPS web site. However, it is impossible to write anything about him without its being overshadowed by Dawson’s 1936 monograph C.M. Fox, His Problems, a comprehensive account which may be consulted in the BCPS library and is also reprinted, along with four other booklets by Dawson, in the 1973 Dover book Five Classics of Fairy Chess. This reprint, indispensable to enthusiasts of the unorthodox, can sometimes still be found in libraries and second-hand book shops.

I cannot do better than quote Dawson’s own tribute to Fox, incidentally a good example of the writer’s sentimental, archaic style which was so much at variance with the strongly experimental character of his chess composition. But first, a few words about the label “fairy chess”, still in use in some circles to refer to unorthodox problems, although that category no longer includes ordinary helpmates. Readers who are uncomfortable with the “fairy” label may like to ascribe its use at least in part to this curious style of Dawson’s, and it is true that he made widespread use of the term. When he started a magazine devoted to the subject he made a choice among a number of titles suggested by aficionados and settled on Fairy Chess Review. We should perhaps be grateful for small mercies, though, since one of the rejected suggestions was apparently The Chess Problemist’s Fairy. Anyhow, it appears that the term was not originated by Dawson, but first used by the Australian Henry Tate in 1913. The German word Märchenschach (“fairy-story chess”) seems slightly less absurd, and may go back further in time. There is no shortage of alternative expressions for current use (“unorthodox composition”, “experimental chess”, “generalised chess”, or in German “Exo-Schach”) but despite my own mild aversion to the term “fairy chess” I shall not go to great lengths to avoid it in what follows.

Here is what Dawson wrote about Fox in 1936:
“Charles Masson Fox Nov.9 1866 – Oct.11 1935
The purpose of this booklet is to do justice to the genius of C.M.F. in a permanent collection of his best problems. There is little need, therefore, for the editor to intervene between the reader and the beautiful collection that follows.
Suffice it to recall that C.M.F., after many years solely as a chess player, took to Fairy Chess in 1921-22, took a first prize with his first published problem, and went on from strength to strength, entrancing every Fairy Chess devotee with the brilliance and power of his compositions.
He loved best the helpmate, and was ever fascinated by the Grasshopper possibilities, and many problems in each of these veins are given in this collection. But above all, he had an eye for the alternative possibilities in a position, which gave him extraordinary facility and skill in making problems in twin form, in groups, and in long sequences, and such “Fox Families” have become famous in Fairy Chess.
In 15 years, C.M.F. composed some 900 problems and captured many prizes and mentions in Tourneys.
C.M.F., who was a Vice-President of the British Chess Problem Society, was a generous benefactor to that body, presenting it with all the issues of the Problemist Fairy Chess Supplement and other gifts. There is no question that as a patron, he did invaluable service to the Fairy Chess cause which he loved so well.
More than all these things, C.M.F. was a friendly man, kind, mellow, lovable, bringing peace and comfort and serene joy with him. Fairy Chess lovers the world over mourned his loss. Now his work, his inspiration, his genius come back in this little volume alive, enthralling, the mind and deeds of a master.”

Dawson’s words may be somewhat cloying, but Fox’s compositions are not. He was able to achieve a high standard of correctness in the helpmate, a notoriously difficult field where cooks abound, and he seemed to know instinctively what appealed to solvers. The “first published problem” mentioned by Dawson (see diagram A) is a good example, with its paradoxical withdrawal of the white king. This was probably not the first problem of Fox’s to be published, rather the first in order of composition among his published problems. The tourney in question was only the second helpmate composing contest ever held, and about 70% of the entries were unsound!

