Die Schwalbe

26 problem(s) found in 3461 milliseconds (displaying 26 problem(s)). [COMMENTDATE>=20200919 AND G='Retro' AND K='Rex solus'] [download as LaTeX]

1 - P0001605
Dmitri W. Pronkin
Andrey Frolkin

475 Europe Echecs 337 01/1987
P0001605
(1+16) C+
BP in 17.0
1. d3 h6 2. Lg5 hxg5 3. h4 Txh4 4. a4 Txa4 5. Th6 Sxh6 6. g4 Sxg4 7. Lg2 Sxf2 8. Lc6 Sxc6 9. d4 Sxd4 10. c4 Sxe2 11. c5 Sxg1 12. c6 dxc6 13. Dd4 Dxd4 14. Ta3 Dxb2 15. Th3 Lxh3 16. Sc3 0-0-0 17. Sd5 Txd5= patt
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Henrik Juel: Black makes 15 captures.
The first 13.0 moves are correct by Euclide 1.0, but it takes some 4 minutes, so a complete test would probably take more than a day (2014-12-09)
paul: Jacobi checked the last 16 moves (in about 20 min). (2018-05-10)
Mario Richter: I would like to label this problem as a "Massacre PG", but the current definition of that term only knows of two-sided MPGs. Perhaps we could make the same differentiation as for "Homebase"?!
Btw., wasn't "popeye" best for such massacres?
rawbats confirms complete correctness of the problem after approx. 25 minutes. (2018-05-11)
Henrik Juel: Yes, Mario, Popeye is fairly good at this type
C+ by Popeye 4.61 in 57 minutes (2018-05-11)
A.Buchanan: @Mario: yes I agree it would be good to make massacre more specific. There are 69 massacres currently, almost all 2-sided, but maybe also some series-movers (unique or non-unique) which are currently not counted? (2018-05-12)
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Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Castling, Homebase (w), Rex solus (w), Massacre PG
Genre: Retro
Computer test: C+ rawbats. C+ by Popeye 4.61 in 57 minutes. C+ Stelvio 1.2 2 Sekunden. Keine Lösung: BP 16.0, BP 16.5.
FEN: 2k2b2/ppp1ppp1/2p5/3r2p1/r7/7b/1q3n2/4K1n1
Reprints: 116 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
20a 64 Proof Games 2012
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-21 more...
2 - P0004066
S. N. Ravishankar
2069 diagrammes 89 04-06/1989
P0004066
(2+1)
#1 vor 6
VRZ, Typ Proca
R: 1. Ke2xLf1 ~ 2. Kd3xLe2 ~ 3. Kc4xLd3 ~ 4. Kb5xLc4 ~ 5. Kb6-b5! ~ 6. Sa6xSb8, dann 1. Sc7#
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S N Ravi Shankar: This problem is not mine. (2019-01-02)
Mario Richter: My first guess for the solution was:
R: 1. Ke2xLf1 2. Kd3xLe2 3. Kc4xLd3 4. Kb5xLc4 5. Ka6xLb5 Lc6-b5+ 6. Sd7xLb8, dann 1. Sb6#, but that doesn't work because of 5. ... Ld7-b5+!
Does someone see (or know) the correct solution? (2019-01-03)
Henrik Juel: No, because with 1... Lh3-f1+, 5.Ka6-b5 thr. 6.Sd7xLb8 fails similarly on 5... Ld7-h3 (2019-01-03)
S N Ravi Shankar: Does adding a black knight on e6 cure? 1. Ke2xLf1 2. Kd3xLe2 3. Kc4xLd3 4. Kb5xLc4 5. Ka6-b5! followed by 6. Sd7xLb8 and now 1. Sb6#. (2023-02-20)
S N Ravi Shankar: The problem appears to be sound. 1.Ke2xLf1 2.Kd3xLe2 3.Kc4xLd3 4.Kb5xLc4 5.Kb6-b5! followed by 6.Sa6xSb8 and now 1.Sc7#. (2024-02-18)
A.Buchanan: WinChloe also gives the same composer. A curious situation, but at least the problem attributed to you appears to be sound! (2024-02-19)
Adrian Storisteanu: Above the "diagrammes" diagram there is: R. SHANKAR, Inde. In the volume index, under RETROS: this is the only problem of a composer named (just) "SHANKAR" (one original), while "RAVI SHANKAR" is a different author (with two originals). (2024-02-20)
A.Buchanan: I suggest that S.N.Ravishankar check the reaponse to the query (A='Shankar' or a='Ravishankar') AND NOT A='Shankar Ram, Narajan' as there are many other similar retros which are attributed to Ravishankar. If he can state here which ones are not his, I will happily modify the data. (2024-02-21)
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Keywords: Defensive Retractor, Type Proca, Rex solus (s), Aristocrat, Minimal, Miniature
Genre: Retro
FEN: kN6/8/8/8/8/8/8/5K2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-02-21 more...
3 - P0005637
Osmo Ilmari Kaila
Hannu Harkola

