Die Schwalbe

26 problem(s) found in 3438 milliseconds (displaying 26 problem(s)). [COMMENTDATE>=20200919 AND NOT K='Hilfsrückzüger' AND NOT A='Stibbe, Kurt' AND K='Typ A'] [download as LaTeX]

1 - P0000933
Luigi Ceriani
Sahovski vjesnik 12/1951
1. Preis
P0000933
(2+11) C+
Letzter Zug?
R: 1. Kg8xDh8
Solved in YouTubex httx//www. youtube. com/watch?v=Do_rkLQnrpk
play all play one stop play next play all
Compare P0000490 with equivalent material but 30 years later.
A.Buchanan: Solved in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do_rkLQnrpk (2022-02-17)
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Keywords: Type A, Last Move? (KxD), Economy record (Last Move? Type A), Type B (a fortiori), Economy record (Last Move? Type B), Minimal
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Solved in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Do_rkLQnrpk
FEN: 3bkN1K/pppprp1p/4p1p1/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: 1372 FEENSCHACH 08-09/1952
Problem 10-12 12/1952
1.2A Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 172, 2010
1.2B Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 172, 2010
YouTube 13/02/2022
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-06-01 more...
2 - P0000957
Theophilus Harding Willcocks
Die Schwalbe 1959
Willcocks 1959, version
P0000957
(4+8)
Letzter Zug?
R: 1. a7xTb8=L
play all play one stop play next play all
See P1409984.
Yoav Ben-Zvi: WBd8 can be replaced with a BN after moving BPg7 to f7 and BPh5 to h6. (2018-08-08)
A.Buchanan: Yes after all these years, I found this a few months ago, but when I told Thomas Brand, he said that Werner Keym had found it - one of a series of modifications through seeking to avoid non-standard material. (2018-08-12)
Henrik Juel: Werner's improvement can be found in his 'Eigenartige Schachprobleme' from 2010, p.196, dia 1.68 (2018-08-12)
A.Buchanan: I thought it was more recent (2018-08-12)
A.Buchanan: In fact Werner was not trying to avoid non-standard material, but to prefer "cheaper" knights over bishops. But this is not the canonical ordering, which regards knights and bishops as equivalent. So the older record will win out in classical terms. (2019-10-04)
A.Buchanan: And non-standard material is no defect, according to the 1977 grading criteria, so old Theophilus reigns supreme (2019-10-04)
Henrik Juel: The further retroplay is
-1... h6 -2.a6 and e.g. -2... Ka7 -3.a5 Ta8 -4.Tb8 Ka6 -5.Kc8
and wK out via g6 (2019-10-04)
A.Buchanan: I don't know if a bishop is more expensive than a knight for these economy records. If modifying the criteria, I personally would prefer to minimize non-standard material. But more generally, how to handle a later version of economy record, with similar force? In some cases, the change is trivial, just transforming one unit which might as well be a dummy. At the other extreme, the matrix is completely different. In "Eigenartige Schachprobleme", Werner Keym stoically prefers the earlier record. Even the original composer(s) of a record problem are forbidden from making any artistic improvement to a published economy record! Over the years, the only change to the grading criteria is that Type C problem now needs to contain a check. Any old check-free Type C would a fortiori have been a Type B economy record at least. Here in PDB, I've tagged some cases of "ex-aequo" (search k='economy:eq') but I fear that Werner would not approve of this. What should we do? (2022-03-31)
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Keywords: Type A, Last Move? (BxT=L), Promotion (L), Non-standard material (L)
Genre: Retro
FEN: kBRB4/1pKpp1p1/1pp5/7p/8/8/8/8
Reprints: 1.49A Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 190, 2010
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-06-02 more...
3 - P0001031
Jan R. Mortensen
Deutsche Schachrundschau Caissa 1979
P0001031
(3+6)
Welches war der letzte Zug?
Schwarz am Zug
(Erster Zug des wUWS?)
