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.
Problems
(A) C. J. Feather
Schach-Aktiv, 1984
H#2: 2 solutions
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) C. J. Feather
Problemkiste, 1992
H#2 (b) bQe2->f4
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) C. J. Feather
Rochade-Europa, 1996
H#2: 2 solutions
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) C. J. Feather
Shakhmatnaya Kompositsya, 2001
H#2: 3 solutions
An original cycle of selfblocks, captures and shut-off mates.
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.
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) C. J. Feather
Rybak-Murdzia Tourney, 2000
H#6
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.
Well-matched solutions in which the piece gained by promotion provides
a shield to allow the queen to self-pin before selfblocking.
(I) C. J. Feather
British Chess Magazine, 1970
SER-H#27 Equihoppers a4: f4
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.
Equihoppers jump over a piece to a square an equal distance beyond the
hurdle.
(J) C. J. Feather
diagrammes, 2003 (in memoriam P. Monréal)
H#2: 2 solutions Circe Locusts d2, h1: e3, e4
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!”
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.