The theme of B, mate on a square initially vacated by Black, is just one of a number of H#2 ideas which are still popular today and of which Fox made early examples. C shows another, capture of white material on both black moves. Nowadays of course, despite the paradoxical themes, such single-line helpmates would be considered too simple, but it is to Fox’s credit that he also composed helpmates in more than one phase and (unlike many of his contemporaries) made a point of showing a strong thematic connection between the phases. Thus in D we have an early example of a full black halfpin and in E a neat piece of dual avoidance. Both of these could be set as well or better with two solutions, especially obviously in the case of E, where it suffices to move the BQ to b7, but it was to take another thirty years before the understanding that this is the most suitable form for helpmates became widespread. In this respect Fox never escaped from the tyranny of Dawson, the main reactionary influence. I have documentary evidence of Dawson’s taking a 2-solution problem by P. Sola, submitted to him for publication, and rearranging it into a form with one solution and set play, without consulting the composer! Why Dawson so objected to problems with more than one solution is not clear. Fox may well have thought it best to humour him.

From problems with twin positions it is a short step to the “families” of problems referred to by Dawson, which I will not illustrate here. These are essentially series of approximate twins, problems with the same stipulation and using the same or very similar material but often related by changes in the positions of several pieces, in a manner which would be thought clumsy today. But we have computers to help us find neat twinning, and we rarely attempt such extensive sets as Fox sometimes produced. Dawson quotes an example with 16 related problems. This aspect of Fox’s work may have dated more than others, but it remains a tribute to his analytical powers, for his standard of accuracy in these problems is impressive.

In longer helpmates the main focus of interest in Fox’s work was promotions, and his output includes some remarkable task problems. My favourites here are the witty F and the elegant example, G, showing all four promotions in ascending order.

For a brief and rather inadequate glimpse into Fox’s fairy compositions I offer three examples. First H, a selfmate with nightriders (N), pieces which move in straight lines composed of knight moves. Thus for example on the line a2-d8 the moves Na2-b4, Na2-c6 or Na2-d8 are playable. This problem is based on the battery of the Nh8 which gives check to the white king if the black pawn on g6 can be forced to move. In I, one of the simplest of a long series of symmetrical problems with asymmetrical solutions, Fox uses the grasshopper (G), his favourite fairy piece, which operates on queen lines but must hop over one other unit to the square immediately beyond. Finally in J we have an example of a genre whose development and popularity today (thanks to the computer) would have astounded Fox. The paradoxical element (I shall say no more so as not to spoil potential solving pleasure!) is here once again quite strong.

A Chess Amateur 1922 1st Prize H#3

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Be5 Kd5 2.Qb1 Ke6 3.Bb2+ Kxf5

B Chess Amateur 1929 H#2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Bxf6 Bd3+ 2.Qe4 Scd4

C Falkirk Herald 1931 H#2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Kxg4 f5+ 2.Kxf5 Rf4

D Chess Amateur 1930 1st Prize H#2 (set play)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: Set 1…gxf5 2.Rf2 Se3 Solution 1.Bc5 Sg5 2.Rd4 Se3

E British Chess Magazine 1935 H#2 b) Qa8>b8

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Rd3 Bc2 2.Qd5 Sg3 b) 1.Qb1 Bc6 2.Qd3 Sd6

F Essener Anzeiger 1931 H#5

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.h1Q+ Sf1 2.Qh2 Se3 3.a1R+ Sd1 4.Ra6 Sc3 5.Qb8 Sb5

G Deutsche Märchenschachzeitung 1932 H#9

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.g2 h4 2.g1S h5 3.Sxe2 Kxe2 4.d1B+ Kd3 5.Bc2+ Kd4 6.Bg6 hxg6 7.e2 g7 8.e1R g8Q 9.Re6 Qd8

H The Problemist Fairy Chess Supplement 1931 S#4

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Na6! d4 2.Na6e4 a4 3.Nb4 a2 4.Sh5+ gxh5 1...a4 2.Na6b4 d4 3.Ne4 a2 4.Sh5+ gxh5

I The Problemist Fairy Chess Supplement 1933 H#2.5

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1…Ga5 2.Kd7 Gh7c7+ 3.Kc8 Ga6

J The Problemist Fairy Chess Supplement 1933 What is the shortest game ending in this position?

