Die Schwalbe

51 problem(s) found in 3559 milliseconds (displaying 51 problem(s)). [COMMENTDATE>=20200919 AND NOT K='Hilfsrückzüger' AND NOT A='Markovic, Mirko B.' AND K='Letzte Züge?'] [download as LaTeX]

1 - P0000016
Nikita M. Plaksin
Alexander Kislyak

(F) Die Schwalbe 98 04/1986
P0000016
(11+9)
Welches war der erste Zug der beiden Könige?
R: 1. bxc3ep+ c2-c4 2. b5-b4+
play all play one stop play next play all
Erster K-Zug: Weiß: 0-0; Schwarz: 0-0
173. Thema-Turnier
Henrik Juel: Good motivation for the black castling
The further retroplay includes retracting Tf1-g1, Kd3 to g1, h2xTg3, Tg3 to f8, La6 to c8, d7xTSe6, and e6xPf7 (2021-04-19)
more ...
comment
Keywords: En passant, First Move?, Last Moves? (3), Castling (wksk), Castling in the retro play, En passant in the retro play, Volet Pawn, Type C
Genre: Retro
FEN: 7k/1p2pPpp/b3p3/8/8/2pK2P1/pP1PPPP1/2B3RN
Reprints: 566 Ukrainisches Album 1986-1990
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-20 more...
2 - P0000052
Andrey Frolkin
(V) Die Schwalbe 102 12/1986
P0000052
(16+11)
Vor mindestens 72 Einzelzügen mußte ep geschlagen werden!
R: 1. ... Sg2-h4+ 2. Sh4-g6+ h7-h6 3. Se2-g1 a3-a2 4. Tg1-f1 a4-a3 5. Sf1-h2 Sh2-g4 6. Lh6-g5 Sg4-h2 7. Lg7-h6 Sh2-g4 8. Lf8-g7! Sg4-h2 9. Ld6-f8 Sh2-g4 10. Lb8-d6 Sg4-h2 11. Sc3-e2 Sh2-g4 12. Sb5-c3 Sg4-h2 13. Sd6-b5 Sh2-g4 14. Sf7-d6 Sg4-h2 15. b7-b8=L Sh2-g4 16. b6-b7 Sg4-h2 17. b5-b6 Sh2-g4 18. b4-b5 Sg4-h2 19. b3-b4 Sh2-g4 20. Lg7-h8 Sg4-h2 21. Lf8-g7 Sh2-g4 22. Ld6-f8 Sg4-h2 23. Lb8-d6 Sh2-g4 24. b7-b8=L Sg4-h2 25. b6-b7 Sh2-g4 26. b5-b6 Sg4-h2 27. b4-b5 Sh2-g4 28. a3xBb4 Sg4-h2 29. Sg5-f7 Kh6-h5 30. Th2-h3 Kh5-h6 31. Sh3-g5 b5-b4 32. Sg6-h4 b6-b5 33. Se7-g6 b7-b6 34. Sg8-e7! a5-a4 35. g7-g8=S a6-a5 36. g6-g7 Kh6-h5 37. h5xg6ep+ g7-g5 38. Sg5-h3+ a7-a6 39. Th3-h2 Sh2-g4 40. Dh4-f4 Sf4-g2 41. Lg2-h1 Sg4-h2 42. Th1-h3 Sh2-g4 43. Lh3-g2 Sg4-h2 44. g2-g3 Sh2-g4 45. Dg4-h4 Tg3-f3 46. Dd1-g4
play all play one stop play next play all
5 weiße Schlagfälle durch Bauern: axb, c3xd4, exf, f5xe6 & hxg; zwei Umwandlungen auf b8 und eine auf g8. Eine schwarze Umwandlung auf c1. Die weißen Figuren, die zur Entwandlung zurückschreiten können, sind die schwarzfeldrigen Lh8 und g5 sowie der retrofreie Sg1. Aber vor jeder Entwandlung muß Weiß das Feld h2 räumen, um dem Sg4 das Pendeln zu ermöglichen und so ein schwarzes Retropatt zu verhindern.
Retro: 1. Sg2-h4+ Sh4-g6+ 2. h7-h6 Se2-g1 3. a3-a2 Tg1-f1 4. a4-a3 Sf1-h2 5. Sh2-g4 Lh6-g5 6. Sg4-h2 Lg7-h6 7. Sh2-g4 Lf8-g7! 8. Sg4-h2 Ld6-f8 9. ~ Lb8-c6 10. ~ Sc3-e2 11. ~ Sb5-c3 12. ~ Sd6-b5 13. ~ Sf7-d6 14. ~ b7-b8=L 15. ~ b6-b7 16. ~ b5-b6 17. ~ b4-b5 18. ~ b3-b4 19. ~ Lg7-h8 20. ~ Lf8-g7 21. ~ Ld6-f8 22. ~ Lb8-d6 23. ~ b7-b8=L 24. ~ b6-b7 25. ~ b5-b6 26. ~ b4-b5 27. Sh2-g4 a3xb4
Nach diesem Entschlag des schwarzen Bb führt die dritte Entwandlung auf g8 zu einem erzwungenen En-passant-Schlag. 28. Sg4-h2 Sg5-f7 29. Kh6-h5 Th2-h3 30. Kh5-h6 Sh3-g5 31. b5-b4 Sg6-h4 32. b6-b5 Se7-g6 33. b7-b6 Sg8-e7! 34. a5-a4 g7-g8=S 35. a6-a5 g6-g7 36. Kh6-h5 h5xg6ep+ 37. g7-g5 Sg5-h3+ 38. a7-a6 Th3-h2 39. Sh2-g4 Dh4-f4 40. Sf4-g2+ g2-g3 41. Tg3-f3
Diese Zugfolge mit möglichen Zugumstellungen kann nicht verkürzt werden. Mindestens 71 Einzelzüge sind nach dem En-passant-Schlag geschehen. Rekord für eines der Themen des 173. Thematurniers der "Schwalbe".
paul: This problem obtained first Prize in the informal tourney, see Die Schwalbe 249/2011 (judge M. Caillaud) (2020-01-06)
Henrik Juel: 41.g2-g3 is illegal, because now wLh1 cannot retract (2021-02-03)
Henrik Juel: 41.Lg2-h1 Sg4-h2 42.Th1-h3 Sh2-g4 43.Lh3-g2 Sg4-h2 44.g2-g3 Sh2-g4 45.Dg4-h4 Tg3-f3 46.Dd1-g4 seems to work (2021-02-03)
comment
Keywords: En passant, En passant in the retro play, Non-standard material, Promotion, Last Moves? (72)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 7B/8/4PPNp/4pKBk/3PrQnn/3pBrPR/p2P1p1N/4bRNB
Reprints: 568 Ukrainisches Album 1986-1990
H21 FIDE Album 1986-1988 1995
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-02-04 more...
3 - P0000254
Leonid M. Borodatow
7642 Die Schwalbe 133 02/1992
P0000254
(16+10)
Welches waren die letzten 7 Einzelzüge, wenn dabei keine Zugwiederholungen vorkamen?
R: 1. 0-0-0# Ke4-d4 2. e5xf6ep+ f7-f5 3. Tg6-b6+ Kf5-e4 4. c7-c8=L
play all play one stop play next play all
Die von einigen Lösern angeführte Abweichung 2. f5-f6+ Kd4-e4 3. Lh6-g7+ (und mehrdeutig weiter) ließe sich durch die Erweiterung '... keine Zugwiederholungen und keine Pendelzüge ...' (mühsam) kitten. Beim Autor hieß es bei dieser ich-weiß-nicht-wie-vielten Fassung nur 'letzte 9 (!) Einzelzüge ohne Wiederholung).
HHS meint ohnehin, daß es das ganze auch ohne die einengende Zusatzbedingung schon gibt.
Das von einem Löser angegebene 1. Ld3-h7# Th1-h8 2. Lh8-g7 Tg1-h1 3. Se1-g3 g2-g1=T 4. Th7-h8=L scheitert allerdings an der Schlagbilanz.
Anton Baumann: Neufassung vergl. P0006288 (2023-01-06)
comment
Keywords: En passant, Last Moves?, Non-standard material, Castling (wl), Promotion (L), Valladao Task (WWW)
Genre: Retro
FEN: qrB2brr/Bp2p1BB/pR3P2/1Q6/2Pk1P2/B1p2R2/2P3N1/2KR1N2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2019-08-11 more...
4 - P0000467
Mechislav Palevich
5151 Die Schwalbe 93 06/1985
1. ehrende Erwähnung
P0000467
(14+11)
Löse die Stellung auf!
R: 1. c2-c3+ a6-a5 2. La2-b1 Tb5-d5 3. Ld5-a2+ Tb1-b5 4. g5-g6 Th1-b1 5. g4-g5 h2-h1=T 6. g3-g4 h3-h2 7. h2xSg3 Se4-g3 8. a2-a3 Sc5-e4 9. Tb1-b7 Sb7-c5+ 10. Tf1-b1 h4-h3 11. Tf8-f1 h5-h4 12. f7-f8=T h6-h5 13. f6-f7 h7-h6 14. f5-f6 f6xLe5 15. Lg3-e5+ Ke5-d4 16. Lf2-g3+ Kf4-e5
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Solution: -1.c2 a6 -2.Ba2 Rb5 -3.Bd5 Rb1 -4.g5 Rh1 -5.g4 R=h2 -6.g3 h3 -7.h2:S Se4 -8.a2 Sc5 -9.Rb1 Sb7 -10.Rf1 h4 -11.Rf8 h5 -12.R=f7 h6 -13.f6 h7 -14.f5 f6:B -15.Bg3 Ke5 -16.Bf2 Kf4 etc. Last 14.0 moves determined. (2003-06-06)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: R: 1. c2-c3# a6-a5 2. La2-b1 Tb5-d5 3. Ld5-a2+ Tb1-b5 4. g5-g6 Th1-b1 5. g4-g5 h2-h1=T 6. g3-g4 h3-h2 7. h2xSg3 Se4-g3 8. a2-a3 Sc5-e4 9. Tb1-b7 Sb7-c5+ 10. Tf1-b1 h4-h3 11. Tf8-f1 h5-h4 12. f7-f8=T h6-h5 13. f6-f7 h7-h6 14. f5-f6 f6xLe5 15. Lg3-e5+ Ke5-d4 16. Lf2-g3+ Kf4-e5 17. Lf3-d5 Kg5-f4 18. Td4-d6 Kh6-g5 19. Te4-d4 Td4-d7 20. Te1-e4 Tb4-d4 21. Ld4-f2 Tb1-b4 22. Kd7-c6 b2-b1=T 23. Sc6-b8 b3-b2 24. Lb2-d4 b4-b3 25. Le2-f3 De3-a7 26. Sd4-c6 Dg5-e3 27. Kc6-d7 a7-a6 28. Kb5-c6 Dh5-g5 29. Kh4-g5 Sd6-b7 30. d7-d8=L Lb7-a8 31. c6xTd7 Td8-d7 32. Kb3-a4 Th8-d8 33. Df8-c8 b5-b4 34. Da8xf8 De8-h5 35. La3-b2 Kg6-h6 36. f4-f5+ Kf7-g6 37. c5-c6 Se4-d6 38. b4xTc5 Td5-c5 39. Kb2-b3 Td8-d5 40. Sb3-a1 Tb8-d8 41. Kc1-b2 Dd8-e8 42. Th1-e1 Ke8-f7 43. Lf1-e2 d7xTe6 44. Sa5-b3 f7-f6 45. Sc4-a5 Sf6-e4 46. Te1-e6 Sg8-f6 47. Td1-e1 Lc8-b7 48. Df3-a8 Ta8-b8 49. O-O-O b6-b5 50. Dd1-f3 b7-b6 51. e2xSd3 Sf2-d3+ 52. Lc1-a3 Se4-f2 53. f2-f4 Sc5-e4 54. Sf3-d4 Sa6-c5 55. b2-b4 Sb4-a6 56. Sa3-c4 Sc6-b4 57. Sb1-a3 Sb8-c6 58. Sg1-f3 (2021-07-22)
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Keywords: Last Moves? (14), Retroablösung, Promotion in forward play
Genre: Retro
FEN: bNQB4/qRprp1p1/2KRp1P1/p2rp3/3k4/P1PP4/3P2P1/NB6
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2004-10-27 more...
5 - P0000545
Andrej N. Kornilow
Andrey Frolkin

3460 Die Schwalbe 68 04/1981
P0000545
(9+12)
Welches waren die letzten 8 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. f7-f8=D# Kd7-e7 2. e7-e8=L+ Kc6-d7 3. d7-d8=S+ Ld8-c7 4. c7-c8=T+ Tc8-b8
play all play one stop play next play all
James Malcom: (Shortest) proof of legality: 1. d4 Nh6 2. Bxh6 gxh6 3. g4 Rg8 4. g5 Rg6 5. Nh3 Rf6 6. Nf4 Nc6 7. g6 Nb4 8. g7 Rg6 9. Nxg6 fxg6 10. Bh3 Nd5 11. Be6 dxe6 12. f4 Kd7 13. f5 Kc6 14. f6 Bd7 15. Rf1 Be8 16. a4 Bf7 17. a5 Bg8 18. f7 Qd6 19. Rf6 exf6 20. e4 Be7 21. e5 Bd8 22. exd6 Ne7 23. dxe7 Rc8 24. d5+ Kb5 25. d6 Kc6 26. d7 Kb5 27. Qd6 cxd6 28. a6 Kc6 29. c4 Kb6 30. c5+ Kb5 31. c6 Kc5 32. c7 Kb5 33. Na3+ Kc6 34. Nc4 Kb5 35. Nb6
axb6 36. Ra5+ Kb4 37. Rc5 bxc5 38. a7 Kb5 39. b4 Kc4 40. b5 Kd4 41. b6 Ke4 42. Kd2 Ke5 43. Kc3 Kd5 44. a8=B Kc6 45. Kc4 Rb8 46. c8=R+ Bc7 47. d8=N+ Kd7 48. e8=B+ Ke7 49. f8=Q#