R: 1. f7xLg8=S
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Not R: 1.f7xSg8=S,
because the black knight can be extracted only by retracting f7-f6, trapping white king (2020-12-13)
A.Buchanan: Some brave person should sort out the keywords for record retros properly. Here's a good example. The last move is Type B, but the first move question is Type A. The original stipulation (which I think is just about the first move?) should stand. The first move question is a *deemed* stipulation (new terminology) and allows us to leverage an existing problem, without creating a new version or editing the prior stipulation. This is particularly true here, since the problems are of different type. (2020-12-14)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: mögliche Retro-Zugfolge:
1.f7xLg8S Ka7-a8 2. e6xSf7 Sd6-f7+ 3. e5-e6 Le6-g8 4. Kg8-h8 Lc8-e6+ 5. Th8-h7 Ka8-a7 6. Kh7-g8 Kb7-a8 7. Kg6-h7 Kc7-b7 8. h7-h8T Kd8-c7 9. d4xSe5 Sd7-e5+ 10. Kf5-g6 Sf7-d6+ 11. g6xTh7 Th8-h7 12. g5-g6 h7-h6 13. Ke6-f5 Sh6-f7 14. g4-g5 Sg8-h6 15. e3xTd4 Ta4xSd4 16. f2xDe3 Dd2-e3+ 17. g2-g4 Ke8-d8 18. Kf5-e6 De2xd2 19. Ke4-f5 Dd1xe2+ 20. Kd3-e4 Df1xTd1 21. Sf3-d4 Dh1xLf1 22. Kc2-d3 Sb8-d7 23. Kc1-c2 Dh2xTh1 24. O-O-O Dc7xh2 25. Sg1-f3 Ta8xDa4 26. Dd1-a4+ Dc2-c7 27. Se6-c7+ Dc1xc2 28. Sc5-e6 Db2xLc1 29. Sd7-c5 Da2xb2 30. Se5xd7 Da5xa2 31. Sc6-e5 f7-f6 32. a7xc6 Dd8-a5 33. Sb5xa7 c7-c6 34. Sc3xb5 b7-b5 35. Sb1-c3 (2020-12-17)
Henrik Juel: 'The Chess Amateur 1979' must be wrong, as this magazine stopped in 1930 (2020-12-17)
Henrik Juel: .. and Eigenartige Schachprobleme just says Caissa 1979 (2020-12-17)
A.Buchanan: WinChloe does not have this problem at all! I am inclined to go with Eigenartige Schachprobleme. I suspect that Gerd was entering hundreds of compositions at scale, and a copy-paste error would be easy (2020-12-17)
A.Buchanan: Also P0001030 (2020-12-17)
A.Buchanan: Have removed "The Chess Amateur" as original source here. (2020-12-18)
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Keywords: Last Move? (BxL=S), Type B, Promotion (S), Economy record (Last move? Type B), First Move? (US0), Type A, Economy record (First move? Type A)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: RSP 1.2
FEN: k4bNK/4p1pR/5p1p/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: The Chess Amateur 1979
1.55B Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 192, 2010
2.51 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 202, 2010
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-03-30 more...
4 - P0001185
Zdravko Maslar
(291) Problem 45-48 11/1957
16. TEMATSKOG TURNIRA "PROBLEMA" 1.-2. Preis e.a.
P0001185
(4+9)
Welches war der letzte Zug?
R: 1. Tc8xDb8
play all play one stop play next play all
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Keywords: Last Move? (TxD), Type B (a fortiori), Type A
Genre: Retro
FEN: BR1rk3/1pKppRp1/1pp2p2/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: 58 Europe Echecs 36 08/1961
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-22 more...
5 - P0001468
Oskar E. Vinje
The Fairy Chess Review 1938
P0001468
(10+3)
Letzter Zug?
R: 1. 0-0-0
play all play one stop play next play all
Deemed stipulation: "Erster Zug des wTd1?"