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.f4 e5 2.f5 Bc5 3.f6 Bxg1 4.fxg7 Bxh2 5.Kf2 Se7 6.Ke3 Rf8 7.g8S d6 8.Sf6

ñ 3. C.J.A. Jones

Christopher James Austin Jones was born on 6th April 1952 at Newport-on-Tay, Scotland. He was educated at the High School of Dundee and Corpus Christi College, Oxford and practised as a solicitor from 1980 to 1997. As a player he represented Scotland as a junior in the period 1968-69, and captained Oxford University Chess Club in 1972-73. Resident in Bristol since 1978, he has played for the Bristol & Clifton and Thornbury clubs.

Having been helpmates sub-editor of The Problemist since 1997, he took over as Secretary of the BCPS in 2001 and was elected President in 2007.

His first chess problem was published in 1987, since when his output has passed the 500 mark. He has established a reputation as a prolific composer of helpmates, in which field he has been the most successful British composer of recent years in terms of awards gained. In 1997 he became helpmates sub-editor of The Problemist, and in 2001 took over as Secretary of the BCPS.

(The notes to the following problems are by Christopher)

A 1st Commend, The Problemist 1989 Helpmate in 7½ (2 solutions)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1…Bxf3 2.Sc5 Bg4 3.Kd5 Kc8 4.Kc6 Kd8 5.Kb7 Bc8+ 6.Ka8 Kc7 7.Sa6+ Kb6 8.Sb8 Bb7 1…Bf1 2.Sg5 Kc7 3.Kf4 Kxd6 4.Kg3 Ke5 5.Kh2 Kf4 6.Sh3+ Kxf3 7.Kh1 Kg3 8.Sg1 Bg2

It was fortunate for the composer that placing the black bishop on f3 (which needs to be captured) precisely forces both sequences of moves!

B 2nd HM, The Problemist 1992 Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Kxd4 Rxc6 2.Re4 Bb6 3.cxb6 Rd6 1.Kxf4 Bxc5 2.Be4 Rb6 3.cxb6 Bd6

Matching strategy involving Zilahi (captures of bishop / rook while rook / bishop mate) and Grimshaw (mutual interferences of the rook and bishop at e4).

C British Chess Magazine 1997 Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sxf4 Rc7 2.Rxg3 Rg7 3.f2 Rxg3 1.Qxf4 Bh4 2.Bxc5 Be7 3.d3 Bxc5

Another Zilahi with matching strategy in the two solutions.

D Prize, Suomen Tehtäväniekat 1998 Helpmate in 3 b) f5 > c7

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: a) 1.Qd5 Rb8 2.Rb7 Be8 3.Rc7 Rb6 b) 1.Rb3 Rb4 2.Bd6 Rc4 3.Rb5 Bxf3

Interchange of function between white rook and bishop (pinning / mating) and between white rook and the black rook at b4 (Bristol manoeuvres).

E (after F. Kovacs) 1st Prize, Orbit 1999 Helpmate in 4 (2 solutions)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.d2+ Sxd2 2.c4 (f5?) Sb1 3.cxb1B Sg4 (Se4?) 4.Bg6 Sxf6 1.f5 (c4?) Sd1 2.cxd1B Sxc5 3.Bb3 Sd7 (Se6?) 4.Bg8 Sf8

Alternating roles of the knights plus two pairs of dual avoidances by Black.

F Die Schwalbe 2000 Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sxd5 Bg6 2.Se3 Sd5 3.fxg6 Sc3 1.Sxe4 Se6 2.Sf2 Be4 3.fxe6 Bf3

White’s first move is motivated purely by the need to give Black something to play on move 3.

G 2nd Prize, The Problemist 2000 Helpmate in 3 (2 solutions)

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Kd3 Bc1 2.Rd2 Sf2+ 3.Ke3 Bxd2 1.Rc2 Bd2 2.f2+ Ke2 3.Rxd2+ Sxd2

This one was used in the World Solving Championship of 2000 and found very difficult! Again, interchange of function between White and Black as first the bishop then the rook go beyond d2.