(D) Die Schwalbe 48 12/1977
P0005637
(6+1) cooked
#3
AP
WTM: ???
BTM: 1. ... Kxf3 2. 0-0+! Ke3 3. Td1 Kf3 4. Td3#
not 2. Kd2? Kg2 3. Sf4+ Kf2,Kf3 4. Tf1#
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Cook: 1.Tf1,Se2+,Sf2 all lead to mate in 3, and none require castling
A.Buchanan: I don't get the regular part of this. White can mate in 3 in various ways: 1.Tf1,Se2+,Sf2. Black just played R: 1.Kh2g2 Td~h1+, so White can't castle but doesn't need to. What's going on? (2022-02-15)
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP) (Type Keym), Castling, Rex solus, Miniature
Genre: Retro, 3#
FEN: 8/8/6R1/8/8/5PNN/6k1/4K2R
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-06
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-07-30 more...
4 - P0006953
Josef Haas
feenschach 21, p. 258, 04/1974
P0006953
(6+1) cooked
Welches war der letzte Zug?
Circe
R: 1. 0-0
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Cook: R: 1. Kf2-g1 Kh2xBh3[+wBh2]
HBae: cook siehe feenschach-25, 10/1974, S. 372 (2015-12-02)
A.Buchanan: Bh2->L (2015-12-03)
A.Buchanan: A number of these problems by Haas were cooked. HBae gives a teasing link to an article which possibly includes some corrections. Has anyone got access to this article, please? (2021-05-13)
HBae: Hello Andrew, link to feenschach 10/1974 (website Kotesovec):
http://problem64.beda.cz/silo/feenschach25_1974.pdf (2021-05-13)
A.Buchanan: Thanks HBae! (2021-05-13)
A.Buchanan: In this one B-=D seems to be Type C, not type A?
In WinChloe there are a batch more from a few years later 34 p.143, feenschach 47 (juil. 79). If we're uploading anything, should maybe skip to the end? (2021-05-13)
comment
Keywords: Circe, Last Move?, Castling in the retro play, Castling, Type A, Rex solus (s)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 8/8/8/8/6PP/6Pk/7P/5RK1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-08-11
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2015-12-02 more...
5 - P0008499
Valery Liskovets
Valery Voynov

Shakhmaty v SSSR 02/1974
after Arthur Ford Mackenzie
Speziallob
P0008499
(4+1)
#3
Last 4 single moves?
1. La7 Kxa7 2. c8=T! Kxa6 3. Ta8#
R: 1. Ka7-a8 b7-b8=L+ 2. Ka8-a7 b6-b7+
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The theme: under-promotions both in the solution and the retro-play.
See P0003960
Henrik Juel: The forward part is C+ Popeye 4.61 (2022-06-01)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (4), Type B, Move Length Record, Rex solus, Miniature
Genre: Retro, 3#
FEN: kB6/2P5/N1K5/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: B5b Length Records in Last Single Moves? , p. 7, 11/2009
B05b Phénix 282, p. 11063, 02/2018
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-12-14
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2022-06-01 more...
6 - P1001038
Andrew Buchanan
4v Retros mailing list 21/01/2001
P1001038
(14+1) C+
Last move?
#2
1. 0-0 Kxe2 2. Te1#
R: 1. Ke4-e3
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Die vorherige Stellung war noch nicht tot, wenn Weiß noch rochieren darf.
AB: First proof of "can castle", without recourse to conventions. (2009-11-22)
A.Buchanan: deadpos doesn't understand about retro logic yet, so does not eliminate R: 1. Ke4xLSBe3? (2022-11-13)
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Keywords: Dead Position, Castling, Rex solus (s), Obvious promotion (L), Last Move?, Type B
Genre: Retro, 2#
Computer test: HC+ Forward Popeye 4.79 DP deadpos
FEN: 8/7Q/8/4BB2/2PP1P2/3NkN2/PP2P1P1/4K2R
Reprints: 13 idee & form 156, p. 5284, 10/2022
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2001-01-25
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-27 more...
7 - P1012510
Frank Christiaans
25 The Problemist 3/1993
P1012510
(6+1)
#2
b) Dh3->f1
c) Bb3-
a) 1. De6? droht 2. Dc4#
1. ... Kxd3 2. 0-0-0?
1. Dd7! Kxb3 2. Da4#

b) 1. Ta3! Kb1 2. Kd2#

c) 1. De6! droht 2. Dc4#
1. ... Kxd3 2. 0-0-0#
1. Dd7? Kb3 2. Da4+? Kxa4!
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No. 2220 HN
Henrik Juel: In parts a and b Ta1 has moved (because Kc2 just came from b1), so White may not castle
These parts are C+ Popeye 4.61
Part c is not clearly defined; if it is Bb3-a3, then it also is C+ Popeye 4.61 (2022-02-19)
A.Buchanan: I agree about part (c). I wonder though about (b) - it seems pointless. If there is also a part (d) which combines (b)&(c), then it does have a unique solution (with checking key) 1. De2+ Kb3 2. Sc5# (2022-02-20)
comment
Keywords: Miniature, Rex solus, Castling (wg), Cant Castler (wg)
Genre: Retro, 2#
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/1P1N3Q/1Pk5/R3K3
Input: Henri Nouguier, 2004-01-11
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-02-20 more...
8 - P1012972
Yaakov Mintz
The Problemist 1985
P1012972
(7+1)
#2 (AP)
WTM: no solution
BTM:
1. ... Kxh1 2. Dd2 Kg1 3. 0-0-0#
1. ... Kxf3 2. 0-0+ Ke2/Ke3/Ke4 3. Tae1#
Across these two cases, both castling rights are demonstrated.
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If we can assume that none of the White pieces in the first row has yet moved, then we must assign the move to Black. When this was published in The Problemist, opinions were divided. "White, to prove that the move is Black's, begin by claiming the right to castling on each side: and as they cannot in fact make both castles at once to establish this claim, it is sufficient to make one in each variation." "The solution consists of all the variations, and it is sufficient to have 0-0 in just one variation, since the small castling is enough to show that the move is Black's". "Since White claims the right to kingside castling, Black is forced to offer the opportunity" "No solution on 0. ... Rh1"

