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 ha
s 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.
Problems
The notes to the following problems are by Christopher Jones.
Matching strategy involving Zilahi (captures of bishop / rook while
rook / bishop mate) and Grimshaw (mutual interferences of the rook and
bishop at e4).
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) C. J. A. Jones
2nd Prize, Orbit, 2001/II
Helpmate in 3 (b) wPe3->f2
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) C. J. A. Jones
Sachova Skladba, 2003
Helpmate in 3 (b) d3 = black pawn
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) C. J. A. Jones
Schach-Aktiv, 2003
Helpmate in 3 (b) remove bPe5
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.
Developed by Brian Stephenson. Now maintained by David Hodge.