Henrik Juel: White pawns captured all 13 missing black men
Retracting the castling is the only way to give Black a retraction, e.g. Kc2-b3 (2020-12-01)
comment
Keywords: Type A, Last Move? (0-0-0), Castling (wl), Economy record (Last Move? Type A), First Move? (T0), Economy record (First move)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/P1p5/PN6/1P6/P1N5/Pk6/pP6/2KR4
Reprints: 342 Europe Echecs 241 01/1979
1.57A Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 194, 2010
1 Die Schwalbe 360-1, p. 737, 12/2020
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-28 more...
6 - P0006953
Josef Haas
feenschach 21, p. 258, 04/1974
P0006953
(6+1) cooked
Welches war der letzte Zug?
Circe
R: 1. 0-0
play all play one stop play next play all
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)
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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...
7 - P0007497
Hans Theo Kuner
Die Schwalbe 1961
P0007497
(4+10)
Letzter Zug?
R: 1. Bf7xTg8=T
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: Odd location for wK (2021-04-21)
A.Buchanan: See P0000956 (2021-04-21)
comment
Keywords: Last Move? (BxT=T), Type A, Promotion (TT)
Genre: Retro
FEN: kNR2bR1/ppppp1pp/5p2/8/3K4/8/8/8
Reprints: feenschach 41 01-03/1978
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-08-31
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-21 more...
8 - P0007676
Wolfgang Dittmann
(B) feenschach 50 04-06/1980
P0007676
(13+1)
Welches war der letzte Zug?
Kamikaze
R: 1. Dd1-f1 ... 2. Se1-d3+
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: Last move sure, but prior to that could be Kg1-h2, Kh1-h2 or even Kg1xTh2. wSa1 needs to be present so it wasn’t uncaptured on h2, but I think it can replace wLb2, which cannot I think be uncaptured on h2. Am I missing sth? (2022-07-15)
Mario Richter: Does the Kamikaze-rule only apply to Black's moves? Otherwise, how can the diagram position be reached from the initial game array?
If Kamikaze applies to White too, I think, wSa1 also prevents Tg1xSh1[-wTh1] as an alternative last move ... (2022-07-15)
A.Buchanan: Hi Mario: thanks for this. Kamikaze applies to both sides. By default it’s Rex exclusive so kings can go round mopping up odd pieces. Black used three of Pacg BQSS to capture wBRR inside the cage. I now see wSSBQ must remain on the board of else there may just have been a capture outside the cage. If there was just a Kamikaze capture inside the cage, it can only have been Q&R or S&R (or vice versa). e.g. bSf3xRg1(-bSg1). Since a1 is occupied, can’t get bK past wR to retract via b2. (2022-07-15)
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Keywords: Kamikaze, Last Move? (D), Type A
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/1P1N3P/PBPPPPPk/N1K2Q2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-09-02
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-07-15 more...
9 - P0007827
Bernd Schwarzkopf
(23) feenschach 55, p. 124, 07/1981
P0007827
(11+6)
Welches war der erste Zug?
a) oben: des wUWTb8?
b) unten: der wDd1?
c) unten +wDd1: des wKe1?
a) 0 Züge
b) 0 Züge
c) 0 Züge
play all play one stop play next play all
Bernd Schwarzkopf: Nur Forderung a (b und c gehören zu einem anderen Problem);
Lösung: UW-Tb8 zog nie (2015-03-13)
Mario Richter: In fs55 sind die verschiedenen Stellungén in einem Diagramm zusammengefaßt. Ich sehe zwei Möglichkeiten, wie wir das in der PDB behandeln:
1. So wie aktuell eingegeben (nahe an der historischen Wahrheit, aber schlecht visuell wahrnehmbar - der Nutzer muß wissen, daß er auf die Lösungen zu b) bzw. c) klicken muß, um die entsprechenden Diagramme zu sehen).