Si nous pouvons assumer qu'aucune des pièces blanches de la première rangée n'a encore joué, alors il faut attribuer le trait aux Noirs. D'où: 0. ... Rf3: 1,O-O+1 Re4 ou e3 2.Tae1# 0. ... Rhl: 1.Dd2I Rgl 2.O-O-O# Quand cela fut publié dans The Problemist, les avis furent partagés. "Les B., pour prouver que le trait est aux N., commencent par revendiquer le droit au roque de chaque côté: et comme ils ne peuvent de fait effectuer les deux roques à la fois pour établir cette revendication, il suffit d'en éxécuter un dans chaque variante". "La solution se compose de toutes les variantes, et il suffit d'avoir O-O dans juste une variante, puisque le petit roque suffit à montrer que le trait est aux Noirs''. "Comme les Blancs revendiquent le droit au petit roque, les Noirs sont forcés d'en offrir l'opportunité""Pas de solution sur 0. ... Rh1 :"
No. 8889 HN
A.Buchanan: My feeling is this doesn’t work, sadly. In an adversarial stipulation, Black can simply avoid ever playing the line that allows White to “prove” that Black had the move. In a helpmate on the other hand I suppose if PRA-AP is expressed properly, there should be no problem playing multiple parts. (2022-02-15)
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP) (Type Keym), Castling, Rex solus
Genre: Retro, 2#
FEN: 8/8/3Q4/8/8/5PPP/6k1/R3K2R
Input: Henri Nouguier, 2004-01-11
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-02-15 more...
9 - P1072354
Tomislav Petrovic
(H17) Problemkiste 165, p. 214, 06/2006
P1072354
(5+1) C+
h#2.5
1. ... c3+ 2. Kxa4 Lb5+ 3. Ka5 b4#
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Letzter Zug: Ka5-b4
A.Buchanan: A small group of similar problems forces some short Round Trip across past and forward play. The last move is not uniquely defined (it may be a capture) and is not mentioned in the stipulation. However the genre includes retro. This means that an aesthetic criterion (e.g. existence of Round Trip) can define whether a composition is subject to 50 move rule or dead position rule! (2021-10-31)
comment
Keywords: Pure Round Trip (k), Miniature, Rex solus
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: (Popeye WINDOWS-32Bit V4.05 (1708292 KB))
FEN: 8/8/2K5/8/PkB5/8/1PP5/8
Input: hpr, 2007-03-14
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-31 more...
10 - P1197461
Thomas Woschnik
834 Augsburger Allgemeine 05/02/2005
P1197461
(6+1)
#3*
Schwarz am Zuge
1. ... Kxb2 2. Db3+ Ka1 3. Sc2#
1. ... Kxd4 2. Kc1 Kc3 3. Dc4#
1. ... Kxb4 2. Dc4+ Ka3 3. Db3#
2. ... Ka5 3. Db5#
Leser Hans Gruber wies darauf hin, dass mit wSf5 eine normaler Dreizüger mit Schlüssel 1. Sd4 möglich ist.
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A.Buchanan: If this was simply stipulated #2 it would work great. Was the stipulation currently given here (#3* BTM) actually the originalforderung? How are we meant to interpret the *? (2024-01-10)
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Keywords: No legal last move for Black, Rex solus
Genre: 3#, Retro
FEN: 8/8/4Q3/8/1P1N4/2k5/1N2P3/3K4
Reprints: 141 Kniffelige Schachaufgaben III 2011
Input: Frank Müller, 2011-06-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-01-10 more...
11 - P1257230
Satoshi Hashimoto
Probleemblad 2000
P1257230
(1+16) C+
BP in 19,0
1. d4 h6 2. Lg5 hxg5 3. h4 Txh4 4. g4 Txg4 5. Th6 b5 6. Tb6 axb6 7. a4 Txa4 8. Lg2 Taxd4 9. Ta6 Sxa6 10. b4 Sxb4 11. Ld5 Sxd5 12. f4 Sxf4 13. Dd3 d5 14. Df5 Lxf5 15. c4 Lxb1 16. e4 dxe4 17. Sf3 Dd5 18. Se5 Dxc4 19. Sd7 Kxd7
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Henrik Juel: Natch 3.1 made no visible progress for half an hour (2018-12-15)
paul: The first 16 moves tested by Jacobi (in about 10 hours) (2020-12-08)
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Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Homebase (w), Rex solus (w)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.17, 14sec
FEN: 5bn1/2pkppp1/1p6/1p4p1/2qrpnr1/8/8/1b2K3
Reprints: 20 64 Proof Games 2012
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2012-12-23
Last update: Reto, 2023-04-17 more...
12 - P1257244
Satoshi Hashimoto
R175 Problem Paradise 57 01-03/2012
3. Lob
2010-2012
P1257244
(1+16) C+
BP in 22,0
1. e4 Sc6 2. e5 Sxe5 3. a4 c6 4. a5 Dxa5 5. c4 b6 6. Sc3 Dxc3 7. Ta6 Lxa6 8. b4 Lxc4 9. Db3 Lxb3 10. Lc4 Sxc4 11. Se2 e5 12. 0-0 Lxb4 13. d4 Ke7 14. Lh6 Sxh6 15. f4 The8 16. f5 Sxf5 17. h4 Sxh4 18. Tf6 Kxf6 19. d5 Te6 20. d6 Txd6 21. Sd4 Txd4 22. g4 Txg4+
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Henrik Juel: Black makes 15 captures.
The first 16.0 moves are correct by Euclide 1.0; but it takes some 14 minutes, so a complete test would probably take days (2014-12-09)
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Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Rex solus (w), Castling
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.0 05:42:59 Stunden. (hh:mm:ss) Keine Lösung: BP 21.0, BP 21.5.
FEN: r7/p2p1ppp/1pp2k2/4p3/1bn3rn/1bq5/8/6K1
Reprints: 64 64 Proof Games 2012
R175 Problem Paradise 66 04-06/2014
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2012-12-23
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-03-10 more...
13 - P1261570
Noam D. Elkies
S StrateGems 10/2001
P1261570