Took me a bit to figure out the trick for maneuvering the Black bishops. (2022-08-28)
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Keywords: Last Moves? (8), Allumwandlung
Genre: Retro
FEN: BrRNBQb1/1pb1k1Pp/1P1ppppp/2p5/2K5/8/7P/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
6 - P0000604
Andrej N. Kornilow
3948 Die Schwalbe 75 06/1982
7. Lob
P0000604
(24+0)
Färbe die Steine!
Welches waren die letzten 11 Einzelzüge?
James Malcom: Solution? (2020-11-07)
Mario Richter: I do not know the official solution, but the following works:
wLf8 wBe7 wBg6 wBh6 wLh5 wBe4 wTf4 wKg4 wDh4 wSf3 wDg3 wLh3 wSf2 wBg2 wSh2
sBb7 sBc7 sTf7 sBh7 sBd6 sBe6 sKf6 sBe5 sBa3
R: 1. f5xg6ep g7-g5 2. Sg5-f3 a4-a3 3. Kf3-g4 a5-a4 4. Tg4-f4 a6-a5 5. f4-f5 Kf5-f6
6. e3-e4
wCaps: f5xg6ep d7xTe8=L c6xLd7 d6xDe7 b6xLa7 a5xSb6 b6xSa7
wProms: d7xTe8=L a7-a8=S a7-a8=D
sCaps: f6xTe5 (2020-11-10)
comment
Keywords: Colouring problem, En passant, Last Moves? (11)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 5B2/1PP1PR1P/3PPKPP/4P2B/4PRKQ/P4NQB/5NPN/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-06-03 more...
7 - P0000775
Ferad Kakabadze
1422 Die Schwalbe 30 12/1974
P0000775
(11+5) C+
#3
Welches waren die letzten 2 Einzelzüge?
1. e8=D! f5 2. exf6ep e5 3. Dxe5#
R: 1. b2-b1=L 0-0
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: The forward play is C+ Popeye 4.61
1.e8=D thr. 2.Dc8 thr. 3.Dc3#
1... f5 2.exf6ep e5 3.Dxe5#
(1... f6 does not prevent the threat, so 2.exf6 is not considered dualistic) (2020-09-26)
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Keywords: Last Moves?, Valladao Task, En passant, Promotion, Castling in the retro play, Obvious promotion
Genre: Retro, 3#
FEN: 8/3pPp2/3Pp3/4P3/1N3P2/B7/P1P2P2/kb3RK1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2020-09-27 more...
8 - P0001561
Michel Caillaud
432 Europe Echecs 304 04/1984
Lob
P0001561
(8+13)
Kürzestes h#?
1. ... bxa6ep! 2. Txe2 axb7 3. Td2 b8=D 4. De2 Db1#
1. Dc6? bxc6 2. Ld7 cxd7 3. Ke1,Kxe2 d8=D 4. Kf1 Dd1# too slow
R: 1. a7-a5 e3xLf4 2. Ld6-f4 d2xTe3 3. Ta3-e3 b4-b5 4. Ta6-a3 b3-b4 5. Tc6xBa6 a5-a6 6. Tc8-c6 a4-a5 7. Tg8-c8 a3-a4 8. Lf8-d6 a2-a3 9. e7xDf6,e7xTf6
play all play one stop play next play all
The forward play gives shortest h# in 3.5 moves, *if* e.p. is on. Otherwise the shortest is a mildly dualized 4.0 moves. So our mission is clear: assuming that Black moved last, what was that move? The position looks very open - how can one ever know? There is a knot in the south-east corner, which will only be resolved by wQ/R visiting g1.

White pawns have captured dxexf & hxg, accounting for BSP. So wPa was waylaid while wPc promoted to B. Black pawns captured dxexfxgxh, exf as well as wBf1 captured at home and wPa. That's 7 units, but bPc must also have captured to allow wPc to promote (to B on c8). So all captured units are accounted for. bPc promoted (bPh7 came from h6, so is bPd). We can't undo any of the Black pawn captures now, but we can undo d2xe3xf4, to release 2 Black units.

We can unpromote bPc, but we can't undo its capture to release a White unit, until wBh3 has unpromoted. The only White unit we can get now is from e7xf6. So this means that the two Black units we can release must be B & R, so they can retreat to f8 & g8 respectively. The timing is very tight, and there is only one way to do it. The black rook must visit a6 to unwaylay wPa, which gives White 5 more tempi, just enough.

bPc promoted on b1 to R, so we would need to undo the cage to get that. Therefore all we can do is send wQg1, then Rf1-f2 f2-f3 etc. bPa must retract immediately tp a7, so that wPa when unwaylaid can make fully 4 unmoves. Black officers are arranged to give unique retro & forward play (although with minor dual for the try) with Sh8 not just retro dressing but ensuring unique retraction Tg8-c8 not Th8-c8.
A.Buchanan: Another surprising motivation for e.p. I love Sh8. Sorry for W3 dual in the try play else the stipulation could be h#4*. I can’t fix it but it’s hard to improve on MC. Very enjoyable (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: Non-standard material is where the diagram contains for a player more than 1 queen or bishop of a hue or more than 2 rooks or knights. Obtrusive material is standard material, but there is some cheap reason why the unit must be promoted, most commonly that a bishop's home square remains blockaded by pawns. These categories are disjoint: no piece is ever both. Many problems in PDB do not apply this consistently, but the distinction goes back a long way in chess problem history, and is discussed by Morse.
Honestly, I dislike the word "obtrusive" whose negativity (while perhaps valid in forward problems) is inappropriate for retros. One distinguished composer objected to this tag being assigned to one of his problems. Nevertheless the concept has some interest. Renaming is a perilous business, but I am looking for suggestions... :) (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: Another distinction that comes to mind between "non-standard material" and "obtrusive promotion" is that normally in the former, one can't immediately point to which of the non-standard pieces was promoted: it's just that there's too many; while for the latter, one can usually point to a specific unit immediately.
"Obvious" is a candidate replacement for "obtrusive", but this might commit a cardinal sin of trying to nail down a perfectly useful and inherently vague term. Both "obvious" & "obtrusive" begin with "ob" which is helpful. What do you think? (2021-10-24)
Henrik Juel: I am curious about the award; why did this problem with good forward play and excellent retro-play only obtain a Commendation?
Maybe the judge did not like that Lh3 obviously is obtrusive...
. (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: Yes, and the lovely P0001117 with a similar obtrusion only received 12th Lob! But there may have been other factors. I do observe that "non-standard material" is arguably a worse defect than "obtrusive material", but the term doesn't cause offence because it's objective and non-judgemental. "obtrusive" is more subjective and inherently pejorative. To have such terms in the glossary is to put curators in an invidious position. I think the concept has its place, but I would like to replace it with something less scornful. I'm up for "obvious". It's an easy and reversible change: let's do it and see if mobs of protesters form outside the gate :) (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: Have changed "obtrusive material" to the non-pejorative "obvious promotion". It may still be regarded as a defect. As a placeholder, I have also changed the unclear German "mit Umwandlungfigur(en)" to "augenscheinlich Umwandlungfigur". A native German speaker I'm sure will propose a better term. (2021-10-26)
A.Buchanan: “offensichtlich” it is thanks Mario (2021-10-26)
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Keywords: En passant, Last Moves?, Obvious promotion (L), En passant as key, Promotion (D)
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: 7n/1p3pp1/4bp1p/pP6/4qPP1/5PrB/4PrPp/3k3K
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-24 more...
9 - P0001924
Bedrich Formanek
Ass. Slovaque 1966
3. Preis
P0001924
(8+2)
#1 (-:
2 Lösungen
1) 1. gxh8=G# justified by history R: 1. Kg6xGh5 & e.g. Gf5-h5+
2) 1. g8=CM# justified by history R: 1. Kg6xCMh5 & e.g. CMe4-h5+
play all play one stop play next play all
Im orthodoxen Schach hat Schwarz keinen letzten Zug. Schwarz muß deshalb im letzten Zug eine Märchenfigur entschlagen haben. Und sehen P1390927
Henrik Juel: something is wrong here: the claimed mates are not even checks
also, the stipulation should probably be something like
Black and White retract, then #1 (2021-04-30)
A.Buchanan: Yes the problem was the word "dann" which indicates help retractor. The retro is just justification for the forward moves, showing that the relevant fairy piece existed earlier in the game so can be promoted to. What's the name of that principle? (2021-05-01)
Henrik Juel: Thanks for the clarification, Andrew
I think that this principle should remain unnamed and just stay in the joke realm (2021-05-01)
A.Buchanan: Sorry not to be clear: I am talking about the standard fairy principle that if you want to promote to a Princess, there should be one on the problem diagram. Not talking about the joke extension which riffs off this. I thought this was called "Bartel Theme", but it turns out that is something different. (2021-05-01)
Henrik Juel: I see; that principle probably was established soon after the invention of grasshoppers and nightriders
I do not think it has a name, but it is so well established that it should be in the Codex (2021-05-01)
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comment
Keywords: Joke, Last Moves?, Minimal
Pieces: du = Grasshopper (G), lu = Camel (CM)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 7b/6P1/7B/6Pk/2P5/3B3K/2P1P3/8
Reprints: (17) diagrammes 97 04-06/1991
MatPlus.net Forum 6/4/2021
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-06-19 more...
10 - P0001970
Thomas R. Dawson
26 Schachkongress Teplitz-Schönau im Oktober 1922 1923
P0001970
(13+13)
h#1
1. exf3ep Lc2#
R: 1. f2-f4 f5xTe4 2. Tg4-e4 & e.g. f6-f5 3. Tg1-g4 f7-f6 4. Le4-h7 h5-h4 5. Lg2-e4 h6-h5 6. Lf1-g2 h7-h6 7. g2xh3
play all play one stop play next play all
1.exf3e.p. Bc2# is the only possible solution, but this necessitates R: 1.f2-f4. Can we prove this?

(13+13) with 1+2 pawn captures. Bf8 captured at home, so to satisfy White appetite, the missing Black pawn (a or b) must have promoted via c2 on c1. Two more White units must be captured to allow this.

The kings cage can only be unlocked by retracting WPc2. But the clock is ticking as there are only 6 black moves which can be retracted.

The promoted piece was captured on e3 or h3. If either capture is undone, then a White bishop square is cut off, so WB must be replaced prior to this.

Now the order of the early moves is: WdP moves, WQB & WQR escape, BP promotes on c1 to X (capturing WR at some point), X captured by WP.

So the first White capture must be dxNe3 and the second White capture releases gxXh3. The second White capture releases WKB & WKR. WKR captured by original BfP.

The clock starts ticking with gxh3. Black has 6 pawn moves. WKB has 3 moves to reach h7. WR has 3 if it goes via d file, or 2 if it starts on g1 (in which case WfP or WQB must also move once). So certainly at least 6 White moves. Last move was therefore White (even if the stipulation didn't tell us), and it can only have been WfP coming from f3 or f4. If it had been coming from f3 it would have blocked WKB in its progress, so the last White move was indeed R: 1.f2-f4.

WKR did therefore move from g1-g4-e4, and R: 1. ... fxRe5 2. Rg4-e4. Prior to that, move order not unique, but counting still exact.

Note that WN loitering on b4, pretending to be part of the cage, is present on the board just to make up the numbers.
Jeliss: "Obstruction of passage square f3 to Bishop of same colour."