2. Aufsplitten in zwei separate Aufgaben.
Was wird gewünscht/präferiert? (2015-03-14)
Henrik Juel: I prefer your second option, Mario (2015-03-14)
Thomas Brieden: Hätte ich obigen Text nicht gelesen, hätte ich auch nicht gewusst, dass man auf entsprechende Lösungen klicken muss. Ich bevorzuge daher auch den zweiten Vorschlag. (2015-03-14)
Alfred Pfeiffer: Diagramm (als Zeroposition) und Forderung so klarer? (2015-03-15)
Olaf Jenkner: So gefällt es mir. (2015-03-15)
A.Buchanan: In the zero diagram, one might also put in a line between ranks 4 & 5. This separator is used in PDB for grid chess etc, but could be helpful here. What do you think? (2020-11-11)
Olaf Jenkner: If I was asked, good idea.
Maybe there's an issue because the line doesn't vanish in a), b) and c) (2020-11-12)
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Keywords: First Move? (UT0 / D0 / K0), Type A, Economy record (First move)
Genre: Retro
FEN: KRb1k3/pp1p4/8/8/4k3/8/1PPPPPP1/2B1KB2
Reprints: 2.38 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 200, 2010
2.8 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 198, 2010
2.1 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 198, 2010
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-09-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-01 more...
10 - P0008784
Niels Høeg
The Chess Amateur 07/1926
P0008784
(1+1)
Längste BP ohne Schach. Welches war der letzte Zug?
R: 5899. Kg2xTh1
play all play one stop play next play all
The game ends after 50 consecutive moves without captures or pawn moves (loss of castling right is not included here), or when there is not enough material to mate (say K-K or K-KS). There are 30 captures and 96 pawn moves (including 8 pawn captures) available, so the longest game seems to last (30+96-8)x50=5900 moves. This cannot be achieved because of the move-loss when the draw-preventing move shifts between white and black. Niels Høeg believed that 2 moves were lost and stated the solution as 5898.- Kb7xTa8. Karl Fabel later showed that only 1.5 moves need be lost.

Since 1926, there have been some relevant innovations to rules and conventions
(1) 50 move rule applies only to retro compositions, and will trigger automatically (no issue with writing down the move). (Codex 1953?)
(2) Removal of rules about draw by insufficient material (Laws 1997)
(3) Dead position rule introduced (Laws 1997)
(4) 75 move rule introduced (Laws 2014)
(5) Dead position rule applies only to retro compositions (Codex 2015)
(6) Articles 9.2 & 9.3 apply to chess problems - this includes 50 move rule and excludes 75 move rule (Codex 2019)

This is certainly a composition rather than a question about over the board chess. And it is certainly a retro composition. So the 50 move rule will dominate the 75 rule. The standard interpretation of interaction between 50 move rule and Dead Position in compositions is that Dead Position assessment *is* aware of looming automatic draw by 50 moves. (Note there is a similar assessment for interaction between Dead Position and Draw by Repetition.)

So we can argue that the game cannot last to 5898.5 moves, because the final move leads to a mandatory draw: either the king captures the last officer, or the king avoids the capture and the game ends in draw under the 50 move rule. So the position is dead at 5898.0. But even 5898.0 is too long for the diagram position with the kings so far apart. In the alternate reality if the last capture of a rook does not take place, there must be sufficient moves left for the kings to come together so that the rook can deliver checkmate. This will take at least 6.0 moves.

There is also still an ambiguity in the rules as to whether checkmate overrides draw by 50 moves. This is explicitly mentioned in the 75 move rule, but not in 50 move rule. I assume that checkmate *does* take priority.

Or does a valid problem only exist in the context of the rules and conventions that pertained at the time of its composition? The Codex does not opine on this general point.

Compare P1331022

Duplicate Diagram: P1101148, P1189676, P1191185, P1304589

A.Buchanan: There's a question whether DP rule has visibility of 3Rep & 50M state. The current consensus among most of the tiny group who might care is that for retros, it does have visibility, but for purely forward problems, it does not. This align with the idea that by default 50M & DP rules apply only to retros (2023-09-06)
A.Buchanan: The old intended interpretation is protected under the Golden Age principle. Suppose we do apply modern rules, codex & clarifications. If Black just played Kb7xRa8, then the alternative leading to mate takes 7.0 moves, so this must have been Black's 5892nd move at the latest. If White just moved, then it was White's 5892nd at latest. So to maximize the length of the game, Black moved last. (2023-09-06) edit (2023-09-06)
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Keywords: Longest Proof Game, Last Move?, only Kings, Non-Unique Proof Game, Dead Position, 50 move rule, Constrained problem, Type A, Miniature, Golden Age (pre-dead), Aristocrat
Genre: Mathematics, Retro
FEN: k7/8/8/8/8/8/8/7K
Reprints: Schackproblemet 1928
Schach und Zahl 1966
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1997-06-20
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2024-01-18 more...