(16+1)
Last move?
R: 1. 0-0 dann 1. Dc4 Kg2 2. Df1# z.B.
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BTM the game is stalemate, WTM the game is dead.
If Black moved last it was R: 0. Kh4-h3 g2-g3+ retropat. So White moved last.
All missing pieces were captured by wP, and none can be undone immediately, even wPb3 & wPh7. However there is a try R: 0. Be8(f7)-h5? Kh4-h3 1. g2-g3+ Kh5-h4 2. B~-e8+. But then 0. ... Kh4-h3 was mandatory into DP, as White can't relieve the looming stalemate. The only solution is R: 0. ... 0-0 1. Kg2-h3, with many alternatives: basically anything but Kf1, Rg1 or Ne3, as Black must be allowed to respond Kg2. There is unique shortest “ghost play” h#1.5 living alternative to castling.
Objective: Type A Last move with uncastling
Henrik Juel: I see that retracting a2xb3 or g6xPh7 is no good
But R: 0.Le8-h5 Kh4-h3 1.g2-g3+ Kh5-h4 2.Sf7-e5+ Kh4-h5 3.e5xDf6 seems OK
Where is 'the looming stalemate'? (2022-04-09)
A.Buchanan: Retracting 1. Le8-h5 Kh4-h3 puts us in a position where Black’s move is mandatory and whatever White then plays, the position is stalemated (2022-04-10)
A.Buchanan: So in this line, the initial dead position was two single moves ago. One single move from dead position would suffice to show that Le8-h5 is not possible. (2022-04-10)
comment
Keywords: Dead Position, Castling, Last Move?, Type A, Rex solus (S)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 7B/6PP/5P2/4N1PB/5QN1/1P3RPk/5P1P/5RK1
Reprints: 40 The Puzzling Side of Chess 145, p. 3, 07/04/2018
Input: A.Buchanan, 2013-02-02
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-04-09 more...
14 - P1294321
Andrew Buchanan
www.anselan.com 2001
P1294321
(1+2)
Black to move. Last move?
R: 1. Kb8xSa8
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Compare P0001033.
Gerald Ettl: steht der sLh5 vielleicht auf h2 ?? (2023-07-02)
SCHRECKE: Why not R: Kb8xLa8? (2023-07-03)
Mario Richter: Wie "SCHRECKE" mit seiner Frage schon illustriert hat: mit dem sL auf h2 wäre das Problem inkorrekt, da neben R: 1. Kb8xSa8 auch R: 1. Kb8xLa8 als letzter Zug möglich gewesen wäre. Grund sind die etwas verwirrenden Dead-Reckoning-Regeln: mit sLh5 kann zuletzt nicht Kb8xLa8 geschehen sein, da in der Stellung wKb8 - sKb6 sLh5 sLa8 wegen der unzureichendes-Material-zum-Mattsetzen-Regel das Spiel schon in dieser Position beendet gewesen wäre, der wK als gar nicht mehr zur Ausführung eines Zuges geommen wäre ... (2023-07-03)
Mario Richter: Dear James, I suggest that you undo last change and put the black bishop back on h5! (2023-07-03)
A.Buchanan: There are 17 valid squares for the wB. Got to be on a light square for reasons given. Also it can't occupy or attack c8. And can't be attacking a8 because BTM. I think h5 selection was random, but could argue for any. (2023-07-04)
A.Buchanan: Or maybe bBa4, with which White by his last move avoided a completely sound #12. (2023-07-04)
Gerald Ettl: Dann waere es vielleicht ganz sinnvoll man schreibt die Bedingung unter das Diagramm. (2023-07-04)
A.Buchanan: Hi Gerald, it's not a condition, it's a FIDE rule since 1997, invented by a problemist who is also a rules committee member (Igor Vereschchagin) and approved by the rules committee (headed by FIDE Head International Arbiter Stewart Reuben), backed up by a WFCC convention since 2015 (Kjell Widlert & Michel Caillaud, responding to a request from some endgame studiers who understood that it was a real thing. Like 50M rule, it applies by default for retro problems. And the PDB keywords here give the game away anyway. If it was a forward stipulation, then I would indeed add a stipulation, e.g. P1208623. Please enjoy the madness that is DP rule :) P.S. I have found recently that it was really invented by Shakespeare. (2023-07-04)
Gerald Ettl: Ich spiele nicht nach den FIDE-Regel. (2023-07-04)
Olaf Jenkner: Allright.
https://www.skat-online.com/regeln-hilfe/regelwerk/internationale-skatordnung.html (2023-07-05)
comment
Keywords: Type B, Last Move? (KxS), Dead Position, Economy record (Last Move? Type B), Rex solus (W), Aristocrat, Miniature, Minimal
Genre: Retro
FEN: K7/8/1k6/7b/8/8/8/8
Reprints: Retros mailing list 20/02/2007
Input: A.Buchanan, 2015-01-07
Last update: James Malcom, 2023-07-03 more...
15 - P1338617
Vladimir V. Kuzmichev
7054 Seven Chess Notes 140 09/2017
P1338617
(6+1) C+
#3
1. ... Kxb4 Kd4 2. Kxa3 Kc3 3. Ka2 Lc2#
2. Kxa5 Kc5 3. Kxa6 Lc6#
1. Ta2?? Kxb4 2. Tb5+ Kc3,Kc4 3. Tc2# aber: Schwarz ist am Zug!
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Yoav Ben-Zvi: The try 1.R-a2? Kxb4 2.R-b5+ (refuted because it is Black to move) adds to the appeal of this problem. (2017-09-03)
A.Buchanan: Alas this is surely anticipated by P1141562, although the additional pawn usefully removes one redundant retro try. (2021-10-12)
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Keywords: Rex solus (s), No legal last move for Black, anticipated (P1141562), Quasi-symmetrical position
Genre: 3#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye Windows-64Bit v4.63 (1805 MB)
FEN: 8/8/P7/R7/BBk1K3/R7/8/8
Input: Frank Müller, 2017-09-02
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-12 more...
16 - P1375497
Iosif Schlarko
Valerian Onitiu