"Version 'Pittsburgh Leader' 08.06.1913"
Yoav Ben-Zvi: Appears as the first problem (D445) in the booklet on Dawson's RA problems by G.P. Jellis. The obstruction that occurs in the Try -1.Pf3-f4?, by WP of WB, is described as "obstruction of passage square". It is not considered by Dawson and his disciples to be a Retro opposition. Dawson's conception of RO was quite broad, it included cases where the interference was not by occupation of the target square, so the only valid reason that I can see to exclude this case is that the 2 pieces involved are both of the same color. Fabel's definition explicitly excludes "Monochrome RO". I conclude that it would be preferrable to interpret RO as a bi-chromatic interference. The keyword Retro opposition should be removed. (2018-04-07)
A.Buchanan: To my mind, RO involves some kind of parity-tempo issue between the sides, not just some kind of race-tempo. If it was just about "bi-chromatic interference", one might say that bPe4 blocks wBh7 from an immediate retreat, so it has to be wPf4 that retreats first, legitimizing the ep key. So I agree this is not RO. (2024-01-06)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, En passant as key
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: nqb5/1rrpp1pB/KRp5/1p4B1/kN2pP1p/2P1P2P/PP2P2P/8
Reprints: D445 Retro-Opposition & Other Retro-Analytical Chess Problems 1989
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-01-06 more...
11 - P0002758
Andrej N. Kornilow
1078 Phénix 15-16 12/1991
P0002758
(25+0)
Färbe die Steine! Welches waren die letzten 9 Einzelzüge?
James Malcom: Solution? (2020-11-07)
Mario Richter: I do not know the official solution, but the following works:
wBb7 wBf7 wBb6 wBg6 wBc5 wTf5 wLf4 wBg4 wBe3 wKg3 wTh3 wDf2 wBh2 wSf1 wSh1
sLg8 sDh8 sBa7 sBc7 sBh7 sBe6 sBf6 sKh6 sBe5 sLg1
wCaps: h5xg6ep f3xTg4 g4xTh5 e6xSf7 d5xSe6 a4xBb5
sCaps: d7xLe6
R: 1. h5xg6ep g7-g5 2. Tg5-f5 d7xLe6 3. f3xTg4 Th4-g4 4. g4xTh5 Kg6-h6 5. Tf5-g5 (2020-11-10)
comment
Keywords: Colouring problem, Last Moves? (9), En passant
Genre: Retro
FEN: 6BQ/PPP2P1P/1P2PPPK/2P1PR2/5BP1/4P1KR/5Q1P/5NBN
Reprints: (34) Die Schwalbe 144 12/1993
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
12 - P0004249
Alexander Kislyak
588 Europe Echecs 425 07/1994
P0004249
(8+14)
a) Welches waren die letzten 14 Einzelzüge?
b) Geschichte der BBa2, a7, h2 und h7?
R: 1. Ta1xBa2 f4-f5 2. h7-h5 f3-f4 3. Th6-h2 f2-f3 4. Th1xBh6 h5-h6 5. Lf7-e8 h4-h5 6. Lb3-f7 h3-h4 7. Ld1-b3 h2-h3
play all play one stop play next play all
AV: The 4 rook-pawns made all varieties : capture (...axb6), small step (h2-h3), long step (...h7-h5) and... no move at all (...Rxa2+) ! (2014-12-04)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: R: 1. Ta1xBa2 f4-f5 2. h7-h5 f3-f4 3. Th6-h2 f2-f3 4. Th1xBh6 h5-h6 5. Lf7-e8 h4-h5 6. Lb3-f7 h3-h4 7. Ld1-b3 h2-h3 8. c2xDd1=L Db1-d1 9. c3-c2 Dc2-b1 10. d4xTc3 Da4-c2 11. Tb1-h1 Tc1-c3 12. e5xLd4 Th1-c1 13. Tf1-b1 Db3-a4 14. Tc1xLf1 Dd1-b3 15. Lh6-f8 De1-d1 16. Ke8-d8 Dd1-e1 17. Kf8-e8 Db3-d1 Kg7-f8 Sd6-c8 Le3-h6 Tf8-b8 Tc6-c1 Tf4-f8 Tc1-a1 Sc4-d6 Tf6-c6 Kb8-a7 Da3-b2 Kc8-b8 Kf7-g7 Kd8-c8 Ke6-f7 Ke8-d8 Kd5-e6 Db1-b3 Te6-f6 Kf8-e8 a7xBb6 Kg7-f8 Tf6-e6 Kh6-g7 Tf8-f6 Kg5-h6 Db3-a3 Sa3-c4 Tc6-c1 Kg4-g5 Tf6-c6 Kf3-g4 Tb8-f8 Lb2-d4 Tf8-f6 b5-b6 Th8-f8 Tf8-f4 Ke6-d5 Tc8-f8 Kf7-e6 Ke4-f3 Kg7-f7 Tf8xLc8 Lh6-e3 Tf4-f8 f6xSe5 Sf3-e5 Dg8-b3 Kd4-e4 Dd8-g8 Kc3-d4 Kf8-g7 Kc2-c3 Ke8-f8 Kd1-c2 Lf8-h6 Ke1-d1 g7-g6 Dd1-b1 f7-f6 c2xSd3 Se5-d3+ Lc1-b2 Sg4-e5 Tb4-f4 Sf6-g4 Tb1-b4 Sg8-f6 Sg1-f3 Sb6-a8 Ta1-b1 Sd5-b6 Sb1-a3 Sb4-d5 Lb2-c1 Sc6-b4 b4-b5 Ta8-b8 Lc1-b2 Sb8-c6 b2-b4 (2021-07-24)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (14), Promotion (l)
Genre: Retro
FEN: nRNkbb2/Kpppp3/1p4p1/5P1p/8/3P4/rq1PP1Pr/8
Reprints: H15 FIDE Album Annexe 1992-1994 2003
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2003-09-07 more...
13 - P0005297
Les Marvin
Journal of Recreational Mathematics
P0005297
(3+3)
Welches war der erste Zug und welches waren die letzten Züge?
Tic-Tac-Toe
"Experten" haben gespielt.
Alain Brobecker: Full analysis of such Tic-Tac-Toe games with expert players can be found here: http://abrobecker.free.fr/text/tictactoe.pdf (2022-01-01)
comment
Keywords: First Move?, Last Moves?, Tic-Tac-Toe, no 8x8 board
Genre: Retro, 2#, Fairies
FEN: iIIqqqqq/2iqqqqq/1iIqqqqq/qqqqqqqq/qqqqqqqq/qqqqqqqq/qqqqqqqq/qqqqqqqq
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2022-03-08 more...
14 - P0005849
E. A. von Vegesack
Danziger Neueste Nachrichten 1941
P0005849
(5+3)
Welches waren 4 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. fxe6ep+ e7-e5 2. Kd4xSc5 Se4-c5
play all play one stop play next play all
In 'Probleme für Tiger' nachgedruckt mit der Forderung: "Welches waren die letzten zwei Züge von Schwarz und Weiß?"
Axel Steinbrink: Hinweis von Bernd Schwarzkopf: Der letzte Zug ist nicht eindeutig: auf c5 hätte auch ein beliebiger schwarzer Stein geschlagen worden sein können. (2020-12-20)
Henrik Juel: I think that any white man (not black) could have been captured on c5
But the last 3 single moves are determined (2020-12-20)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: die Lösung ist eindeutig!
Der wK muß d4xc5 geschlagen haben, und da der wK auf d4 im schach stand und der sT weder von a5 noch von a3 gekommen sein konnte, muß der zug sSe4-c5+ vor dem wK schlag gewesen sein. Also:
1... Se4-c5+ 2. Kd4xc5+ e7-e5 3. f5xe6ep+ (2020-12-21)
A.Buchanan: Hi Hans-Jürgen, Sie haben Recht mit den ersten "dreieinhalb" Zügen. Henriks Idee ist, dass Ne4-c5 ein Schlag eines unbekannten Steins sein könnte. Normalerweise müssen wir das genaue Diagramm vor dem Zug kennen, um einen Zug klar zu charakterisieren. (2020-12-21)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: A.Buchanan ist es denn wichtig ob ein w Stein auf c5 geschlagen worden ist, oder nicht ? Auf jedenfall muß ein sS von e4 nach c5. (2020-12-21)
A.Buchanan: Hans-Jürgen, heute halten wir es für wichtig, weil Wir haben Rekorde für z.B. "Letzten 17 Einzelzüge?" brauche also eine einheitliche Definition von "Zug". Manchmal ist die Forderung eines älteren Problems auf diese Weise ungenau, aber nicht kaputt. (2020-12-22)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: Ich hätte da eine Idee:
das Diagramm wird vervollständigt mit wBa2,b3,c2,d2,e2,g3 wLh1 wSb1,g1 wTc1 wDd1. Nun ist es nicht mehr möglich eine weiße Figur zu Schlagen! :-) (2020-12-23)
Mario Richter: Shouldn't the stipulation be: "Welches waren die letzten 4 Einzelzüge?" or "Letzte 4 Einzelzüge?
And, imho, the problem is cooked. Jans-Jürgen's suggestion would make the problem correct, but at the cost of much too much material. (2020-12-24)
A.Buchanan: The stipulation field in PDB has always been used to communicate the solvable intent of the composition. Stipulations have been rewritten by Gerd or others where necessary. What we lack is an Originalforderung field. But we can fake that in the Comment field. It hardly breaks the problem to change stip to 3 from 4 (2020-12-25)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, En passant in the retro play
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/8/4Pk2/2K4p/7r/7P/8/B4R2
Reprints: 255 Probleme für Tiger 2 04/1986
2318 Landeszeitung für die Lüneburger Heide 16/06/2012
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-21
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-25 more...
15 - P0005994
Paul Buerke
Karl Fabel

180 FEENSCHACH 19 04/1950
P0005994
(15+16)
Welches waren die letzten beiden Einzelzüge? Wie lang ist die KBP?
R: 1. c6xBd5+ d4-d5+
SPG has 10 single moves, but not unique (8 paths)
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: This is an earliest position in which the last two moves can be determined. (2021-06-29)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Last Moves?, Type C
Genre: Retro
FEN: rnbq1bnr/pp2pppp/3pk3/3p4/4K3/8/PPP1PPPP/RNBQ1BNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-07-15
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-06-29 more...
16 - P0006406
Nikita M. Plaksin
4.B Caissas Schloßbewohner 1, p. 73, 1983
P0006406
(4+2)
Welches waren die letzten 3 Einzelzüge?
Alle Bauern sind Berolinabauern
Teilaufgabe B von P1393956
Henrik Juel: R: 1.BEb7-a8+ Ka8-a7 2.BEc7-b8+, not 1... Ka8xYa7? (2021-09-23)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Berolina chess
Pieces: bu = Berolina Pawn (BE)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: RRK5/k7/*2p*2P6/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: (26) Die Schwalbe 156, p. 227, 12/1995
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-09-13 more...
17 - P0007793
Gerd Wilts
1318 Rochade Europa 09/1996
2. ehrende Erwähnung
Informalturnier 1996-1997
Übriges Märchenschach
P0007793
(13+13)
Welches waren die letzten 25 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. Sc5-b7+ f2-f3 2. Sa6-c5 c6-c7 3. Sc7-a6+ c5-c6 4. f6-f5 c4-c5 5. f7-f6 c2-c4 6. c4xTb3 Tc3-b3 7. c5-c4 b3-b4 8. c6-c5 Lb4-a3 9. a3-a2 Tc5-c3 10. a4-a3 Th5-c5 11. b5xLa4 Th8-h5 12. b6-b5 h7-h8=T 13. b7-b6
play all play one stop play next play all
PR Jörg Kuhlmann 03/1999
Henrik Juel: Next retraction is not unique: 13... g6xTLh7 (2020-11-26)
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme, Last Moves?, Non-standard material
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1bRqrb2/pnPRn1p1/3Kp3/P4p2/1P1k4/Bp1P1P2/p2P2P1/2N1N3
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-09-03
Last update: Marcin Banaszek, 2020-11-26 more...
18 - P0008219
Jozsef Korponai
6690 Probleemblad 09-10/1969
1. ehrende Erwähnung
P0008219
(12+7)
a) h#2
b) Last two single moves?
a) 1. Kxc5 h8=D 2. a1=T De5#
b) R: 1. a7-a8=S+ h2-h1=L
play all play one stop play next play all
Erich Bartel: Auszeichnung: 1.ehrende Erwähnung.--
Nachdruck: 1) Jaarboek 1970.-- (2006-11-26)
Henrik Juel: Something is wrong: De5 does not mate. And the intention certainly was not -1.S=a7 L=h2, 0... Kxc5 1.h8DL Kb6 2.DLd4#. (2006-11-27)
Erich Bartel: Ich habe die Aufgabe aus dem Jaarboek 1970 übernommen, wo
sie wie angegeben im Diagramm und Lösung so steht. Es
scheint also bereits hier ein Fehler vorzuliegen. Zur Klärung
ist es wohl notwendig in der Ur-Quelle Probleemblad -die ich
nicht besitze- nachzusehen. (2006-11-27)
Siegfried Hornecker: No matter how the position is changed, there can be no line where the king, coming from b6, is not allowed to return to b6 when the queen checks on e5. Also, there would be no reason to not play again 2.h2-h1~ as a waiting move.

The retroanalytics say that the last move must(!) have been 1.a7-a8S+ h2-h1L so I think the correct stipulation is:
a) Last move (w+s)
b) h#2

I have no source for this but if you think about it, the whole thing makes sense! The last move was 1.a8=S+ after 1.h1=L and from the diagram position the h#2 runs 2. Kxc5 h8=D 3. a1=T De5#. That's what I think. (2006-12-12)
Jan Hein Verduin: I got the Jaarboek too, and mr. Hornecker is right. The stipulation there is "h#2; what where the last w+b moves?" The way the solution then is given (the retro moves are given first) probably caused the confusion. (2007-01-26)
Adrian Storisteanu: Then, ceci n'est pas un ... retractor!? (2024-03-17)
Henrik Juel: Right, Adrian
The Help retractor keyword should be deleted (2024-03-17)
comment
Keywords: Allumwandlung, Last Moves? (2), Type C
Genre: Retro, h#
FEN: N7/1Bp4P/pkP5/p1R5/P7/P5P1/p1KNPPp1/7b
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-09-14
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-03-18 more...
19 - P0008275
Wladimir Lewschinski
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1980
3. Preis
P0008275
(12+9)
#1
1. Sxb2#
R: 1. ... a3xDb2 2. Sa2-b4 b4xLa3 3. c4-c5 c5xSb4 4. Da1-b2 d6xTc5 5. Lc1-a3 Ka3-a4 6. Tb2-b3++! Ka4-a3 7. Lb1-c2 Ka3-a4
play all play one stop play next play all
1. N:b2# Black's last move was a3:b2. White's balance equals 12 in the diagram) + 4 (captures d:c:b4:a3:52) = 16 - including the pawns e2, 12, g2 and h2, which were promoted. Black's balance: 9 (in the diagram) + 7 (captures e:d7-d8, f:e7-e8, g:f:e7-e8, h:g:f:e7-e8) = 16. Retroplay: 1. ... a3:Qb2 (necessarily a Queen!) 2. Na2-b4! b4:Ba3 (necessarily a Bishop) 3. c4-c5 c5:Nb4 (necessarily a Knight) 4. Qal-b2 d6:Rc5 (necessarily a Rook) 5. Bcl-a3 Ka36. Rb2-b3++! Ka4-a3 7. Bb1-c2+, etc. Had Black uncaptured a Rook on b2, then the retromove 4. Rb1-b2 instead of Qal-b2) would have oscillations of the black King on the squares a3-a4 and the white Rook on b2-b3 would have gone on forever... This is the first-ever rendition of uncapture differentiation under the pressure of perpetual retro motion!

