Fairy chess: non-orthodox chess elements

Fairy

Definition

In chess, “Fairy” is shorthand for “fairy chess,” an umbrella term covering any non-orthodox element used in chess compositions and variants. This includes nonstandard pieces (often called fairy pieces), special rules or conditions that alter how moves work, alternative goals (such as helpmates and selfmates), unusual boards, or modified starting arrays. When a problemist says “this is a fairy,” they typically mean the problem uses something beyond the rules of orthodox chess, e.g., a Grasshopper piece or the Circe condition.

Usage in Chess

The term “Fairy” is used primarily in composition and problem-solving circles, but it also bridges into casual variants and study.

  • Compositions: A “fairy problem” introduces elements like Fairy pieces or fairy conditions (e.g., Madrasi, Andernach, Anti-Circe, Patrol chess, Maximummer).
  • Variants: Many server-playable variants (e.g., Atomic chess, Three-check, Chess960, Duck chess) are cousins of fairy chess ideas. They change goals, piece powers, or rules and are often called “fairy variants.”
  • Notation and diagrams: Fairy problems may annotate special effects (e.g., “rebirth” squares in Circe) and often rely on explicit explanations of the rules in the stipulation.

See also: Fairy chess and Fairy pieces.

Historical and Strategic Significance

Fairy chess blossomed in the early 20th century, with T. R. Dawson (often called the “father of fairy chess”) popularizing the field and editing the influential “Fairy Chess Review.” Fairy elements allowed composers to explore themes impossible in orthodox chess, leading to deep ideas in logic, move-order constraints, and construction economy. These explorations advanced the art of problem composition and inspired algorithmic research into move generation, legality testing, and proof games.

  • Innovation: Fairy settings helped realize ambitious tasks (e.g., early versions of the Babson task, AUW – Allumwandlung) before orthodox realizations were found.
  • Technique: Fairy frameworks sharpen skills like Retrograde analysis and the construction of thematic mechanisms (e.g., Bristol, Switchback, Novotny), sometimes with added clarity thanks to bespoke piece powers.

Fairy Pieces (selection)

Fairy pieces generalize or remix orthodox movement. Popular examples include:

  • Grasshopper: Like a queen that must hop over exactly one piece (friend or foe) and lands on the square immediately beyond it.
  • Nightrider: Extends a knight’s (1,2) leap in a straight line repeatedly (e.g., from b1 it can go to d2, f3, h4...).
  • Camel: A (1,3) leaper; Zebra: a (2,3) leaper.
  • Compound pieces: Amazon (Q+N), Empress (R+N), Princess (B+N).
  • Others: Rose (knight moving around a circle of successive knight-steps), Locust (captures by hopping over and displacing), Equihopper (leaps equal distances over a hurdle).

Quick visual cue: a Nightrider makes “knight-steps in a line.”

Fairy Conditions (selection)

Conditions alter how moves, captures, checks, or promotions work. A few widely used ones:

  • Circe: After a capture, the captured piece is “reborn” on its home square (if free); checks and mates are evaluated after rebirth.
  • Anti-Circe: The capturing unit is reborn on its own home square; variations exist.
  • Madrasi: Mutually attacking like pieces paralyze each other (they cannot move except to capture the attacker, depending on form).
  • Andernach: A capturing unit changes color after the capture.
  • Patrol chess: A unit can capture or give check only if it is guarded by a friendly unit.
  • Maximummer: The side to move must play a geometrically longest legal move (ties break by stipulation).
  • KoBul kings: Kings change power (e.g., become royal rooks/bishops) when a friendly piece is captured.
  • Einstein chess: A moving piece “degrades,” a capturing piece “upgrades,” encouraging material metamorphosis.

Fairy Goals and Stipulations

Besides orthodox checkmate-in-n, fairy problems often use alternative aims:

  • Helpmate: Black cooperates to help White mate Black’s king in n moves (notation often starts with “h#”).
  • Selfmate: White forces Black to deliver mate to White in n moves (“s#”).
  • Seriesmover: One side makes a series of moves without reply, ending with a goal (e.g., serieshelpmate).
  • Reflexmate/Reflexmate: A side must give mate if possible on its move.

Examples

  • Nightrider path (movement illustration): From b1 a Nightrider can continue knight-steps in a straight line: b1–d2–f3–h4. This is impossible for an orthodox knight but typical for fairy pieces. The arrow below shows the first leg b1→d2; imagine continuing the same “knight vector.”
  • “Grasshopper-style” line usage: A Grasshopper on g1 checks along the g-file only if it can hop over a single hurdle, then land on the square immediately beyond. With a black king on g8 and a black piece on g7, a White Grasshopper on g1 would hop g1–(over g7)–g8+, a quintessential fairy check pattern.
  • Madrasi paralysis snapshot: Position (orthodox board, Madrasi condition): White Kg1, Qd1, Nd2; Black Kg8, Qd8, Nd7. If the queens attack each other (e.g., after 1. Qg4), both queens become mutually paralyzed and cannot move until the paralysis is broken, a striking constraint used to engineer precise, thematic mates.
  • Circe rebirth idea (mating net): In Circe, captures cause rebirth on home squares. Composers exploit this by capturing a defender so it reappears on its home square, where it blocks a flight square or pins a piece, enabling a model mate. Example concept: a White capture on e7 causing a Black piece to reappear on its back rank, shutting off a flight square for a neat h#2 construction.

How to Read and Solve Fairy Problems

  • Identify all fairy elements in the stipulation: piece set, conditions, board size, and goal.
  • Test legality under the condition (e.g., in Patrol chess, ensure the checking/capturing unit is guarded).
  • Look for thematic mechanisms: line openings/closings, decoys, interference, and classic effects like Pin, Skewer, X-ray, adapted to the fairy rules.
  • For retro/Proof game tasks, track captures, rebirths (Circe), and color-changes (Andernach) meticulously.

Interesting Facts and Anecdotes

  • T. R. Dawson popularized the term “fairy chess,” opening a vast creative frontier for problemists.
  • The Andernach meetings in Germany helped spread many modern fairy conditions; the name “Andernach” became a condition itself, where capturing flips color.
  • Some famous tasks (e.g., Babson task, AUW) were first shown with fairy help before orthodox realizations, highlighting fairy chess as a laboratory of ideas.

Related and See Also

Quick FAQ

  • Is “fairy chess” the same as “chess variants”? Overlapping but not identical. Many variants can be classed as “fairy,” but in composition, “fairy” specifically highlights non-orthodox elements used to craft problems and themes.
  • Can I play fairy chess over the board? Yes, informally. Some variants (e.g., Chess960, Three-check) are popular online and OTB in casual or thematic events.
  • Does FIDE rate fairy chess? No. Fairy is primarily a composition and variant playground; standard ratings cover orthodox chess. Composition titles and awards are administered separately in problemist communities.

SEO Notes

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Last updated 2025-10-28