F19 Skakbladet 15, p. 172, 09/1923
P1375497
(1+11) C+
-1(w+s), dann h#4
R: 1. Ke3xBd3 Be4xd3ep, dann 1. Dg7 dxe5 2. Kh6 exf6 3. g5 fxg7 4. Tg6 gxh8=D#
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A.Buchanan: Corrected typo: Tf6g6 are really pawns in the skakbladet diagram (2020-09-18)
Mario Richter: also C+ with rawbats (2020-09-20)
comment
Keywords: Help retractor, En passant in the retro play, Promotion in the mating move, Rex solus (w)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: rawbats for retro play ^=& Popeye v4.85 for the forward play
FEN: 7n/q7/2r2pp1/3pr1k1/8/3K1n2/8/3bb3
Input: Mario Richter, 2020-05-04
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-09-21 more...
17 - P1375777
James Malcom
PDB Website 10/4/2020
nach Josef Cumpe
P1375777
(1+8)
Last two moves?
(-:
R: 1. 0-0-0# a7-a8=sT
play all play one stop play next play all
See P1234039
Henrik Juel: Missing Joke keyword, I guess (2020-05-11)
A.Buchanan: Curious that retro a7-a8=sT discomforts the animation still - maybe you should report to Gerd? (I trouble him with enough stuff already - don't want to be the only one emailing him! :-) (2020-05-11)
A.Buchanan: Maybe +sBe7f7 to refute R. ... e8=sK/fxe8=sK :-) Note this "cook" is actually prevented in the original. (2020-05-11)
A.Buchanan: Oops and a more major cook R: 1. Se8/g8-f6+ (2020-05-11)
James Malcom: This problem was only half-finished before I fell asleep. It’s fixed now. (2020-05-11)
A.Buchanan: Great! You could save another piece I think -sLg6, -sBf7, + sDf7. This also removes the obtrusive promotion (2020-05-11)
James Malcom: Yes, that is true. Position edited. (2020-05-11)
James Malcom: I see nothing wrong with fiddling if it improves economy. (2020-05-11)
A.Buchanan: If promotion to Bl unit is allowed, can’t Bl just have played e8xd7+ or g8xh7+? Can replace bPd7 with bR but eliminating bPh7 is more complicated. Need +wPh7 +bPg6h6. And also bRb7 to prevent discovered check by bPc8 prior to e7-e8=bK. I think that’s watertight now! :-) (2020-10-13)
A.Buchanan: The issue is that there are two or three levels of Bl promotion joke: this problem relies on the "basic" joke where black officers can be created. But where's the line to stop us promoting to Bl pawn or king? If we go that far, then a position like this 2kr3K/1r1r1qrR/7p/8/8/8/8/8 is required. Oh dear: sorry to have brought it up :( (2020-10-13)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Castling in the retro play, Promotion in the retro play (t), Rex solus (w), Joke, Joke promotion, Type C
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2kr3K/1p1ppqrp/8/8/8/8/8/8
Input: James Malcom, 2020-05-11
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2020-10-14 more...
18 - P1377353
Isaak S. Birbrager
25 Fascinating Chess [Birbrager] , p. 36, 1961
P1377353
(6+1) cooked
Take back a move and then #1
R: 1. 0-0, dann 1. 0-0-0#!
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: R: 1. Ta2-a1, dann 1. Td1#
R: 1. Tf2-f1, dann 1. Td1#
R: 1. Tc1-a1, dann 1. Tfd1#
See P1388716 for fairy fix