11 - P1000069
Henrik Juel
7019 Thema Danicum 86 04/1997
2. Preis
P1000069
(8+9)
Ergänze einen Stein!
Letzter Zug?
+sLf8
R: 1. ... g7xSf6 2. Sg4-f6+ Kd8-e8 3. Se5-g4 Kd7-d8 4. Sc6-e5+ Kc8-d7 5. Sd8-c6 Kb8-c8 6. d7-d8=S Kc8-b8 7. c6xTd7+ Td8-d7 8. b5xLc6 0-0-0 9. a4xTb5 Ld7-c6 10. a3-a4 Lc8-d7 11. c3xDd4 Dd8-d4 12. a2-a3 d7xLe6
play all play one stop play next play all
There is some choice in the retro path, but in the shortest resolution, the sK round trip is uniquely defined: e8-c8(castling)-b8-c8(switchback)-d7-d8-e8. Note that wTa, still stuck in its cage, was captured on c2.
Mu-Tsun Tsai: Can't believe that this one didn't get the 1st prize. The design is really brilliant! (2011-04-17)
Henrik Juel: Thanks for your nice words, Mu-Tsun. In 1997 there were few retro problems in Thema Danicum, and they were judged together with fairy problems, so the competition was stiff. (2011-04-17)
Henrik Juel: Thanks for posting the solution, Andrew
Two minor points:
The uncheck plusses should be R: 1. ... g7xSf6 2. Sg4-f6+ Kd8-e8 3. Se5-g4 Kd7-d8 4. Sc6-e5+ Kc8-d7 5. Sd8-c6 Kb8-c8 6. d7-d8=S Kc8-b8 7. c6xTd7+
sK could wander around on the queen side while wS pendulates on, say, g4 and h2; but in the shortest resolution the sK round trip is unique (2021-01-17)
A.Buchanan: welcome Henrik - also added the famous sLf8 to the animation (2021-01-18)
Henrik Juel: Six of the pawn captures happen to be uniquely determined, namely
b5xLc6xTd7, c3xDd4
d3xTc2, d7xLe6, g7xSf6 (2021-01-18)
A.Buchanan: An earlier sequence where timing was important: dxTc2+ Kc1 Td3/Sd3+ exd3 (2021-01-18)
A.Buchanan: Solved in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKi8ahju9Mc (2022-02-17)
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Keywords: Add pieces (l), Last Move?, Type A, Kindergarten Problem, Volet Pawn, Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (S), Castling, Round Trip (k6)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 4k3/ppp1pp2/4pp2/8/3P4/3P2P1/1PpP1PP1/2K5
Reprints: I) Economy Records in Add Unit(s) Problems , p. 8, 03/2011
YouTube 17/02/2022
Input: Gerd Wilts, 2000-07-31
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-02-18 more...
12 - P1012896
Helmut Pönitz
Die Schwalbe 1935
P1012896
(16+15)
Stellung nach dem 9. Zug von Weiß. Welches war der letzte Zug?
1. f4 Sa6 2. f5 Sc5 3. g4 Sa4 4. Lh3 Sc3 5. dxc3 a5 6. Lh6 Ta6 7. g5 Tc6 8. Lg4 Tg6 9. f6 is one of 210 possible proof games
play all play one stop play next play all
No. 790 HN
Kees: 1. f4 Na6 2. f5 Nc5 3. g4 Na4 4. Bh3 Nc3 5. dxc3 a5 6. Bh6 Ra6 7. g5 Rc6 8.