H 2nd Prize, Orbit 2001-II Helpmate in 3 (b) e3>f2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: a) 1.Qa5 f5 2.Kb6 Rxb4 3.Rxe3+ Bxe3 b) 1.Rxb5 f3+ 2.Kb4 Bxb6 3.Bxf4 Rxf4

Reciprocally changed functions of the queen and b4 rook, and b3 rook and c7 bishop.

I Sachova Skladba 2003 Helpmate in 3 b) Black Pawn d3

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: a) 1.Sd6 Rb7 2.Kd4 Rb4+ 3.Kc5 d4 b) 1.Sc5 Bb7 2.Kc4 Rxe4+ 3.Kb5 Rb4

No classic, but I have a soft spot for this quirky one. “Follow-my-leader” effects at b7, and different routes of the rook to b4. Difficult to solve, I should think!

J Schach-Aktiv 2003 Helpmate in 3 b) Remove Pe5

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: a) 1.Sxc3 Rf4 2.Qe4 fxe4 3.Kd4 Sf5 b) 1.gxf3 Se6 2.Bd4 cxd4 3.Ke4 Re5

Reciprocally changed roles for the white pawns, and for the rook and knight, which open lines for the queen and bishop.

ñ 4. B.G. Laws

Benjamin Glover Laws (6.2.1861-21.9.1931) was one of the great composers from the heyday of the English School of composition. He began composing in the late 1870s and became a recognised authority on the English School, especially after the publication of The Chess Problem: Text-book with illustrations (1887), on which he collaborated with H.J.C. Andrews, E.N. Frankenstein and C. Planck. His services as a judge were greatly in demand, and from 1898 he used his position as problem editor of the British Chess Magazine to disseminate his views. On the formation of the BCPS in 1918 he was elected President, and held that post until his death. His other published works were an introductory volume, The Two-move chess problem (1890) and Chess problems and how to solve them (1923). A memorial volume entitled An English Bohemian, compiled by John Keeble, was published as the 1933 volume of the A.C. White Christmas Series.

In February 1924 Laws gave a lecture to the BCPS consisting of his reminiscences of nearly fifty years’ involvement in the chess problem world. The text of this lecture follows:

Recollections 1877-1924. by B.G. Laws

In a fragmentary way I propose to relate approximately in order of date some of the occurrences which have impressed me during that portion of my chess career which has been devoted to what is so often termed the 'Poetry of Chess'. In doing so, I shall endeavour, as far as I can, to be anecdotal, but throughout I fear you may notice the personal element somewhat pronounced, in which case, I crave your indulgence.
The problems I shall set will not, with perhaps a few exceptions, be exemplary models. In some respects they have been landmarks which have helped me to retain in treasured memory a few of the events I propose to refer to.

In the year 1877, a colleague and myself whilst "serving our time", (not at the Country's expense) had more leisure than perhaps was good for us during the daytime, the principal work of the Office being done after the rising of the Courts. We agreed to learn the game of chess and, knowing no-one who could teach us, we acquired the rudiments as best we could from a short treatise contained in "The Boys' Treasury". After a time we put up what we considered some good fights but our playing strength may be estimated when I say that if either one of us gave to the other the odds of the queen, the result would have been in the balance - either might have won! Our struggles continued for some weeks when a friend, some years our senior, called on business and on seeing us playing became interested. Later on he gave us a few games, beating us unmercifully. We looked upon him as a genius. After falling a victim to the "Scholar's Mate", I tried the trick on him which he met in an unorthodox way. This however gave me my first glimpse of chess strategy. The moves were1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Bc5 3.Qf3 Sh6(?). Now I saw that if I could annihilate or dislodge this knight, I could mate; so it struck me that by opening my queen bishop's diagonal I might have a chance and in order to take his attention from the attack on the knight and direct it to the bishop, I played 4.d4 which at least ensured the winning of a piece. It had the desired effect, and I brought off the mate! From this date I schemed and my playing strength greatly improved.