Originalforderung: Matt in Null Zügen (mit der Argumentation, daß (-1) Zug + (+1) Zug = 0 Züge ergibt.)

Autorschaft Birbragers zweifelhaft, da das Buch eher eine Sammlung von Problemen namhafter Autoren ist. Im Vorwort zur russischsprachigen Ausgabe heißt es: "В этой своей работе автор обратился к творчеству титанов шахматной мысли Росси М. Чигорина, А. Петрова, И. Шумова, советских шахматных композиторов А. Гуляева, В. Чеховера, А. Гербстмана, а также ряда зарубежных авторов."
Adrian Storisteanu: How about e.g., - 1.Rc1-a1 & 1.Rf1-d1# ?! (2021-04-18)
Henrik Juel: Yes, that is a bad cook (2021-04-18)
A.Buchanan: I wish that some solving engine could retract moves without regard for legality, to allow for Baird-style helpmate retractors to be tested after all these years. For this aristocrat with no units adjacent to bK, a reasonable approximation to the stipulation is: ser-#2. Of course it misses the uncastling, but it does derive:
1. Ta2 2. Td1#
1. Tf2 2. Td1#
1. Tac1 2. Tfd1#
I don't see any way to eliminate the third of these cooks in an orthodox problem. However Bosma can come to the rescue! I don't see a way to keep it as a miniature though. I will post it separately. (2021-04-18)
Mario Richter: Anmerkung zur Quelle: Es gibt kein Buch "Unterhaltsames Schach" bzw. "Fascinating Chess", der Titel sollte auch in der deutschen und englischen Version als Transkription (oder Transliteration?!) des Originaltitels angegeben werden!
Das hier um so mehr, als es tatsächlich eine englischsprachige Ausgabe dieses Buches mit dem Titel "Chess: Serious; for Fun" aus dem Jahre 1975 gibt (Verlag CHESS Ltd., Sutton Coldfield, England)

Zur Autorschaft: Daß Birbrager der Autor dieses und anderer Probleme aus dem Buch ist, ist eher unwahrscheinlich (s. Vorwort). (2021-04-18)
James Malcom: Mariom the book does exist: https://www.google.com/books/edition/%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5_%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82/ZPbTxQEACAAJ?hl=en

I don't know why PDB will not accept ????????????? ???????" as the source, so I had to make do with a translation.

Furthermore, I only know of it thanks to a chess.com comment: https://www.chess.com/blog/Rocky64/what-if-a-pawn-could-promote-to-a-pawn#comment-49584342

I messaged them last June, and you can actually download the book for yourself (this link is safe): ftp://nozdr.ru/biblio/games/chess/1942-1991/%D0%91%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B3%D0%B5%D1%80%20%D0%98_%20%D0%97%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D1%88%D0%B0%D1%85%D0%BC%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%8B%20(1961).djvu

Lastly, despite the foreword, I interpret these 14 problems to be Birbrager's interpretations of other's ideas, making them his technically. (2021-04-19)
comment
Keywords: Castling as mating move, Help retractor, Rex solus (s), Miniature, Aristocrat, Castling in the retro play
Genre: Retro
Computer test: C- Popeye for ser-#2 sufficient to demonstrate cooks for the actual stipulation
FEN: 8/8/3N4/3N3B/8/3k4/8/R4RK1
Input: James Malcom, 2020-06-28
Last update: Mario Richter, 2021-04-18 more...
19 - P1380439
James Malcom
MatPlus.net Forum 23/09/2020
P1380439
(13+1) C+
#4
1. ... Kxc2 2. Sd2! Kxd3 3. Sc4 Kc2 4. Se3+ Kd3 5. Td1#
play all play one stop play next play all
See also P1380440
Henrik Juel: Apparently there is a #3
1.c4? Kxc2 2.Sc3 Kxd3 3.0-0-0?
But two facts prevent this try
1. Black has no last move, so he has the move
2. wKe1 must have moved, so White cannot castle
The solution is
0... Kxc2 1.Sd2 Kxd3 2.Sc4 Kc2 3.Se3+ Kd3 4.Td1#
C+ Popeye 4.61 (2020-09-29)
comment
Keywords: Rex solus (s), Belen Theme (Anti-), Cant Castler, No legal last move for Black, Capture key
Genre: n#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye 4.61
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/BPPP1P2/PPB2P2/RNk1KR2
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-09-29
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2020-10-08 more...
20 - P1380440
James Malcom
Andrew Buchanan

MatPlus.net Forum 23/09/2020
P1380440
(10+1) C+
#4
A retro try is:
1. c4? Kxd3 2. Sc3 Kd4 3. Ld6 Kd3 4. 0-0-0#?
2. ... Kc2 3. c5 Kd3 4. 0-0-0#?
but wK has moved, so neither line works.

1. f3! Kxd3 2. Kf2 Kc2 3. Se3+ Kd3 4. Td1#

R: 1. Kc1xLc2 Lb1xTc2,Lb1xSc2
So OK for WTM
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Compared to James's P1380439:
1. Last move could be Kc1xLc2, so White has the move
2. White may not castle, so
1.c4? Kxd3 2.Sc3 Kd4 3.Ld6 Kd3 4.0-0-0, 2... Kc2 3.c5 Kd3 4.0-0-0 is a try
The solution is
1.f3 Kxd3 2.Kf2 Kd2 3.Se3 Kd3 4.Td1#
2... Kc2 3.Se3+ Kd3,Kd2 4.Td1#
C+ Popeye 4.61
Very nice, James and Andrew (2020-09-29)
A.Buchanan: Thanks Henrik - Belen precondition of bKc1 was satisfied 1.0 move ago. From that position there is a sound #5 but position is clunky and not Meredith.
You didn’t fall into the trap of thinking Black has no last move: there is a dualized solution with BTM waiting for you if you did. (2020-09-30)
James Malcom: Haha, yeah. I fell for Andrew's trap, hook, line, and sinker! :-) (2020-09-30)
comment
Keywords: Rex solus, Belen Theme (Normal & Anti-), Cant Castler
Genre: n#, Retro
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/BPPP4/PPk2P2/R2NK3
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-09-29
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-07-17 more...
21 - P1380852
James Malcom
Andrew Buchanan