Sourced from a comment by Shoopi: https://www.chess.com/blog/Rocky64/the-allumwandlung-theme-in-endgame-studies#comment-71850163
Henrik Juel: 1.Sxb2#. -1... a3xDb2 -2.Sa2 b4xLa3 -3.c4 c5xSb4 -4.Da1 d6xTc5 -5.Lc1 Ka3 -6.Tb2 Ka4 -7.Lb1 Ka3 etc. All-uncapture. (2004-01-02)
James Malcom: Shortest possible proof game: 1. c4 c6 2. a4 Qc7 3. h4 Qh2 4. Nh3 Kd8 5. Ra2 Kc7 6. e4 Kb6 7. Nc3 Kc5 8. a5 Qg3 9. b4+ Kd4 10. b5 Kc5 11. Qa4 Qd3 12. g4 Qc2 13. Rb2 Qb3 14. Qa1 Kb4 15. Na2+ Ka3 16. Ke2 Qd1+ 17. Ke3 Qf3+ 18. Kd4 Na6 19. Bd3 Nc5 20. Bb1 Nd3 21. Nf4 Ne5 22. Kc5 Qh3 23. Nd3 a6 24. f4 Nf3 25. Kb6 Ng5 26. hxg5 d6 27. e5 Bd7 28. e6 Re8 29. exd7 e6 30. f5 Be7 31. f6 Rc8 32. fxe7 Nf6 33. e8=N Ng8 34. d8=B Qh4 35. Bf6 Qh5 36. Bc3 Qh6 37. Nf6 Qg6 38. Nd5 Nf6 39. gxf6 Rce8 40. N5b4 Re7 41. fxe7 Rf8 42. e8=R Rg8 43. Rd8 Rf8 44. Rh5 Re8 45. Rc5 Re7 46. g5 Qf6 47. gxf6 Ka4 48. fxe7 Ka3 49. e8=Q Ka4 50. Rd7 Ka3 51. Qe7 Ka4 52. Bc2+ Ka3 53. Rb3+ Ka4 54. Ba3 dxc5 55. Qb2 cxb4 56. c5 bxa3 57. Nab4 axb2 (2023-02-05)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/1p1RQppp/pKp1p3/PPP5/kN6/1RBN4/1pBP4/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-09-16
Last update: James Malcom, 2022-08-29 more...
20 - 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+
play all play one stop play next play all
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...
21 - P0008778
Sergii I. Tkachenko
7160 feenschach 123 01-06/1997
P0008778
(9+2)
Löse die Stellung auf!
R: 1. 0-0 b2-b1=L 2. d2-d3 c3xSb2,c3xLb2
play all play one stop play next play all
Rosalie Fay: R: 1. 0-0 b2-b1=B 2. d2-d3 c3xb2. What did the bP capture? A wQ or wR doesn't leave White a previous move; a wP makes an illegal wP structure, so wB or wN.

bK got into the SW cage via a3. When bK was on a3, [wPb2] was on b3, and [wPa2] was on a2. So these wPs did not cross-capture. wQ cannot have been in the cage at the time, because, if it were, bK could not get in without walking into check from wQ. So when wQ entered the cage, bK was already in. wQ must have entered via a1 or b2. To avoid giving an unparriable check, wQ must've moved to a1 with bKc1 and a shield on b1.

But this shield doesn't have to be the piece captured on b2 by the promoting bP. Why not

R: 1. 0-0 b2-b1=B 2. d2-d3 c3xBb2 3. Ba1xNb2+ b4xNc3 4. Nb1-c3 Nc4-b2 5. Bg7-a1 b5-b4 6, Qa1-a2 b6-b5 7, Qf6-a1 Ne5-c4 8, a2-a3 Kb2-c1 9. Nc3-b1 Ka3-b2 etc. (2021-02-06)
Henrik Juel: I agree with Rosalie
R: 2... c3xLb2 is also possible
Only the last 3 single moves are determined (2021-02-06)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: ab dem 4.Einzelzug kann abweichend auch R: 1. 0-0 b2-b1=B 2. d2-d3 c3xNb2 3. Na4-b2 c4-c3 4. Nc3-a4 c5-c4 5. Nb1-c3 c6-c5 6. Qa1-a2 c7-c6 7. Qh8-a1 Kb2-c1 8. Qa8-h8+ Ka1-b2 9. Nc3-b1 Kb2xTa1 10. a2-a3 Ka3-b2 11. Na4-c3+ usw. geschehen (2021-02-06)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Castling in the retro play, Promotion in the retro play, Minimal
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/PP1P4/Q1P1PP2/1bk2RK1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1997-06-16
Last update: Mario Richter, 2021-02-06 more...
22 - P0008879
Arpad Molnar
R259 The Problemist 01/1997
P0008879
(10+9) cooked
Welches waren die letzten 16 Einzelzüge?

play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: R: 1. a4xSb3+ Lb8-c7 2. d6xSc5 Ld8-b6 3. b6xSa5 e7xTd8=L
Gerald Ettl: Weiss jemand wie die Autorloesung geplant war? (2023-09-28)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (16), Non-standard material
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/p1Bp1ppp/RBR5/pBpP4/1kP5/Rp6/1PK5/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1998-06-26
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2006-10-08 more...
23 - P0008954
Thomas Volet
3147c Probleemblad 01/1997
Harry Goldsteen gewidmet
2. ehrende Erwähnung
P0008954
(13+8)
Welches waren die letzten 6 Schlagfälle?
Beispielauflösung mri:
R: 1. Lg2-h1 a5xLb4 2. Lf1-g2 a6-a5 3. g2xTf3 Tf7-f3 4. Th4-h7 Te7-f7 5. Td4-h4 Te8-e7 6. Kh7-h8 Sg6-f8 7. Td1-d4 Se5-g6 8. Kg6-h7 Sc6-e5 9. Kf5-g6 f7xDe6 10. Ke4-f5 Sd4-c6 11. Kd3-e4 Sf5-d4 12. Kc2-d3 Sg3-f5 13. Kc1-c2 Sh1-g3 14. 0-0-0 h2-h1=S 15. c2-c3 h3-h2 16. Ld2-b4 h4-h3 17. Lc1-d2 h5-h4 18. Dd5-e6 Td8-e8 19. Dd1-d5 Te8-d8 20. d2xLe3 Lg5-e3 21. Th8-g8 Le7-g5 22. Th6-h8 Lf8-e7 23. Tg6-h6 e7xSd6 24. Sc4-d6 Kb8-c8 25. d6xBc7 Ka7-b8 26. Sb6-a8 Ta8-e8 27. Tg3-g6 Kb8-a7 28. e5xTd6 Th6-d6 29. f4xSe5 Th8-h6 30. Th3-g3 Kc8-b8 31. Sa4-b6 Kd8-c8 32. Th2-h3 Sc6-e5 33. g3xSf4 Sd5-f4 34. Th1-h2 Sf6-d5 35. h2xDg3 De3-g3 36. Se5-c4 Da7-e3 37. Sf3-e5 Db8-a7 38. Sb6-a4 Ke8-d8 39. Sg1-f3 Dd8-b8 40. Sc8-b6 a7-a6 41. Sb6xLc8 Sb8-c6 42. Sa4-b6 Sg8-f6 43. Sc3-a4 h7-h5 44. Sb1-c3
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: The last captures were (in game order) d6xPc7, e7xSd6, d2xBe3, f7xQe6, g2xRf3, a5xBb4. -1.Bg2 a5:B -2.Bf6 a6 -3.g2:R etc. (2003-12-02)
Rosalie Fay: Retro -2 Bf1-g2. (2021-02-04)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: die letzten 6 Schagfälle waren a5xLb4, g2xTf3, f7xDe6, d2xLe3, e7xSd6, d6xc7
mögliche Zugfolge:
1. Sb1-a3 Sg8-f6 2. Sa3-c4 Sf6-h5 3. Sc4-b6 Sh5-g3 4. h2xSg3 Sb8-c6 5. Sb6xLc8 a7-a6 6. Sc8-b6 Dd8-b8 7. Sb6-a4 Db8-a7 8. Th1-h5 Da7-d4 9. Th5-a5 0-0-0 10. Sa4-b6+ Kc8-b8 11. Sb6-a8 Dd4-f4 12. g3xDf4 h7-h5 13. Sg1-f3 h5-h4 14. Sf3-d4 Th8-h6 15. Ta5-h5 Th6-d6 16. Sd4-b5 h4-h3 17. Th5-h6 h3-h2 18. Th6-h7 h2-h1=D 19. Th7-h8 Dh1-h5 20. Th8-h7 Dh5-e5 21. f4xDe5 Kb8-c8 22. e5xTd6 Sc6-b8 23. d6xf7 Sb8-c6 24. Sb5-d6+ e7xSd6 25. Th7-h8 Lf8-e7 26. Th8-h1 Le7-g5 27. Th8-h1 Lg5-e3 28. d2xLe3 Sc6-b8 29. Lc1-d2 Sb8-c6 30. Ld2-b4 Sc6-b8 31. Dd1-d5 Sb8-c6 32. 0-0-0 Sc6-b8 33. Td1-d4 Sb8-c6 34. Kc1-d2 Sc6-b8 35. Kd2-d3 Sb8-c6 36. Kd3-e4 Sc6-b8 37. Ke4-f5 Sb8-c6 38. Dd5-e6 f7xDe6+ 39. Kf5-g6 Sc6-e7+ 40. Kg6-h7 Se7-g6 41. Th8-g8 Td8-e8 42. Td4-h4 Sg6-f8+ 43. Kh7-h8 Te8-e7 44. c2-c3 Te7-f7 45. Th4-h7 Tf7-f3 46. g2xTf3 a6-a5 47. Lf1-g2 a5xLb4 48. Lg2-h1 (2021-02-06)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?
Genre: Retro
FEN: N1k2nRK/1pPp2pR/3pp3/8/1p6/2P1PP2/PP2PP2/7B
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1998-06-26
Last update: Mario Richter, 2021-02-06 more...
24 - P0500634
Ante Zutic
211 Delo 20/02/1971
P0500634
(2+9) C+
h#3
1. Sg5 hxg5 2. 0-0 gxh6 3. Lh8 h7#
play all play one stop play next play all
Retro!en-passant, Rochade
Bernd Schwarzkopf: Letzte Züge: 1.Kf5xTg6 f4xg3 e.p. 2.g2-g4 Tg4-g6 oder Tg4xg6 ...
Die Rochade ist also zulässig; Schwarz hat einen Umwandlungs-Turm. (2021-09-04)
comment
Keywords: En passant, Last Moves?, Castling (sk), Promotion (t), Valladao Task
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB))
FEN: 4k2r/8/4nbKp/7p/7P/6pb/8/5r2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-06
Last update: hpr, 1999-05-17 more...
25 - P1004080
Dmitri Baibikow
232 Shakhmatnaya Kompozitsiya 43 2001
1. Spezialpreis
P1004080
(16+16)
Letzte 31 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. Dd1-a4+ a4-a3 2. Kd6-e5 e5-e4 3. c2-c3 e6-e5 4. Tc5-f5 f5-f4 5. Tc3-c5 f6-f5 6. Tb3-c3 f7-f6 7. Sf6-g4 g4-g3 8. Tb1-b3 g5-g4 9. Lg4-h5 g6-g5 10. Th5-h6 g7-g6 11. Sg6-h4 h4-h3 12. Tc5-h5 h5-h4 13. Tc3-c5 h6-h5 14. Tb3-c3 h7-h6 15. Tb2-b3 Ka5-a6 16. b3-b4+
play all play one stop play next play all
Um die Stellung aufzulösen, muss der sK nach a5 zurückspielen und damit der wBb4 nach b3. Dazu müssen zunächst beide weißen Türme auf die erste Reihe zurückgespielt werden.
Verbesserung des Rekords von Gerald Ettl (P0006424) um einen Einzelzug.
James Malcom: Is this the length record for 32 units? (2021-02-16)
A.Buchanan: Isn’t there a length record catalogue by Alain Brobecker? (2021-02-17)
A.Buchanan: http://abrobecker.free.fr/chess/lengths.pdf (2021-02-18)
James Malcom: I do not find this in there. (2021-02-18)
A.Buchanan: Yes, I see now. I had thought that Alain's paper was comprehensive for its time, but I guess not. The "Number of last moves" space is a good candidate to be put in a PDB page, like the "first move" page. That's pretty easy to do, based on the structure that Alain has given, but some scholarship is required first to validate what the last records are 10 years on, for the different cases. For example there's Thierry Le Glueher's extensions of Gyula Breyer's stupendous matrix. Those are already in PDB. Should also reach out to the Usual Suspects to ask what they've done which should be included. I don't think that Alain is active in this particular area right now. Any volunteers to own it? :) I have too much going on right now to own this, but I am happy to support e.g. by searching WinChloe, proof-reading etc. There are some magnificent problems here: this is worth doing. (2021-02-19)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Move Length Record, Construction task, Construction record, Type C, Capture-free
Genre: Retro
FEN: nbb5/nqrp4/krp4R/1p2KR1B/QP2ppNN/p1PPPPpp/P4BPP/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2002-05-05
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-02-19 more...
26 - P1004179
Arpad Molnar
R275 The Problemist 05/1998
4. ehrende Erwähnung
P1004179
(11+10) cooked
Letzte 12 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. a4xSb3+ Dd8-b6 2. b6xSa5 Tc8-c6 3. c7xSb6 Lc6-b5 4. b5xSa4 Sa8-b6 5. b6-b5 Lb7-c6 6. Kb5-b4 c3-c4+
play all play one stop play next play all
Gerald Ettl: Wie lautet der Cook? (2023-09-28)
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (SSSS), Last Moves? (12)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1N6/p2p1ppp/RQRp4/pBNP4/1kP5/bp6/PPK5/8
Reprints: (1) Quartz 18 10-12/2001
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2002-09-05
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2004-08-28 more...
27 - P1009429
Andrey Frolkin
Andrej N. Kornilow
Henrik Juel