In the same year a new London weekly was published: Brief, being a concise summary of the week's news. In issue 12 of the paper (January 1878), a chess column was started by F.C. Collins. Neither my colleague nor myself had seen a chess problem but Brief's No.1 by the Editor being only in two moves, we attempted to solve it and ultimately came to the conclusion there was something wrong with the diagram.

1. F.C. Collins Brief 19.1.1878 Mate in 2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sc3 () 1…Kxd4 2.Qa7 1…S any 2.Sd5 (some duals) 1…Rxf4 2.Rd3

We imagined Mr. Editor when the time came to print the solution would be profuse in apology; but no, nothing of the sort, the problem was quite correct and we marvelled. To move the knight, giving up a rook to the black king, seemed to indicate symptoms of insanity, and we never gave that move a second thought. Obviously Collins could not have been proud of the problem, as it does not appear in his collection published in 1880. We were, however, so charmed with this position when we understood it that we sought for more and shortly became passable solvers.

This problem by Collins in which we were so reluctant to give up a rook made me in my innocence fancy that it might be puzzling to arrange a position with the rook unprotected and left so by White's first move, because I argued that a solver would naturally remove the rook to safety or support it. The result was my first problem, which appeared in Brief in 1878.

2. B.G. Laws Brief 7.6.1878 Mate in 2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sc5 (2.Sde4) 1…Kxa5 2.Sc4 1…Rxb3 2.Sxb3 1…Ra1+ Sb1

I had not in those days the slightest notion of any rules connected with problems, but had a consciousness that an alternative first move was wrong, moreover I did not realise that multiple mates were damaging. I gradually got to know better as I consulted as many papers as I could which catered for chess players, the chief at the period being besides Brief, Illustrated London News, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, Field, Land & Water, London Figaro, English Mechanic, Design & Work, Royal Exchange, Holloway Press, and a little later Leeds Mercury and Glasgow Weekly Herald.

It would probably be in the winter of 1879 that my old friend A. Tremaine Wright, who was taking a fatherly interest in my chess and helping considerably in my small literary work, persuaded me to accompany him to Gatti’s Adelaide Gallery. He had been accustomed to dine or sup there and watched the games. He rather wanted to arrange for me to have a tilt with an old stager, Drew by name. It was the first time I had entered a public place where chess was an attraction. My friend sought out Drew and asked him to give me a game, which he was willing to do so soon as he had disposed of the opponent with whom he was then engaged. I crossed over to other tables and found several zealots congregated scanning a problem. I enquired about the conditions and was informed it was a mate in seven.

3. H. Bolton Chess Player’s Chronicle 31.7.1841 Mate in 7

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Rc7 Kd5 2.Rc6 Kd4 3.Sf7 Kd5 4.Se5 Kd4 5.Sd3 Kd5 6.Sb4+ Kd4 7.c3

I viewed it from behind and hit on the solution (which is quite simple) and played it over. The question immediately came: "You have seen it before?" I assured them I had not but they were sceptical. One of the party (Reyner) said: "We will test him. I have some problems he cannot have seen." He set two or three up and I polished them off without much effort. Planck, who was present, then produced a three-mover which no one had set eyes on and I treated that in like manner. All this dissipated any doubt they may have entertained as to my genuineness. After this I was always welcomed to their band. I had to leave the solvers' circle then, though I did so reluctantly, for my game with Drew, which to my elation ended in my favour.