MatPlus.net Forum 12/10/2020
after Josef Cumpe
P1380852
(1+7)
Last two moves?
(-:
R: 1. 0-0-0+ a7-a8=sT
play all play one stop play next play all
See P1234039 and P1375777
The joke here is that pawns may promote to enemy officers (but not to pawns or kings)
Henrik Juel: R: 1... 0-0-0+ 2.a7-a8=sT! (2020-10-12)
A.Buchanan: Maybe this is a moderate joke where we allow promotion to Bl officers, while son-of-P1375777 can be the extreme joke where promotion to any Bl unit is allowed (i.e. pawn & king too), including in the history of the game. What would Josef Cumpe think? :-) He and I are both dressed as clerics in out chesscomposers' blogspot pics: http://chesscomposers.blogspot.com/2012/08/august-16th.html. Perhaps he was a real one though? (2020-10-13)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Joke promotion (t), Rex solus, Type C, Castling in the retro play, Joke, Promotion in the retro play (t), Castling (sg)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2kr2K1/1p1p1npr/8/8/8/8/8/8
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-10-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
22 - P1382638
James Malcom
Andrew Buchanan

chess.stackexchange.com 30/11/2020
P1382638
(13+1) C+
-1w, dann =1
R: 1. e5xf6ep#, dann 1. Sxf5=
play all play one stop play next play all
White has made 15 pawn captures, so if the last move (which must have delivered check) was by an officer, then it was not a capture, so Black has no prior move, and the position is illegal. The only possible last move is en passant, R: 1. e5xf6ep# so we conclude that this definitely was the case.

(For retractors, one does not need to prove that the prior move was definitely a double hop in order to allow the en passant retraction. In this case, the logic goes the other way round: the en passant proves the double hop.)

Now the retraction goes R: 1. ... f7-f5 2. B~-g4+ Kf5-e6/Ke7-f6 3. S~e3+/R~-d7+ etc.

Instead of the first retraction, White can play 1. Se3-f5= for stalemate.

(It could be possible to generate this effect in a position in which White is not delivering check, or in which one can retract uniquely further.)

General chess problem solving engines e.g. Popeye don’t currently offer retraction capabilities. It might be possible to solve Baird-style retractors though, but not ones with retro logic.
version of P1382586
more ...
comment
Keywords: Help retractor, En passant in the retro play, Rex solus (s)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
Computer test: Rawbats
FEN: 8/3R2K1/4kP1P/3R3P/3P2BP/4N1BP/7P/8
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-01
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-01-18 more...
23 - P1386945
Werner Keym
Augsburger Allgemeine 13/02/2021
P1386945
(6+1) C+
#2
1. ... Kxh7! 2. Le4+ Kg8 3. Sh6#
1. ... Kxf7! 2. Lf8 Ke6 3. Dd5#
2. ... Ke8 3. De7#
1. Sh6+? Kxh7 2. Le4#
play all play one stop play next play all
Schwarz hat keinen letzten Zug!
A.Buchanan: Werner opened my eyes to the delights of these “official jokes” sanctioned by Codex Article 15 through his book Eigenartige Schachprobleme. The animation does not handle them well, as the move numbering and the ordering has to be distorted as here (2021-03-04)
A.Buchanan: I expect that Werner will be delighted with this one, as it has very clean solutions and retro try, which is his aim. (2021-03-04)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Miniature, Symmetrical position, No legal last move for Black, Aristocrat, Rex solus (s), Asymmetrical solution
Genre: Retro, 2#
Computer test: Henrik Juel: C+ Popeye 4.61 (2021-03-03)
FEN: 6k1/5NBN/8/6Q1/8/8/6B1/6K1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2021-03-03
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2021-07-30 more...
24 - P1388716
Andrew Buchanan
PDB Website 18/04/2021
after Isaak S. Birbrager
P1388716
(7+1)
-1w, dann #1
Bosma
See P1377353
Mario Richter: In what sense does "Bosma" help here? (e.g. why does it exclude Solutions like R: Tf4-f1, dann 1. De2#?) (2021-04-18)
A.Buchanan: 1. Tf4? 2. De2+? Kc4!
It would be nice to find a position with more Bosma tries than 4 (2021-04-18)
A.Buchanan: WinChloe finds zero solutions for ser-#2, which is promising. (2021-04-19)
comment
Keywords: Help retractor, Aristocrat, Castling as mating move, Castling in the retro play, Bosma, Rex solus (s)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 8/8/1N2Q3/7B/N7/3k4/8/R4RK1
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-18
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-01-18 more...
25 - P1390927
Andrew Buchanan
v MatPlus.net Forum 26/06/2021
after Bedrich Formanek
P1390927
(11+2)
#1 (-:
9 solutions
PPRA (Partial PRA = PRA except ignore cases having no solution)
1) 1. g8=CM# R: 1. Kg6xCMh5 CMe4-h5+
2) 1. g8=AD# R: 1. Kg6xADh5 ADc2(d3,e4)-h5+++
3) 1. c8=GZ# R: 1. Kg6xGZh5 GZc2-h5+
4) 1. c8=GQ# R: 1. Kg6xGQh5 GQc2-h5+
5) 1. b8=GF# R: 1. Kg6xGFh5 GFd3-h5+
6) 1. bxa8=GE# R: 1. Kg6xGEh5 GEe4-h5+
7) 1. b8=N# R: 1. Kg6xNh5 Nd3-h5+
8) 1. g8=QN# R: 1. Kg6xQNh5 QNe4-f6-h5+
9) 1. h8=TP# R: 1. Kg6xTPh5 TPf5-h5+
Minor duals, with both mates separately provided elsewhere:
1) 1. g8=GR,b8=GR# R: 1. Kg6xGRh5 GRd3(e4)-h5+
2) 1. g8=MG,h8=MG# R: 1. Kg6xMGh5 MGc2(d3,e4)-h5+
play all play one stop play next play all
What was Black's last move? It can only have been Kg6-h5, fleeing check. But what was White's prior move: it could only have been a fairy piece moving to h5 from the diagonal c2-f5, discovering check. Then this piece was captured by bK. What kind of piece was it? The idea is that for each feasible piece, there should be exactly one corresponding promotion mate.