R204 Probleemblad 05-06/2003
5. ehrende Erwähnung
PR Hans Gruber
P1009429
(14+12)
a) Letzte 3 Einzelzüge?
b) Minimale Anzahl Züge, die auch umgekehrt gespielt wurden?
a) R: 1. ... Dh7-h8 2. a3xTb4 a7xSb6
play all play one stop play next play all
Lösung b) 4 Züge: Lg1-h2-g1, Tg5xSh5-g5, Dh8-h7-h8, Lg8-h7-g8
Henrik Juel: The retroplay could continue
-3.Sc4 Ta4 -4.Se3 Td4 -5.Sf1 Td1 -6.Sg3 Te1 -7.Lh2 Th1 -8.Lg1 Th2 -9.Sf1 Tg2 -10.Sh2 Tg4 -11.Dh5 Tg5 -12.Sg4 Th5 -13.a2 Tg5xSh5 -14.Sg7 Dh8 -15.Lh7 Df8 -16.Lg8 h7 -17.Se8 Dh6 -18.Kg7 Dh5 -19.Kh8 Dh6 -20.Dh5 Ke5 -21.Se3 etc.
I cooked the earlier version P1004202 and was included as co-author (2019-02-20)
Henrik Juel: 5. HM
(awarded by Hans Gruber, PB no.1 2005 p.4) (2019-03-07)
Henrik Juel: The resolution plan is to let the uncaptured black rook uncapture a white knight on h5, so it can screen on g7; the white knight uncaptured on b6 helps with screens
In full notation the further retroplay could be
R: 3. Sc4-b6 Ta4-b4 4. Se3-c4 Td4-a4 5. Sf1-e3 Td1-d4 6. Sg3-f1 Te1-d1 7. Lh2-g1 Th1-e1
8. Lg1-h2 Th2-h1 9. Sf1-g3 Tg2-h2 10. Sh2-f1 Tg4-g2 11. Dh4-h5 Tg5-g4 12. Sg4-h2+ Th5-g5
13. a2-a3 Tg5xSh5 14. Sg7-h5+ Dh8-h7 15. Lh7-g8 Df8-h8 16. Lg8-h7 h7-h6 17. Se8-g7 Dh6-f8
18. Kg7-f6 Dh5-h6+ 19. Kh8-g7 Ke5-f4 20. Se3-g4+ etc. (2021-04-26)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2bb2Bq/1ppRRP2/1p1ppKpp/5p1Q/1P3k2/5P1P/1PP1PP2/6B1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2003-07-28
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2019-03-08 more...
28 - P1011798
Thierry Le Gleuher
R210 Probleemblad 09-10/2003
Lob
PR Hans Gruber
P1011798
(14+13)
Letzte 42 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. ... 0-0-0+ 2. Kg7-h8 f7-f6 3. Kf6-g7 e4-e3 4. Kf5-f6 e5-e4 5. Ke4-f5 e6-e5 6. Kd3-e4 e7-e6 7. Te6-e2 e2-e1=L 8. Db2-a1 e3-e2 9. Ke2-d3 e4-e3 10. Dc1-b2 e5-e4 11. Dd1-c1 d6xLe5 12. Lb2-e5 c6-c5 13. Lc1-b2 c7-c6 14. b2-b4 b3xTa2 15. Ta1-a2 b4-b3 16. La2-b1 b5-b4 17. Lb3-a2 b6-b5 18. La4-b3 b7-b6 19. Lb5xBa4 a5-a4 20. Ke1-e2 a6-a5 21. Lf1-b5 a7-a6 22. e2xSf3 ...
play all play one stop play next play all
hans: all black pawn-moves
Henrik Juel: Commendation
(awarded by Hans Gruber, PB no.1 2005 p.4) (2019-03-07)
Joost de Heer: @Hans: First retraction move isn't a pawn move. (2024-02-01)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Castling in the retro play
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2kr3K/3N3p/5p2/2p3p1/1P4P1/P3pPrb/p1PPRPPq/QB2b1bN
Reprints: H11-5 WCCI 2001-2004
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2003-10-20
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2019-03-08 more...
29 - P1012672
James Grenfell Mauldon
Sunday Times 1973
P1012672
(15+10)
Zeige, dass die wTT den Platz getauscht haben
1) #1 (wer?)
2) Welches waren die letzten 26 Einzelzüge?
a) Platztausch der wTT und Matt durch Schwarz folgen unmittelbar aus der Eindeutigkeit der Stellung vor den letzten 26 Einzelzügen (Endstellung: 8/p1pppp1p/1p6/8/B3N2P/R3nPPk/PPPPPrbn/QKN1qrbR).
b) R: 1. Sb4-a6 Ba6-a5 2. exBf7 Ba7-a6 3. dxBe6 Be7-e6 4. Bc4xBd5 Bd6-d5 5. Lb3-a2 Bd7-d6 6. La4-b3 Bh7-h6 7. Bb3xBc4 Bc5-c4 8. Sd3-b4 Bc6-c5 9. Ta3-a1 Bc7-c6 10. Ba2xBb3 Bb4-b3 11. Da1-b1 Bb5-b4 12. Kb1-c1 Bb6-b5 13. Sc1-d3 Se3-d1
Bevor der wTa3 auf die Grundreihe zurückkehren kann, muß erst Bg2-g3 zurückgenommen werden, dann steht aber schon der wL auf f1, ein wT muß zuvor an den D-Flügel gebracht werden, dies kann folglich nur der wTh1 leisten.
play all play one stop play next play all
No. 444 HN
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: R: zwingend: 1. Sb4-a6 a6-a5 2. exf7 a7-a6 3. dxe6 e7-e6 4. c4xd5 d6-d5 5. Lb3-a2 d7-d6 6. La4-b3 h7-h6 7. b3xc4 c5-c4 8. Sd3-b4 c6-c5 9. Ta3-a1 c7-c6 10. a2xb3 b4-b3 11. Da1-b1 b5-b4 12. Kb1-c1 b6-b5 13. Sc1-d3 Se3-d1 und weiter könnte folgen:
14. Tb3-a3 Dd1-e1 15. Tb4-b3 Te1-f1 16. Tc4-b4 Tf1-f2 17. Tc5-c4 Sg4-e3 18. Td5-c5 Ld4-g1 19. Td6-d5 Lg7-d4 20. Tc6-d6 Tf2-f1 21. Tc5-c6 Sf6-g4 22. Tf1-h1 Sg4-h2 23. Tb5-c5 Kh2-h3 24. Ta5-b5 Lh3-g2 25. Ta6-a5 Se5-g4 26. Ta5-a6 Le6-h3 27. Tb5-a5 Ld5-e6 28. Tc5-b5 Lb7-d5 29. Tc6-c5 Tg2-f2 30. Tf2-f1 Th1-e1 31. Lb3-a4 Dg1-d1 32. Tf1-f2 Dd4-g1 33. Sd3-c1 Dc3-d4 34. Kc1-b1 Tg1-g2 35. Kd1-c1 La6-b7 36. Ke1-d1 Lb7-a6 37. Kf2-e1 La6-b7 38. Ke3-f2 Lb7-a6 39. De1-a1 Tg2-g1 40. Df2-e1 La6-b7 41. Ta1-f1 Tc1-h1 42. Td6-c6 Th1xLc1 43. De1-f2 Tg1-g2 44. Le6-b3 Sc6-e5 45. Lh3-e6 De5-c3 46. Lf1-h3 Dc3-e5 47. Dd1-e1 De5-c3 48. Kf2-e3 Dc3-e5 49. Ke1-f2 Dd4-c3 50. Sc3-e4 De5-d4 51. g2-g3 Kg3-h2 52. Sf2-d3 Kf4-g3 53. Td5-d6 Se4-f6 54. Td3-d5 Th3-h1 55. Td4-d3 Th1-g1 56. Td3-d4 Tg3-h3 57. Td4-d3 Lh6-g7 58. Td5-d4 Tg8-g3 59. Td6-d5 Ta8-g8 60. Td5-d6 Dh8-e5 61. Td4-d5 Dd8-h8 62. Td3-d4 Kf5-f4 63. Td4-d3 Kg6-f5 64. Td5-d4 Sf6-e4 65. Td6-d5 Kg7-g6 66. Td5-d6 Th3-h1 67. Sb1-c3 Tg3-h3 68. Sh3-f2 Kf8-g7 69. Sg1-h3 Tg8-g3 70. c2-c3 Ke8-f8 71. Td4-d5 Th8-g8 72. Td3-d4 Sg8-f6 73. Te3-d3 Lf8-h6 74. Tf3-e3 Lc8-a6 75. Tg3-f3 Sb8-c6 76. Th3xg3 b7-b6 77. Th2-h3 g4-g3 78. Th1-h2 g5-g4 79. h3-h4 g7-g5 80. h2-h3 (2021-07-14)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (6), Interchange
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/5P2/N6p/p7/4N2P/5PPk/BPPPPrbn/RQKnqrbR
Input: Henri Nouguier, 2004-01-11
Last update: Mario Richter, 2011-10-01 more...
30 - P1017610
Michel Caillaud
Kevin James Begley