When I made Planck's acquaintance he was a Cambridge undergraduate, but shortly after he was appointed Professor of Mathematics at an important school in Surrey. He used to come to town at weekends and many a Friday and Saturday was spent by us in company with other congenial amateurs at Gatti’s and Café Monico. Our camaraderie strengthened to lasting friendship. I have no hesitation in saying he was largely instrumental in directing attention to the superiority of the methods practised and results obtained by the Bohemians, but he contended that as the modus operandi was the ideal one, being the logical application of sound principles, the Bohemians could not claim it as national, since it was the result of that process of evolution which takes place in every sphere of science and art, and not discovery or invention. Consequently he preferred the term "Modern". It was he who demonstrated the incongruities of the advertised conditions of important tourneys which announced that the judges would allot points (up to a maximum) for such qualities as neatness, symmetry, naturalness, variety and economy. These are all comprised in economy of force. Tradition however clings like limpets to a rock and this quality is not universally appreciated. Even today some composers consider that they are exempt from the trammels imposed by the best modern practice.

In the days of my novitiate there were not so many composers as now and fewer publications which encouraged chess. It was seldom in this country that we had the opportunity of comparing products emanating from foreign lands with those of our own. In 1879 H.J.C. Andrews reproduced in the Chess Players' Chronicle this three-mover by J. Chocholous.

4. J. Chocholous Mate in 3

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Bxb4 () 1…Kd5 2.Bf3+ Ke6 3.Sg5 2…Kc4 3.Qc3 1…K else 3 2.Qc3+ Ke4 3.Bf3 1…f4 2.Sf2+ Ke3 3.Qa7 2…Kd5 3.Bf7 2…Kf5 3.Bg4

The delicate setting with the purity of the mates (models were not appreciated then as they were afterwards) made deep impressions. To this problem I attribute the birth of a campaign having for its object the promotion of fine constructional work. It was a revelation and from that time Planck, seconded by a few other admirers, endeavoured to inculcate in others methods of artistic construction.

5. H.J.C. Andrews 1st Prize Lowenthal Memorial Tourney 1878 Mate in 2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sg6 () 1…Kc6 2.Se7 1…Kd6 2.Qd7 1…Ke6 2.Sf4 1…Ke4 2.Qb7 1…Kc4 2.Qd4

When I read the comments made on the late H.J.C. Andrews' prize two-mover in the Lowenthal Tourney of 1878 which had special reference to the feat of allowing the black king five flight squares with a corresponding number of distinct mating moves, I tried my hand with six flights.

6. B.G. Laws Mate in 2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Rg4 () 1…Kc5 2.Sxd3 1…Kxc4 2.Qb4 1…Kc3 2.Sxd5 1…Ke3 2.Sh3 1…Ke4 2.Sg6 1…Kxe5 2.Qxd5

Soon after it was completed Design & Work announced an international tourney, and as Andrews was appointed judge of the two-movers I entered my problem hopefully, as he had expressed the opinion something to the effect that such an achievement would rank as a master-stroke but he doubted its possibility. Alas! I placed one of the rooks on a square which let in a cook. I had however the satisfaction of feeling I had been first in the field to carry out the task. My prescience was correct as Andrews afterwards told me he would unhesitatingly have awarded my entry first prize had it been sound.

7. B.G. Laws 1st Prize Design and Work 1881 Mate in 3

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sxd5 () 1…Ke4 2.Qe6+ Kd3 3.Sb4 2…Kf2 3.Sh4 1…Kg4 2.Qg6+ Kf3 3.Sd4 2…Kh3 3.Qg3 1…Kg2 2.Qe2+ Kh3 3.Sf4 2…Kg1 3.Qf2 1…Bg2 2.Qc4 any 3.Sh4

In the three-move section of the tourney I was given first prize. I was delighted at the success as several of the competitors were composers of standing. Viewed in the light of modern proficiency the problem is no more than a fair specimen of the Transition period. The judge (the late W.T. Pierce) rather suggested that the position was conceived on the lines of a two-mover of his published in 1873 in the Westminster Papers which I had not seen, but the resemblance was not sufficient to interfere with his real appreciation of its originality.