1) Camel = (1,3)-Leaper
2) Eagle
3) Gazelle = (3-5)-Leaper
4) Giraffe Quintessence = right-angle turn Girafferider, Giraffe = (1,4)-Leaper
5) Greater Leafhopper
6) Greater Treehopper
7) Nightrider
8) Quintessence = right-angle turn Nightrider
9) Rookhopper

Minor duals, where both solutions are separately provided elsewhere:
1) Gnurider
2) Marguerite = Eagle+Grasshopper+Hamster+Moose+Sparrow, only the first two sub-creatures are used)

Tries:
1)It looks as if one might rotate the board 180 degrees: 1. Bb3#! Not 1. b3+? Kxa3!
The position is legal because e.g. R: 1. g8=B+.
However this doesn't work because it's not thematic :)
2) It looks as if R: 1. Kg6-h5 c2-c3+ might be good. Who's to say in a fairy form that wL can't begin on b1? Well if you can show me a fairy piece which can throw other pieces around the board, then let's consider it, but fairy conditions are excluded here, for sanity's sake.

Would be cooks - but the soundness is protected by the halo of PPRA :)
Bishop Eagle, Boy Scout, Dabbaba, Equihopper, Lancer, Moarider Lion, Radial Leaper
AB: See P0001924. Bedrich Formanek is happy with his problem, but welcomes a larger zoo.

I think this is a kind of PRA problem (although PRA is defined currently only for castling and ep). A PRA problem is regarded has having one solution with many parts. So maybe that points the way how to stipulate the problem. The joke version PRA (= Partial PRA) says that PRA applies to all the parts that it does, but not to the others, particularly those with no solution).

It's clear that there are more pieces which would solve the problem. Why not Gnurider or Gazellerider instead of Gnu or Gazelle? Why not Gnurider instead of Nightrider? Etc. Why not Grasshopper instead of Rookhopper? The PRA notion would prevent these from cooking the problem: each is indeed a separate part. As long as whatever was just captured can be uniquely reborn to deliver mate, the problem is sound. The published solution shows the most basic representative piece for each of the patterns, with no unused capability.

As a PRA problem, if a kind of fairy piece might legitimately have been captured on h5, yet does not offer a mating promotion, that would make the problem unsound. And indeed there are two such creatures known: Dabbaba and Lancer. However fortunately we are working with the looser PPRA meta-convention which only applies where it applies.

In earlier versions, the eagle was considered a try, but actually I think it implied an insoluble PRA part, but fortunately could be fixed.
Henrik Juel: if last move was Kg6xGh5, 1.gxh8=G#
if last move was Kg6xYh5 (Y=1,3-S=Camel), 1.g8=Y#
if last move was Kg6xYh5 (Y=rookhopper), 1.gxh8=Y# (This looks like a cook)
if last move was Kg6xYh5 (Y=5,3-S), 1.c8=Y#
if last move was Kg6xNh5, 1.b8=N# (2021-06-20)
A.Buchanan: Thanks Henrik - as discussed: I don’t think Rookhopper is a cook, but is a separate part of the PRA solution. Maybe it’s the fundamental solution and Grasshopper is the one with unneeded additional functionality but Grasshopper is the more common one. Nice for some of these unfamiliar creatures to get some exposure... (2021-06-20)
comment
Keywords: Joke (PPRA), Phoenix (9), Last Moves?, Partial Retro Analysis (PRA), Rex solus, Promotion (9), Minimal
Pieces: tu = Rookhopper (TP), sr = Camel (CM), su = Nightrider (N), lu = Gazelle (GZ), dl = Eagle (AD), sl = Quintessence (QN), lr = Giraffe Quintessence (QG), du = Greater Treehopper (GE), dr = Greater Leafhopper (GF)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: b7/1PP3PP/7B/6Pk/8/2P3K1/P3P3/1B6
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-06-19
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-01-09 more...
26 - P1408435
Claus Grupen
140v Mitteilungsblatt der Kieler SG 03/1984
P1408435
(1+9)
letztes Zugpaar?
Single box
R: 1. Bd2xSc1=D+ Se2-c1
play all play one stop play next play all
Nachträglicher Kommentar des Autors: Der sBc4 kann entfallen.
Auch veröffentlicht in "KSG-Problemschach 1969-1987".

Der Autor nimmt die Idee von Mario Richter dankend auf und korrigiert sein Stück mit der zusätzlichen Bedingung Single box. Im neuen Diagramm ist auch der überflüssige sBc4 entfernt worden. Die Erstveröffentlichung dieser Korrektur ist die PDB-website am 17.05.2023.
Cook: Falls nicht eine Bedingung (z.B. single-box) fehlt, gehen auch
R: 1. Bd2xSc1=D+ Se2xSc1
R: 1. Bd2xSc1=D+ Se2xLc1
Joost de Heer: Why not Se2×Lc1? (2023-03-22)
Henrik Juel: Why not, indeed
Or 1... Se2xSc1 (2023-03-22)
A.Buchanan: Maybe one of those situations where composer/editor weren't precise that the ultimate retraction was not fully specified (2023-03-23)
comment
Keywords: Rex solus (w), Promotion (d), Single Box
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/2bn4/bpK4r/knqr4
Input: Gunter Jordan, 2023-03-22
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-01-18 more...
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