R0083 StrateGems 15 07-09/2001
2. ehrende Erwähnung
P1017610
(15+5)
Welches waren die letzten 7 Einzelzüge?
Circe Parrain
R: 1. 0-0[+wBc4]+ sBd4x[Dc3,Bc4]c3ep 2. c2-c4[+wDc3]+ b2xDc1=S[+sLb4] 3. Sb7xLa5[+wBc2] e5xBd4[+sLa5]+ 4. a5xLb6
play all play one stop play next play all
Michel Caillaud: cooked by Dmitry Baibikov :
3.Sb7xLa5(+wBa3) Kb4xPb5(+sLa5)+ -4.Ta5xLa4(+wSd3)+ e5xSd4 (2022-07-19)
Kevin Begley: correction: P1404688 (2022-09-27)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Circe (Parrain), Last Moves? (7), Valladao Task
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 8/8/PPp5/NkP5/RbP5/PBpN4/P4PP1/B1n2RK1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2004-07-03
Last update: Kevin Begley, 2022-09-27 more...
31 - P1017673
Valeriu Petrovici
3580v Buletin Problemistic 73 2000
P1017673
(15+14)
Welches waren die letzten 5 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. Te6-e4+ Kd5-c4+ 2. Sc6-b4+ Sb5-d4+ Sd4-c6+
play all play one stop play next play all
Mario Richter: Dual
R: 1. Te6-e4+ Kd5-c4+ 2. Sc2-b4+ Sb5-d4+ Sd4-c2+ (2022-06-17)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (5), Consecutive checks (5)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 6B1/1Kp1p2p/3p4/p4pPp/PNknR1Q1/rrPRPqPn/B2P1Pb1/1N6
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2004-08-01
Last update: Mario Richter, 2022-06-17 more...
32 - P1084663
Andrey Frolkin
1027 Mat Plus 30 04-06/2008
Lob
P1084663
(13+14)
Letzte 7 Einzelzüge?
Herkunft der sTb8 und des sTd1?
R: 1. Sf8-h7+ f4-f5 2. Th1-d1 f3-f4 3. Kg1-h2 f2-f3 4. Th7-h1 Sh5-g7 5. Tg7-h7+ Sf4-h5 6. Ta8-b8 ... 7. Ta3-a8 ... 8. Th3-a3 ... 9. Th1-h3 ... 10. h2-h1=T ... 11. h3-h2 ... 12. h4-h3 ... 13. h5-h4 ... 14. h6-h5 h5xSg6, dann a7-a8=D, Ba7-a4, Tg7-a8, a7xBb6, BcxTb6 (dieser entschlagene Turm kommt von h8).
Der Tb8 kommt von h1 (Pronkin), der Td1 kommt von a8 (Antipronkin, da er über h1 zieht.).
play all play one stop play next play all
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: Umwandlung h1T-b8 (h2-h1T-h3-a3-a8-b8)
Td1 kommt von a8 (Ta8-b8-a8-a3-f3-f7-g7-h7-h1-d1)
Th8 wird geopfert (Th8-e8-e6-b6/c5xb6)
7 Einzelzüge: R.: 1. Sf8-h7+ f4-f5 2. Th1-d1 f3-f4 3. Kg1-h2 f2-f3 4. Th7-h1 ... weiter: 4... Sh5-g7 5. Tg7-h7+ Sf4-h5 6. Ta8-b8 Sd5-f4 7. Ta3-a8 Sb4-d5 8. Th3-a3 Sc2-b4 9. Th1-h3 Sa3-c2 10. h2-h1T Sb1-a3 11. h3-h2 Sc3-b1 12. h4-h3 Sd5-c3 13. h5-h4 Sf4-d5 14. h6-h5 h5xSg6 15. Sh4-g6 Sd3-f4 16. g6-g5 Sb4-d3 17. h7-h6 Kg5-f6 18. Kf1-g1 Tf3-f7 19. Tf7-g7 Ta3-f3 20. Tf3-f7 Ta1-a3 21. Ta3-f3 Tg7-g8 22. Ta8-a3 Tf7-g7 23. Ke1-f1 Kg4-g5 24. Sf5-h4 Kh3-g4 25. Kd1-e1 Kh3-h2 26. Lf6-h8 Sd5-e7 27. Le7-f6 Sa2-b4 28. Kc2-d1 Kg1-h2 29. Kb3-c2 Kf1-g1 30. Kc4-b3 Ke1-f1 31. Sg3-f5 Tf3-f7 32. Sf1-g3 Th3-f3 33. Sg3xLf1 Th1-h3 34. f7xDe6 h4-h5 35. Kd4-c4 h2-h4 36. Ke4-d4 Dc6-e6 37. Kf5-e4 Da4-c6 38. Tb8-a8 Da8-a4 39. Lf6-e7 a7-a8D 40. Lg7-f6 a6-a7 41. Se6-f8 Df8-e8 42. a7xb6 c5xTb6 43. Sd4-e6 Sb4-d5 44. Te6-b6 c4-c5 45. Te8-e6 Sd3-b4 46. Kf6-f5 Da3-f8 47. Th8-e8 Db3-a3 48. Sc6-d4 Dd1-b3 49. Ta8-b8 Sc3-a2 50. Sb8-c6 Sf4-d3 51. Ke7-f6 Sh3-f4 52. Ke8-e7 Sg1-h3 53. Sh5-g3 Sb1-c3 54. e7-e5 a5-a6 55. Lf8-g7 a4-a5 56. Sf6-h5 a2-a4 57. Sg8-f6 c3-c4 58. g7-g6 c2-c3 (2023-03-12)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Pronkin Theme (t), Anti-Pronkin (t)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1rbqQ1Rb/1pppNRNn/1p2pKP1/4pPp1/8/8/1P1PP1Pk/2Br4
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2009-05-24
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2010-08-16 more...
33 - P1183971
Dmitri Baibikow
680 Shakhmatnaya Kompozitsiya 98, p. 62, 12/2010
1. Preis
P1183971
(13+12)
Were any diagrams repeated during the game?
R: 1. ... Df8xDg8# 2. Db8-a8 Lb7-c8 (*) 3. Dd8-b8 La8-b7 4. Dc8-d8 Lb7-a8 5. Db8-c8 (*) Lc8-b7 6. Db2-b8 Lb7-c8 7. De2-b2 Lc8-b7 8. Df3-e2 Lb7-c8 9. De2xBf3 Lc8-b7 10. Db2-e2 Lb7-c8 11. Db6-b2 Lc8-b7 12. Db8-b6 Lb7-c8 (*) 13. Dd8-b8 La8-b7 14. Dc8-d8 Lb7-a8 15. Db8-c8 (*) Lc8-b7 16. b7-b8=D f4-f3 17. b6-b7 Lb7-c8 18. a5xSb6 Sc4-b6 19. a4-a5 Se3-c4 20. a3-a4 Sf5-e3 21. a2-a3 Sh6-f5 22. Dh7-g8 Sg8-h6+ 23. Dh6-h7 Lc8-b7 24. Dh7-h6 Th6-g6 25. De4-h7 Tg6-h6+ 26. De2-e4 Lb7-c8 27. Db2-e2 La8-b7 28. Db8-b2 Lb7-a8 (*) 29. Dd8-b8 La8-b7 30. Dc8-d8 Lb7-a8 31. Db8-c8 (*) Lc8-b7 32. b7-b8=D f5-f4 33. b6-b7 b7xDc6 34. Da4-c6+ Kc6-d6 35. Sb5-a7++
play all play one stop play next play all
Pairs of repeated diagrams marked (*)
Nikolai Beluhov: Throughout the game, three different positions had to be repeated two times each (with the other side on the move) in order for the position to be formed.
The theme of loss-of-tempo-motivated position repetition was deeply explored by Luigi Ceriani (1894-1969) and is present in many of his works, including numerous ortho-reconstructions.
I only know of two twofold implementations: P1183992 by Ceriani himself (possibly a version by N. Plaksin or A. Kuznetsov of P0002948) and P0005418 by S. Volobuev (with a "#1" stipulation which determines the side to move in the diagram position). D. Baibikov's problem presents the first ever threefold implementation. (2011-01-02)
A.Buchanan: “fake game array” (FPI) is another special case of Ceriani’s player inversion (2021-02-24)
A.Buchanan: This is a wonderful problem. The repeated diagrams are where wDb8 & sLb7. There are sequences e.g. n. Db8~ Lb7-c8 (*) n+1. Dd8-b8 La8-b7 n+2. Dc8-d8 Lb7-a8 n+3. Db8-c8 (*) La8-b7. Need to ensure that over this sL shifts from c8 to a8, otherwise there are unnecessary additional repeated diagrams. Have fixed the solution given above. (2021-02-24)
A.Buchanan: “Position” is diagram + the move + castling rights + e.p. status. What is repeated is a diagram. Given that the stipulation was in Russian originally, I dare to change the stipulation here... (2021-02-25)
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Keywords: Tempo Loss, Last Moves?, Type C, Non-standard material (l)
Genre: Retro
FEN: Q1b1B1qK/N1pPRRr1/p1pkPBr1/3p2Pb/3P2p1/3p2P1/5P2/8
Input: Nikolai Beluhov, 2011-01-02
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-02-25 more...
34 - P1228076
Dmitri Baibikow
A20 Length Records in Last Single Moves? 04/2009
P1228076
(10+10)
Last 28 single moves?
n-14... b7-b6 n-13.f2-f3 Bc8-b7 n-12.f3-f4 Bb7-f3 n-11.f4-f5 Bf3-g4 n-10.f5-f6 Bg4-h3 n-9.g2xBh3 g3-g2 n-8.h3-h4 g2-g1=R n-7.h4-h5 Rg1-g4 n-6.Na4-c5+ Rg4-a4 n-5.Nc5-e6 f7xNe6 n-4.f6-f7 e6-e5 n-3.f7-f8=N e5-e4 n-2.Nf8-g6 e4-e3 n-1.Ng6-e7 e3-e2 n.Ne7-g8
play all play one stop play next play all
Highest number of retro moves with 20 pieces.
See http://abrobecker.free.fr/chess/lengths.pdf
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: R: 1. Se7-g8 e3-e2 2. Sg6-e7 e4-e3 3. Sf8-g6 e5-e4 4. f7-f8=S e6-e5 5. f6-f7 f7xSe6 6. Sc5-e6 Tg4-a4 7. Sa4-c5+ Tg1-g4 8. h4-h5 g2-g1=T 9. h3-h4 g3-g2 10. g2xLh3 Lg4-h3 11. f5-f6 Lf3-g4 12. f4-f5 Lb7-f3 13. f3-f4 Lc8-b7 14. f2-f3 b7-b6 und weiter könnte folgen 15. b6xTa7 g4-g3 16. c5xSb6 Sd5-b6 17. d4xTc5 Tc6-c5 18. e3xDd4 Kb6-a5 19. Sc5-a4+ g5-g4 20. Ta4-a3 Dh8-d4 21. Td4-a4 Dd8-h8 22. Se4-c5 Tg6-c6 23. Sd2-e4 Kc6-b6 24. a5-a6 Kd6-c6 25. Sf3-d2 a6xLb5 26. Td1-d4 Ke7-d6 27. Th1-d1 Tg8-g6 28. Sg1-f3 Th8-g8 29. Lf1-b5 Sf6-d5 30. Kc4-b3 Sg8-f6 31. Kd3-c4 Sb6-a8 32. Ke2-d3 Sd5-b6 33. Ke1-e2 Sb4-d5 34. e2-e3 Sc6-b4 35. a4-a5 b3xTa2 36. Ta1-a2 Sb8-c6 37. a2-a4 c4xDb3 38. Db6-b3 Ke8-e7 39. Dd6-b6 Ta8-a7 40. Dd1-d6 d5xSc4 41. Se3-c4 d6-d5 42. Sd5-e3 e7xLd6 43. Lf4-d6 a7-a6 44. Lc1-f4 g6-g5 45. d2xLc3 Lg7-c3 46. Sb6-d5 Lh6-g7 47. Sa4-b6 Lf8-h6 48. Sc3-a4 g7-g6 49. Sb1-c3 (2021-07-23)
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Keywords: Last Moves? (28), Type A, Move Length Record
Genre: Retro
FEN: n5N1/P1pp3p/Pp6/kp5P/r7/RKP5/pPP1p2P/8
Reprints: A20 Phénix 282, p. 11061, 02/2018
Input: Alain Brobecker, 2011-12-27
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-05-01 more...
35 - P1240697
Dmitri Baibikow
C22 Length Records in Last Single Moves? 11/2009
P1240697
(12+10) cooked
Last 46 single moves?
R: 1. Tc3xDc2 h5xSg4 2. Se5-g4 h6-h5 3. Sf3-e5 h7-h6 4. Se1-f3 Dd1-c2 5. Sc2-e1 Df1-d1 6. g5-g6 f2-f1=D 7. g4-g5 f3-f2 8. g3-g4 g4xSf3 9. Se5-f3 g5-g4 10. Sd7-e5 g6-g5 11. Sc5-d7 g7-g6 12. Sa4-c5 Sd1-b2 13. Sb2-a4 Sf2-d1 14. f5-f6 Sh3-f2 15. f4-f5 Sg1-h3 16. f3-f4 g2-g1=S 17. f2-f3 f3xDg2 18. Dh3-g2 f4-f3 19. Dc8-h3 f5-f4 20. Da8-c8 f6-f5 21. a7-a8=D f7-f6 22. a6-a7 a7xDb6 23. Kc5-b5 La5-b4
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: alternative Auflösung (mri, PDB 03.07.2023)
R: 1. Tc3xDc2 g5-g4 2. f5-f6 f6xSg5 3. Sf3-g5 f7-f6 4. Se1-f3 Dd1-c2 5. Sc2-e1 Dg1-d1 6. g5-g6 g2-g1=D 7. g4-g5 h3xDg2 8. Dg3-g2 h4-h3 9. Db8-g3 h5-h4 10. Da8-b8 h6-h5 11. a7-a8=D h7-h6 12. a6-a7 a7xSb6 13. Kc5-b5 La5-b4 14. Kd5-c5 Da4-b3 15. Ke5-d5 Sd6-c4 16. Kf4-e5 Se8-d6 17. Kg3-f4 Lb5-d3 18. Le7-a3 Sd3-b2 19. Ta3-c3 Kb2-c1 20. Td1-d2 Sc1-d3 21. Th1-d1 Sd2-b1 22. Kg2-g3 Sf1-d2 23. Se1-c2 Sf6-e8 24. g3-g4 f2-f1=S 25. Sf3-e1 c2-c1=S 26. d2xTe3 Tc3-e3 27. Sg1-f3 Tc8-c3 28. Kf1-g2 Ld7-b5 29. Le6-a2 Th8-c8 30. Ta1-a3 Sg8-f6 31. f4-f5 f3-f2 32. c3xBd4 Kb3-b2 33. Lh3-e6 g4xDf3 34. La3-e7 g5-g4 35. Lc1-a3 g7-g5 36. b2xTc3 Tc8-c3 37. Df2-f3 Ta8-c8 38. De1-f2 Lc8-d7 39. d3xBe4 c3-c2 40. f3-f4 Kb4-b3 41. c2xSd3 Dd7-a4 42. Dd1-e1 Kc5-b4 43. Sc4-b6 Kd6-c5 44. Sa3-c4 Ke7-d6 45. Sb1-a3 Ke8-e7 46. Ke1-f1 Sc5-d3 47. Lf1-h3 Lb4-a5 48. a5-a6 Sa6-c5 49. a4-a5 Sb8-a6 50. g2-g3 Dd8-d7 51. f2-f3 c4-c3 52. Sf3-g1 Lf8-b4 53. Sg1-f3 e5-e4 54. Sf3-g1 d5-d4 55. Sg1-f3 c5-c4 56. Sf3-g1 e7-e5 57. Sg1-f3 d7-d5 58. a3-a4 c7-c5 59. a2-a3
Gerald Ettl: Die Stellung ist falsch. wTc2 auf c3 und +sDc2 (2023-07-02)
Gerald Ettl: Bzw. vielleicht ist die Stellung richtig, aber dann stimmt die Lösungsangabe und Forderung nicht. (2023-07-02)
Mario Richter: Hallo Gerald, Type C heißt: ein K muß im Schach stehen, also ist das Diagramm wohl richtig. Die Originalforderung war "Last 46 single moves?" (nicht ... 45 ...) - da hat wohl jemand den einleitenden schachbietenden Zug vergessen. (2023-07-03)
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Keywords: Last Moves? (45), Non-standard material (s), Type C, Superseded by (P1353149)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/1p6/1p3PP1/1K6/1bnPP1p1/Bq1bP3/BnRRP2P/1nk5
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2012-06-04
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-07-05 more...
36 - P1300392
Valery Liskovets
Valery Voynov