Bg4 Rg6 9. f6 * (2022-02-12)
Henrik Juel: We are told that White made last move, so the type is really B
But it also seems correct as a type A problem (2022-02-12)
A.Buchanan: Whatever the stipulation that we have ended up with here in PDB, it's clear that effort was expended by the composer to ensure that the problem functions as a Type A, so let's credit him with that :-) (2022-02-13)
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Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Last Move?, Type A
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2bqkbnr/1ppppppp/5PrB/p5P1/6B1/2P5/PPP1P2P/RN1QK1NR
Input: Henri Nouguier, 2004-01-11
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-02-13 more...
13 - P1013610
Hans Gruber
541 Problemkiste (12) 11/1983
P1013610
(11+7)
Letzter Zug?
Typ A
Längstzüger
R: 1. b5xa6ep!
play all play one stop play next play all
Mario Richter: Can somebody please provide an explanation? It's clear that Black didn't move last, but why not e.g. R: 1. Ke6xTf7 or even R: 1. b5xTa6 Ta3xDa6 2. Dc8-a6+ (2022-01-10)
comment
Keywords: En passant, Maximummer, Last Move?, Type A (BxB ep.)
Genre: Fairies, Retro
FEN: n7/2p2K1p/Pk6/7p/7p/8/PP1PPnPP/2B2BB1
Input: Hans Gruber, 2004-05-01
Last update: Erich Bartel, 2014-09-14 more...
14 - P1227636
Thierry Le Gleuher
5A) Economy Records in Add Unit(s) Problems , p. 7, 12/03/2011
P1227636
(15+8)
Add the missing unit(s)
b) +sBa3,sBb3,sBc3,sBd3,sBe3 R: 1. Sh3-g1 a4-a3 2. Dh1-d1 a5-a4 3. Tg1-b1 a6-a5 4. Lb7-a8 a7-a6 5. Lc8-b7 b4-b3 6. Kb1-a1 b5-b4 7. Kc1-b1 b6-b5 8. Kd1-c1 b7-b6 9. Ke1-d1 c4-c3 10. Kf1-e1 c5-c4 11. Kg2-f1 c6-c5 12. Ta1-g1 c7-c6 13. Dd1-h1 d4-d3 14. Kf1-g2 d5-d4 15. Ke1-f1 d6-d5 16. Sg1-h3 e4-e3 17. Lh3-c8 e5-e4 18. Lf1-h3 e6-e5 19. g2xDf3 Kg4-h5 20. Sf5-h6+
play all play one stop play next play all
WBc1 taken home, so no BP captured or promoted and it's impossible to retract WPe6xf7.
The only way to open the cage is to reorder white homebase and retract WPg2xf3, this takes 19 retro moves. Add all remaining BPs on third rank, and we can't retract both BPs on b7 and d7 to let the BBg8 get home, and we can't either retract BP to e7 since the BPg must retract to g7 in order to allow uncapture of dark squared BB by WPf7.
Record of the highest number of units to add so that a position becomes legal (Type A, number of units not specified, no promoted pieces).
See http://abrobecker.free.fr/chess/addunits.pdf (2011-12-22)
Alain Brobecker: See P1227635 for a version with promoted pieces. (2011-12-22)
Henrik Juel: Add five black pawns on a3,b3,c3,d3,e3 to provide the 18 tempo retractions needed.
-1.Sh3 a4 -2.Dh1 a5 -3.Tg1 a6 -4.Lb7 a7 -5.Lc8 b4 -6.Kb1 b5 -7.Kc1 b6 -8.Kd1 b7 -9.Ke1 c4 -10.Kf1 c5 -11.Kg2 c6 -12.Ta1 c7 -13.Dd1 d4 -14.Kf1 d5 -15.Ke1 d6 -16.Sg1 e4 -17.Lh3 e5 -18.Lf1 e6 -19.g2xDf3 Kg4 -20.Sf5 etc. (2011-12-22)
James Malcom: What formatting is required to add the five black pawns to the board with the solution? I know I have seen it done before somewhere. (2022-01-30)
A.Buchanan: You define another pieces list labelled e.g. b, then include that in the solution before you start moving pieces. Check out some other add pieces problems to see how it’s done. (2022-01-31)
James Malcom: Thanks! I have it figured out now. (2022-01-31)
comment
Keywords: Type A, Add pieces, Economy record
Genre: Retro
FEN: B5bn/5PrR/5prN/6pk/7p/5P2/PPPPPP2/KR1Q2N1
Input: Alain Brobecker, 2011-12-22
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-04-13 more...