8. W.T. Pierce Westminster Papers 1873 Mate in 2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Sg4 () 1…Kc6 2.Se7 1…Kc4 2.Se3 1…Ke4 2.Sf6 1…Ke6 2.Sf4

This three-mover was widely circulated and brought me some popularity, several chess editors inviting contributions to their columns. This was mere glamour and I am sorry to admit I succumbed with the result that I gave more thought to quantity than quality. Many of my problems now scoff me in their mediocrity and insignificance.

My name has been associated with reflex chess - a variant from the self-mate, and perhaps it may not be uninteresting if I explain how the idea occurred. From 1880 onwards, I often met the late Mr. Geary at Gatti’s. About 1882 we were looking over an ordinary self-mate which I thought I had solved, but Black was not compelled to make the mating move though it was open as an option. The play leading to this stage was pretty and I jestingly said: "When Black can mate in such a position he ought to be compelled to do so." Before our next meeting a day or so after I composed a problem carrying out this apparent obliquity which was published in the Brighton Guardian. Geary was responsible for the name "Reflex"; he composed one or two little things on similar lines as also did C.H. Coster, a young and promising composer. None of these was published as far as I remember. The innovation however did not take the fancy of problem composers and solvers in those days. Reflex chess makes a good game. Geary, Coster and myself often revelled in the fantastic charms it produced. It was comical to see the expression of bewilderment of on-lookers who were unaware of the motives of our moves. Some must have thought it was time we were taken care of. No wonder with the kings in the middle of the board and men massed around them aroused curiosity. Here is an illustrative problem: I might mention that this diversion of chess is becoming quite popular on the Continent due to the interest which our enthusiastic member T.R. Dawson has taken in it.

9. B.G. Laws Schack Kurios Reflexmate in 2

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Kf3 () 1…d5 2.Sa3 Rxf1 1…Se3+ 2.Kf4 Qxh6 1…S else + 2.Kf2 Sd3 1…Qxh6 2.various Qxe3

I was introduced to Frank Healey at Simpsons' Divan by the late Sir John Thursby and Wilhelm Steinitz about 1881. I thought it was a great privilege to be allowed to enjoy the personal acquaintance of the man who had up to that time stood in the foreground of the English School. He took a genuine interest in me and I received much encouragement from him. I fear I pestered him with many questions which with dry humour he satisfied. He explained that in his young days he studied the long drawn out problems which came his way, checks sacrifice, sacrifice checks were ubiquitous, and saw that many of the strategems could be condensed by quiet moves. He admitted many of his problems were not only inspired by but actually based upon the works of contemporaries and predecessors showing however no traces of their origin.
On seeking information regarding the famous "Bristol" problem, he told me that the idea occurred to him that as solvers were getting so alive to sacrificial devices, it might prove puzzling if instead of placing an important piece at the mercy of the defence and getting rid of it as a superfluity in this way, it was removed to the remotest square available and there remained dead. Of course the moves of the attack which followed the key move had to dovetail with the far away exile. This explanation rather tends to support A.C. White's term "passive sacrifice" as applied to the "Bristol" and other clearance schemes.
One Saturday afternoon at Simpsons' I set up a little three-mover, quite a bagatelle, just composed; it pleased him.

10. B.G. Laws Chess Player’s Chronicle 1880 Mate in 3

To see the solution hold down the left mouse key and run the cursor over the brown area: 1.Rf1 () 1…f3+ Kxf3 g4+ 3.Ke3 1…Kg4 2.Sh6+ Kh5 3.Rh1 1…g4 2.Rxf4

After a little while Horwitz (the end-game specialist) came in and Healey asked me to put this problem up again, remarking to Horwitz that it would make him think. This appeared to me to be banter. The latter soon made the key move (1.Rf1). When Healey promptly replied 1...f3+, Horwitz followed with 2.Kxf3, but 2...g4+ came as a shock. "I never saw that", said Horwitz, and at once replaced the men, starting afresh much to the glee of Healey and myself. Of course it was not long before the solution came, with feigned disgust at being eluded.
I often saw Horwitz about this period and as the question regarding the origin of the term "Cook" was then being discussed in problem circles, I ask