B5a Length Records in Last Single Moves? , p. 7, 11/2009
version by Dmitrij Baibakov
P1300392
(4+1)
Black played last.
Last 4 single moves?
R: 1. ... Ka7-a8 2. b7-b8=L+ Ka8-a7 3. b6-b7+
play all play one stop play next play all
Valery Liskovets writes: A misattribution appeared already in the original publication of P1300392 in 2009: it ought to be attributed more properly as "D.Baibikow after V.Liskovets and Ju.Wojnow."
Not merely it is stipulated distinctly and with a slightly changed position but my/our intention was very different: under-promotions both in the solution and the retro-play. In the PDB description, a direct reference to our initial P0008499 with almost the same position and solution but non-rigorous last move) should also be added.
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Keywords: Last Moves? (4), Type B, Move Length Record (ex-aequo), Miniature
Genre: n#, Retro
FEN: kB6/2K5/P1P5/8/8/8/8/8
Input: A.Buchanan, 2015-04-01
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-04-03 more...
37 - P1359073
Dmitri Baibikow
9 Internet 12/2018
3. Preis
JT-Sergej-Volobujev-60
Abteilung Retro
P1359073
(15+11)
Löse die Stellung auf!
R: 1. Da8xDb8 h3-h2 2. g5-g6 h4-h3 3. g4-g5 g5xDh4 4. Df2-h4 g6-g5 5. Db6-f2 Dc7-b8 6. Sb8-c6+ Dd8-c7 7. Dd4-b6 De8-d8+ 8. Dg7-d4 Df8-e8 9. Dg8-g7 Df1-f8 10. g7-g8=D+ f2-f1=D 11. h5-h6 f3-f2 12. h4-h5 f4-f3 13. h3-h4 f5-f4 14. h2-h3 f7-f5 15. f6xSg7 Se6-g7 16. f5-f6 Sc5-e6 17. f4-f5 Sa4-c5 18. f3-f4 Ta3-b3 19. b3xLc4 Ld3-c4 20. f2-f3 c4-c3 21. Tc3-c2 c5-c4 22. Tc2-c3 c7-c5 23. c5xLd6 Le5-d6 24. Td6-d7 Lg7-e5 25. Tf6-d6 Kd8-c8 26. Sd6-b7+ Ke8-d8 27. Sc4-d6+
play all play one stop play next play all
Link zum Preisbericht auf "http://www.selivanov.world/en/newss/detail.php?ID=1151"
more ...
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Keywords: Last Moves?
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1Qk5/pN1Rp2p/B1NP2PP/Kp1p4/1rP5/1rp5/nPRPP2p/2B5
Input: Mario Richter, 2019-01-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2022-02-21 more...
38 - P1371439
Thierry Le Gleuher
R546 The Problemist 27-6, p. 229, 11/2019
P1371439
(13+12)
Last 102 single moves?
Duplex
BTM: R: 1. Lc2-b1 Kg1-f1 2. Lb1-c2 Tf1-f2 3. Lc2-b1 Tf2-f3 4. Lb1-c2 Tf3-g3 5. Lc2-b1 Tg3-h3 6. Th3-h2 Th2-h1 7. Lb1-c2 Kh1-g1 8. Lc2-b1 Tg1-f1 9. Lb1-c2 Tf1-f2 10. Lc2-b1 Tf2-f3 11. Lb1-c2 Tf3-g3 12. Tg3-h3 Th3-h2 13. Lc2-b1 Kh2-h1 14. Lb1-c2 Th1-g1 15. Lc2-b1 Kg1-h2 16. Lb1-c2 Th2-h1 17. Lc2-b1 Kh1-g1 18. Lb1-c2 Tg1-f1 19. Lc2-b1 Tf1-f2 20. Lb1-c2 Tf2-f3 21. Tf3-g3 Tg3-h3 22. Lc2-b1 Th3-h2 23. Lb1-c2 Kh2-h1 24. Lc2-b1 Th1-g1 25. Lb1-c2 Kg1-h2 26. Lc2-b1 Th2-h1 27. Lb1-c2 Kh1-g1 28. Lc2-b1 Tg1-f1 29. Lb1-c2 Tf1-f2 30. Tf2-f3 Tf3-g3 31. Lc2-b1 Tg3-h3 32. Lb1-c2 Th3-h2 33. Lc2-b1 Kh2-h1 34. Lb1-c2 Th1-g1 35. Lc2-b1 Tg1-f1 36. Tf1-f2 Lf2-e1 37. Te1-f1 Tf1-g1 38. Lb1-c2 Tg1-h1 39. Lc2-b1 Kh1-h2 40. Lb1-c2 Th2-h3 41. Lc2-b1 Th3-g3 42. Lb1-c2 Lg3-f2 43. Lc2-b1 Tf2-f1 44. Lb1-c2 Tf1-g1 45. Lc2-b1 Kg1-h1 46. Lb1-c2 Th1-h2 47. Lc2-b1 Kh2-g1 48. Lb1-c2 Tg1-h1 49. Lc2-b1 Kh1-h2 50. Lb1-c2 Th2-h3 51. h3-h4 Lh4-g3 52. Lc2-b1
52. ... Tg3-f3 53. Lb1-c2 Tf3-f2 54. Lc2-b1 Tf2-f1 55. Lb1-c2 Tf1-g1 56. Lc2-b1 Kg1-h1 57. Lb1-c2 Th1-h2 58. h2-h3 Th3-g3 59. Lc2-b1 Lg3-h4 60. Lb1-c2 Th8-h3
play all play one stop play next play all
Editor's comment: Do not be put off by the length of R546: there is a repeated sequence of moves.
James Malcom: Solution? Also, is this an Othoreconstrution? (2023-05-30)
Henrik Juel: Here is the solution from the May 2020 issue (from www.theproblemist.org , which is a treasure of info, althoug I find it hard to navigate)
R546 (Le Gleuher): Retroanalysis: The wPs captured the 4 missing black units.
Thus, wPb4 comes from b2, and (Pa2) promoted to the extra wR on a8 with (Pa7)
letting it pass by switching to the b file (first capture of the 3 missing white units).
(Pb7) must have promoted to a rook on a1 or c1 (second capture). (Ph7) must
have moved onto the g file (third and final capture) in order to be captured. Thus
(Pc7) and (Pe7) promoted to rooks on the c and e files, respectively. It is not
possible to immediately take back a4xb3 or c2xd3. The retro-move e4xf5 is
forbidden since then the bP which promoted on e1 cannot retract to e5. Black can
only move in the southeast cage, while White’s bishop is free to oscillate between
c2 and b1.
Black to move: back 1.Bc2-b1 Kg1-f1 2.Bb1-c2 Rf1-f2 3.Bc2-b1 Rf2-f3
4.Bb1-c2 Rf3-g3 5.Bc2-b1 Rg3-h3 6.Rh3-h2 Rh2-h1 7.Bb1-c2 Kh1-g1 8.Bc2-b1
Rg1-f1 9.Bb1-c2 Rf1-f2 10.Bc2-b1 Rf2-f3 11.Bb1-c2 Rf3-g3 12.Rg3-h3 Rh3-h2
13.Bc2-b1 Kh2-h1 14.Bb1-c2 Rh1-g1 15.Bc2-b1 Kg1-h2 16.Bb1-c2 Rh2-h1
17.Bc2-b1 Kh1-g1 18.Bb1-c2 Rg1-f1 19.Bc2-b1 Rf1-f2 20.Bb1-c2 Rf2-f3
21.Rf3-g3 Rg3-h3 22.Bc2-b1 Rh3-h2 23.Bb1-c2 Kh2-h1 24.Bc2-b1 Rh1-g1
25.Bb1-c2 Kg1-h2 26.Bc2-b1 Rh2-h1 27.Bb1-c2 Kh1-g1 28.Bc2-b1 Rg1-f1
29.Bb1-c2 Rf1-f2 30.Rf2-f3 Rf3-g3 31.Bc2-b1 Rg3-h3 32.Bb1-c2 Rh3-h2
33.Bc2-b1 Kh2-h1 34.Bb1-c2 Rh1-g1 35.Bc2-b1 Rg1-f1 36.Rf1-f2 Bf2-e1
37.Re1-f1 Rf1-g1 38.Bb1-c2 Rg1-h1 39.Bc2-b1 Kh1-h2 40.Bb1-c2 Rh2-h3
41.Bc2-b1 Rh3-g3 42.Bb1-c2 Bg3-f2 43.Bc2-b1 Rf2-f1 44.Bb1-c2 Rf1-g1
45.Bc2-b1 Kg1-h1 46.Bb1-c2 Rh1-h2 47.Bc2-b1 Kh2-g1 48.Bb1-c2 Rg1-h1
49.Bc2-b1 Kh1-h2 50.Bb1-c2 Rh2-h3 51.h3-h4 Bh4-g3 52.Bc2-b1
then 52…Rg3-f3 (or 52...Bg3-h4 53.Bb1-c2 Bh4-g3…) 53.Bb1-c2 Rf3-f2 54.Bc2-b1 Rf2-f1 55.Bb1-c2
Rf1-g1 56.Bc2-b1 Kg1-h1 57.Bb1-c2 Rh1-h2 58.h2-h3 Rh3-g3 59.Bc2-b1 Bg3-h4 60.Bb1-c2 Rh8-h3 etc…
The diagram position is a draw and the last 103 single moves are determined.
White to move: back 1…Kg1-f1 …
51.h3-h4 Bh4-g3 52.Bc2-b1 then the same… Here, there are 99 single moves between the diagram position and the retro-move h3-h4. Of course, trying to insert another manoeuvre in the solution would lead to an overshoot of the 101 single moves, which would be incompatible with the 50 moves rule. Here only 102 last single moves are determined.
So, we have a D25/102, a new record for last single moves for ‘D’ type (Duplex) with 25 pieces (It is also
the overall record for Duplex). With black to move, the same diagram is also a record with 25 pieces (B25/103) (2023-05-30)
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Keywords: Last Moves?, Non-standard material, 50 move rule
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/6p1/8/5PP1/1P3pRP/1p1PPrrr/n2pRrPR/1BNKbk1r
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-01-05
Last update: Mario Richter, 2023-05-30 more...
39 - 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)
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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...
40 - P1380882
James Malcom
Andrew Buchanan

PDB Website 14/10/2020
after Josef Cumpe
P1380882
(2+7)
Last two moves?
(-:
R: 1. ... 0-0-0+ 2. a7-a8=sT
play all play one stop play next play all
See P1234039, P1375777 and P1380852.
The joke here is that pawns may promote to *any* unit (friend or enemy; officer, king or pawns).
Henrik Juel: R: 1... 0-0-0+ 2.a7-a8=sT
not 2.e7-e8=sK, because then sTa8 would have moved, and castling not allowed (2020-10-14)
A.Buchanan: Exactly, Henrik. Also: sB on 7th rank could retract to 8th rank, so we need sT instead (2020-10-14)
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Keywords: Last Moves? (2), Type C, Castling in the retro play, Non-standard material (tt), Joke, Joke promotion (t), Promotion in the retro play (t), Minimal, Castling (sg)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2kr3K/1r1r1qrR/7p/8/8/8/8/8
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-10-14
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
41 - P1381571
Jeff Coakley
50 The Puzzling Side of Chess 191, p. 14, 30/6/2020
P1381571
(14+8)
Welches waren die letzten 10 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. h4xg3ep+ g2-g4 2. Te6-e2+ c5xb6ep+ 3. b7-b5 c4-c5+ 4. Kb6-a6 b5xc6ep+ 5. c7-c5 Sd4-f3+
play all play one stop play next play all
https://www.canadatype.com/cc/puzzlingside/archives/Puzzling_Side_191_Retro_World_V_Momentary_Lapse_in_Time.pdf
Henrik Juel: Three ep captures in the retroplay was first shown 105 years ago, P0002031 (2020-11-06)
James Malcom: Many, many thanks for that Henrik! However, this seems to be the first bicolor 3 ep representation?!

Also, how many other 3 ep retractor showings are there? I have only found a few: P0000018 (cooked), P1193561, and P1193562 come with a hoard of promoted pieces, and P0000326, P0002591, and P0002031 are all "proper" retractors, but all of them are one-sided. (2020-11-06)
Henrik Juel: James, you might want to try to find the first example of 4 ep captures in the retroplay
The best chance is probably bicolor (2020-11-06)
Henrik Juel: In the proof game genre, which is easier than the last moves? one, the current PDB records are
Orthodox: 3 ep captures, P1000929
Madrasi: 8, P0005964
Circe Parrain: 10, P1095546 (2020-11-06)
James Malcom: Henrik, the fairy record actually is- Anti Take & Make: 13. P1380673
I know of the solution thanks to Juraj, the fairy master, on Matplus.
Also- Monochrome: 3, P1240593

And indeed, 4 is likely is more possible with bicolor, as 4 by one side can only be done with at least one promoted piece Q/B, which may very well be frowned upon no doubt.

And also on an interesting note, in fairy retractors, it seems that 5 has been done at the least in a VRZ, Typ Proca, P0003873. (2020-11-06)
James Malcom: Actually, it turns out that the bicolor representation has been done before, no shocker there: 1969, P0004900 & 1994, P0004497 I've tagged all of these showing under "ep in retroplay' for better clarity and searching. (2020-11-07)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (10), En passant in the retro play
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2R1R3/p2b3p/kPP4P/n5Pr/1Q6/1P3NpK/2P1r2P/5BB1
Input: James Malcom, 2020-11-06
Last update: James Malcom, 2020-11-06 more...
42 - P1383315
Andrey Frolkin
Sergej Tkatschenko

18229 Die Schwalbe 303 06/2020
P1383315
(14+14)
Weiß am Zug.
Letzte 17 Einzelzüge?
R: 1. ... f2-f1=S 2. Lb1-a2 g3xTf2 3. Te2-f2 a2-a1=S 4. Te5-e2 a3-a2 5. Tb5-e5 a4-a3 6. Tb4-b5 a5-a4 7. Ta4-b4 h4xDg3 8. Ta1-a4 h5-h4 9. a2xSb3 Sc5-b3
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Solution
R: 1... f2-f1=S 2.Lb1-a2 g3xTf2 3.Te2-f2 a2-a1=S 4.Te5-e2 a3-a2 5.Tb5-e5 a4-a3 6.Tb4-b5 a5-a4 7.Ta4-b4 h4xDg3 8.Ta1-a4 h5-h4 9.a2xSb3 Sc5-b3 (2020-12-24)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (17)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2bqkbR1/1pppppp1/2N5/5K2/2P3N1/1PrP1P2/BPrP2PP/n1B2n2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2020-12-23
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2020-12-24 more...
43 - P1386614
Thomas R. Dawson
Lion Xray
Andrew Buchanan

PDB Website 19/02/2021
TRD, version LX & AB
P1386614
(13+9) C+
#2
1. hxg6ep+ Lg5 2. Dxg5#
R: 1. g7-g5 Te3-e7+ 2. Kg5-h6+ Lf5-h7+ 3. Kf6-g5 Sd6-e8+
play all play one stop play next play all
Black has captured 3 white units. dxcxb accounts for 2. With only one left over, we know that bPh3 never captured. So to explain wPh4, White must have played fxgxh or hxgxh. Combined with dxcxb & exdxcxb, that accounts for all of White's captures.
(a) If White played fxgxh, then the original [wPh] was "waylaid" by an officer, without promoting or capturing.
(b) If White played hxgxh, then the original [wPf] did not capture. We know that [bPf] or [bPg] promoted, using at most one capture.
(b.1) If Black did capture fxg or fxe, then [wPf] did promote to make the balance, and Black's last move can't have been fxg, or the f-file would be blocked to wP.
(b.2) If Black didn't capture fxg or fxe, then [wPf] was waylaid to clear the way for [bPf] to promote.
We don't know which of these three possibilities happened, but in every case:
(1) All captures are accounted for (so e.g. Kg5xSh6 was not possible).
(2) Black did not just play f6xg5.
If Black just played g6-g5, retract prior checking moves and discover retropat as g6 is blocked preventing discovered check by wB now on h7. By elimination, last move was g7-g5 and ep key is ok.
Removes 2 pieces from P1106295, and enriches the retro logic
Henrik Juel: Nice clean-up and careful retro argumentation (2021-02-18)
A.Buchanan: Thanks Henrik - in fact I've just seen that one can uniquely retract a couple of single moves further, see the animation (2021-02-19)
comment
Keywords: En passant as key, Last Moves? (6)
Genre: 2#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ retro musing + Popeye v4.85
FEN: 3KN3/rPp1R2B/pp5k/Q5pP/PPP4b/1p4Pp/1P6/2B5
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-02-18
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-16 more...
44 - P1388687
Andrew Buchanan
Retros mailing list 16/04/2021
P1388687
(11+16) C+
Last two single moves?
b) KBP in 9.0
b) 1. Sf3 d6 2. Se5 dxe5 3. Sc3 Dd5 4. Se4 Dxa2 5. Sg3 Db3 6. Ta4 Da3 7. Tf4 exf4 8. h3 fxg3 9. Th2 gxh2
a) R: 1. g3xTh2 Th1-h2
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Part a)
Black has captured [Pa2] on its file, because White never captured, and dxexfxg-g3xTh2, because [Th1] fell in its corner
White has no possible last move, so Black made the last move
Not R: 1... DxPa3? 2.a2-a3, preventing [Ta1] from coming home
R: 1... g3xTh2 2.Th1-h2 (2021-04-17)
Henrik Juel: Part b) C+ Euclide 1.01 (no solution in 8.5 moves)
1. Sg1-f3 Bd7-d6 2. Sf3-e5 Bd6xe5 3. Sb1-c3 Dd8-d5
4. Sc3-e4 Dd5xa2 5. Se4-g3 Da2-b3 6. Ta1-a4 Db3-a3
7. Ta4-f4 Be5xf4 8. Bh2-h3 Bf4xg3 9. Th1-h2 Bg3xh2
Good problem, Andrew (2021-04-17)
Mario Richter: Retractor 2.0 gives 74 possible last moves, so calling a) "C+ Retractor 2.0 + elimination of false positives" sounds a little bit strange to me. (2021-04-17)
A.Buchanan: Yes you are right Mario: I wanted to be encouraging. I should have written HC+, but even that is a stretch. I suggested to Theodore Hwa that he contact you. What does rawbats make of this problem, may I ask? (2021-04-18)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Last Moves? (2), Type A
Genre: Retro
Computer test: a) HC+ Retractor 2.0 + elimination of false positives b) C+ Euclide 1.01 (no solution in 8.5 moves)
FEN: rnb1kbnr/ppp1pppp/8/8/8/q6P/1PPPPPPp/2BQKB2
Reprints: Facebook 17/04/2021
www.thbrand.de 17/04/2021
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-17
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-31 more...
45 - P1389698
Andrew Buchanan
Retros mailing list 04/2007
after Bernd Schwarzkopf
P1389698
(12+10)
Last 15 single moves?
Duplex
See http://abrobecker.free.fr/chess/lengths.pdf
Henrik Juel: R: 1.h7-h8=L Lg1-h2 2.h6-h7 Lh2-g1 3.h5-h6 Lg1-h2 4.h4-h5 Lh2-g1 5.h3-h4 Lg1-h2 6.h2-h3 h3xLg2 7.Lh1-g2 h4-h3 8.Lg2-h1
R: 1... Lg1-h2 2.h7-h8=L Lh2-g1 3.h6-h7 Lg1-h2 4.h5-h6 Lh2-g1 5.h4-h5 Lg1-h2 6.h2-h4 h3xLg2 7.Lh1-g2 h4-h3 8.Lg2-h1 h5-h4 (2021-08-18)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves?, Type D, Non-standard material (l), Obvious promotion (Ll)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 7B/1p1p2p1/8/8/1P6/1PPPkPP1/NPK1bppb/NQn2b2
Reprints: VIII Length Records in Last Single Moves? 11/2009
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-05-17
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-13 more...
46 - 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...
47 - P1394799
Alain Brobecker
JM1 Phénix 223 12/2012
Mémorial Jean-Michel Trillon
2nd honorable mention
P1394799
(24+0)
Colour the pieces.
Bichromatic chess.
(The start and end squares of every move must be of different colours)
b) R: 1. d7-d8=S# c2-c1=L
play all play one stop play next play all
Some notes on Bichromatic chess: Bishops cannot move. Castlings are forbidden. Queens are Rooks with
a different shape (!?). Pawns cannot capture neither make double steps, thus they cannot change column
and there is at most one promotion per file (and both Pawns must be absent).
Nd8 attacks both K and has no square to come from, so thge last move is n.d7-d8=N+, thus WNd8.
The Ps have the natural colour, ie WPa4, WPb2, WPe2, WPf2, WPg2, WPh4 and BPa6, BPb6, BPe6,
BPf7, BPg7, BPh7. We can deduce BBf8 since there was no promotion on this column. But then the
BRh8 was not able to go out and has been captured in its homecage.
Moreover, if there was a promotion on the c-file it’s a promotion to B since there is at most one promotion
per file and the extremities are occupied by Bs. Thus there as been no promotion to R (or Q) during
the game, so there remains 1 BR and 2 WRs, and we can deduce the colours of the Ks and of the pieces
touching them: BRb8, BKb7, BQa7, WKc6, WRd6, WRc5, WNe7. We deduce also WQa8.
If WBc8 then it has been promoted, then WBc1 (one promotion per file) but then black is retro-stalemate
before n.d7-d8=N#. Thus our hypothesis is wrong and we have BBc8.
If WBc1 then black is retro-stalemate before n.d7-d8=N+, so we have BBc1 and the last black move is
n-1... c2-c1=B.
(This was the small idea of this problem, a light trap with a promoted Bishop).
Henrik Juel: The only problem with these two keywords in the PDB, so far
Interesting problem (2021-10-22)
A.Buchanan: Very fun. How about home-and-away-base? I can find a position where the "orthodox" homebase colouring doesn't work, but I can't make the solution quite unique. (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: Alain do you have further publication details please? (2021-10-23)
Mario Richter: Alain will surely know better, but according to my archives the wanted details are:
2° Mention d’Honneur : Alain BROBECKER (JM1, Phénix 223 décembre 2012)

The problem is not difficult, but it nicely shows the subtleties of the "Bichromatic chess" condition. Besides the "light trap with a promoted Bishop" there's also a second trap: wKb7, black rooks d6 and c5, which fails only because bRh8 "has been captured in its homecage" (a fact that can be easily overlooked.) (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: This problem was featured in yesterday's Monthly International Zoom Call, and was a great success, with both traps being fallen into :) (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: In a colouring problem, non-standard material would equate to 3+ queens or bishops on a certain colour square, or 5+ rooks or knights (2021-10-24)
comment
Keywords: Colouring problem, Bichrome Chess, Promotion (Sl), Last Moves? (2)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: QRBN1B2/QK2NPPP/PPKRP3/2R5/P7/8/1P2PPPP/2B5
Input: Alain Brobecker, 2021-10-22
Last update: Alain Brobecker, 2021-12-24 more...
48 - P1394920
Andrey Frolkin
B3 WCCC Rhodes 10/2021
P1394920
(15+10)
Last 4 single moves?
R: 1. Lf4xSg3# Sh5-g3 2. Le3xLf4+ Sg3-h5
play all play one stop play next play all
then Lf4 to a1; a3-a2-a1=L; a2×Db3; Sg3 to b1; b3-b2-b1=S; b2×Lc3; c3×Td2
Judge Michel Caillaud: "The theme [of one piece capturing two promoted ones] in classical retro form, with the capturing piece not being a Pawn. The nice point is that -2.Lé3×Pf4+? doesn't work. The promoted Knight cannot reach a1 so it has to unpromote on b1 to unlock the cage and another promoted piece has to be produced to unpromote on a1."

Author Andrey Frolkin: "This one is superseded by P1400748 (Q+B) which is the official 1st HM. The predecessor (B+S) should be stored “for posterity” in case someone wants to compose more problems in which an officer captures 2 promoted pieces."
Henrik Juel: Black never captured, so the only way to explain the check from Lg3 seems to be
R: 1.Lf4xSg3+ Sh5-g3 2.Lg5xLf4+ Sg3-h5
and later the two uncaptured officers are unpromoted on a1 and b1 (2021-10-26)
A.Buchanan: new version in final report (2021-10-28)
A.Buchanan: Henrik may wish to update his analysis. My question: can't we just remove sBd7? (2021-10-29)
Henrik Juel: Now the solution is R: 1.Lf4xSg3+ Sh5-g3 2.Le3xLf4+ Sg3-h5
I see no immediate purpose for Pd7, but since both Andrej and Michel have accepted it, there probably is some reason for it (2021-10-29)
A.Buchanan: It’s not necessary, according to Andriy (2021-10-29)
Henrik Juel: OK
Another matter: I believe that Andrej prefers his first name to be spelled Andrey in english
This spelling is used in the WCCC-11 announcement and in the FIDE Album 2010-12 (2021-10-30)
A.Buchanan: Thanks Henrik. In the German field of the PDB author table, he is Andrij, and I've now changed the English name to match the French as Andrey. As recently as a year ago, I have seen him as Andriy in English articles which he has authored in Problemas (2021-10-30)
Henrik Juel: Rendering cyrillic names in a western language is extremely messy
Each western language has a 'standard' transliteration from russian cyrillic, but ukrainian and bulgarian cyrillic are slightly different from russian cyrillic
My bulgarian chess friend Nikolai/Nikolaj/Nikolay accepts any of those spellings, but he prefers Nikolay
Next time you write to Andrej/Andrij/Andrey/Andriy, you should ask him what he prefers, Andy...
I shall probably continue to use Nikolaj and Andrej, which seem most natural for me (2021-10-30)
A.Buchanan: I have a feeling that I did ask him before and he said that his favoured version is Andrey. On the receiving side, my only comment is that “iy” is a very rare bigram in English and almost never occurs. At least we all agree on the first 4 letters! (2021-10-30)
A.Buchanan: He should pick whichever spelling gives him the best anagram :) (2021-10-30)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (4), Champagne-TT (2021), Type C, Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (sl), Prentos Theme (sl), Superseded by (P1400748)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/3p2p1/5NB1/4QRN1/4p2K/1PPP1PBP/2PpPPbk/4nrnr
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-26
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-04-21 more...
49 - P1402181
Noel Ferrer Junio
Facebook 21/06/2022
P1402181
(14+1)
What are the last two consecutive captures?
R: 1. Sc3xSb1 Kd1xLc1
play all play one stop play next play all
Chess Endgame Studies and Compositions
James Malcom: The stipulation exacts great precision upon the last possible moves.

For fun, I was just able to concoct an SPG in 28: 1. Nc3 d5 2. Nxd5 Nf6 3. Nxe7 Nh5 4. h3 c6 5. Nxc6 Ng3 6. Nxa7 Nxf1 7. Kxf1 Bd6 8. Nf3 Bh2 9. Rxh2 Be6 10. Kg1 Qh4 11. Kh1 Ke7 12. Ng1 Kf6 13. f3 Kf5 14. Qe1 Na6 15. Qxh4 Rad8 16. Qxd8 Kf4 17. Qxh8 Kg3 18. Qxh7 Kf2 19. Qxg7 b5 20. Nxb5 Ke1 21. Qxf7 Kd1 22. a3 Ba2 23. Qxa2 Nc5 24. Qb1 Na4 25. Ra2 Nc3 26. Qa1 Nb1 27. Nc3+ Kxc1 28. Nxb1 (2022-06-24)
Henrik Juel: The stipulation may imply the condition that the last two single moves were captures
If the stipulation were 'Last two single moves?' without any conditions, this would also work:
R: 1.Sc3xDb1 Kd1-c1 (2022-06-24)
Henrik Juel: ... or R: 1.Sc3-b1 Kd1xLc1
or even R: 1.Sc3-b1 Kd1-c1 (2022-06-24)
Henrik Juel: A clear stipulation would be something like
The last two single moves were both captures. What were they?,
showing that this retro is not very exciting (2022-06-25)
Mario Richter: I was just about to write a comment myself when I noticed that Henrik has been a little bit faster. And astonishingly, he used exactly the same words I wanted to write (with the only exception that I would have used "unattractive" instead of "not very exviting") ... (2022-06-25)
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (2)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/P4P1P/RPPPP1PR/QNk3NK
Input: James Malcom, 2022-06-24
Last update: James Malcom, 2022-06-24 more...
50 - P1410903
Mu-Tsun Tsai
Dream Yeh

MatPlus.net Forum 14/07/2023
P1410903
(16+2)
What is curious about this position?
R: 1. d5xe6ep# e7-e5 2. d4-d5+
play all play one stop play next play all
Mu-Tsun Tsai: Previous record is P1410861 (2023-07-14)
Mu-Tsun Tsai: Original design was 8/2N5/3PPkPR/rP6/B5PP/8/3PPN2/B2RqQK1, but that leads to a surprising cook: remove both d2 and f2, and retract -1. fxe6ep# e7 -2. Rd4+! (2023-07-14)
comment
Keywords: Economy record, En passant, En passant in the retro play, Last Moves? (3), Minimal
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 3Q1R2/2N1PP2/5k2/7P/2P4P/6N1/3PPP2/B2BqRK1
Input: James Malcom, 2023-07-14
Last update: James Malcom, 2023-09-09 more...
51 - P1411240
Min Hang Kyaw
SS105 The Hopper Magazine I04 13/07/2023
P1411240
(12+10)
Last 7 single moves?
R: 1. h2xLg3 Lh4-g3 2. h5-h6 Le7-h4 3. h4-h5 Lf8-e7 4. h3-h4 (e7xDTSd6)
play all play one stop play next play all
more ...
comment
Keywords: Last Moves? (7)
Genre: Retro
FEN: Rb6/rp1p1pp1/pK1p3P/p7/1k6/1P1PP1P1/1P1PP3/N1B5
Input: Miguel Ambrona, 2023-07-26
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-07-28 more...
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