15 - 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)
comment
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...
16 - 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.
play all play one stop play next play all
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...
17 - P1382903
Andrey Frolkin
Andrew Buchanan

2 Die Schwalbe 360-1, p. 737, 12/2020
P1382903
(14+12)
Erster Zug des wTf6?
R: 1. Tf1xBf6! b6xSa5 2. 0-0! a7xSb6 3. Lf1-e2 Kd4-e5,Kf4-e5 4. e2-e3+
play all play one stop play next play all
James Malcom: How does this work exactly? What forbids the rook from just making some random tempi move in a game that leads to this position? (2020-12-12)
Mario Richter: James, think of time pressure. In the diagram, Black has only two retractions (a7xSb6xSa5). The only way to unlock the position is the retraction of e2-e3.
Little hint: castling is considered as a king m,opve ... (2020-12-12)
Henrik Juel: By now there are so many clues revealed for this fine retro that I dare to give a retroplay despite the Byzantine dating, in this case indicating an ongoing solving competition
R: 1.Tf1xPf6 b6xSa5 2.0-0 a7xSb6 3.Lf1-e2 Kd4,Kf4 4.e2-e3+ etc.
Incidentally, TxP is not the first move, but the last... (2020-12-12)
Henrik Juel: I missed the from square in the retraction by the black king, sorry
3... Kd4-e5,Kf4-e5 (2020-12-12)
A.Buchanan: Ha, there is no solving competition for these either. But it's to avoid Gerd's solving competition protection algorithm picking up false positives (2020-12-12)
A.Buchanan: TxP happens to be the last move, but it's also the first effective move of the rook, as it is considered to be a *passenger* in the castling, and not to have moved yet. Otherwise can't get first move of a rook fixed if it capturing (except possibly by DP logic). See the explanatory article: https://www.dieschwalbe.de/download/artikel/Passenger_Rooks.pdf (2020-12-12)
A.Buchanan: Your solution is completely correct, Henrik! (2020-12-12)
comment
Keywords: Economy record (First move), Type A, First Move? (TxB), Castling in the retro play (wk), Non-standard material (l), Castling (wk)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 5b1n/1p2prBP/P2PrRQb/p2pk1pR/7p/3PP3/1P2B1PP/6K1
Reprints: 2 Die Schwalbe Online 12/2020
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
18 - P1382904
Andrey Frolkin
Andrew Buchanan

3 Die Schwalbe 360-1, p. 737, 12/2020
P1382904
(14+10)
Erster Zug des wTf6?
R: 1. Lg2-f3 b4-b3 2. Tf1xSf6! b5-b4 3. 0-0! b6-b5 4. Lf1-g2 Kf4-g5,Kh4-g5 5. g2-g3+
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Oh, I was confused by the LLLLl, which should be TLLLLl, I believe
R: 1.Lg2-f3 b4-b3 2.Tf1xSf6! b5-b4 3.0-0 b6-b5 4.Lf1-g2 Kf4-g5,Kh4-g5 5.g2-g3+ (2020-12-12)
A.Buchanan: Thanks for the catch. I copied the diagrams straight from the article FEN, so should be clean of transcription errors, but then I put in the non-standard material field by hand & eye, so could be other errors as here. (2020-12-12)
A.Buchanan: Your move sequence is again correct! :D (2020-12-12)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Economy record (First move), Type A, First Move? (TxS), Castling in the retro play (wk), Non-standard material (TLLLLl), Castling (wk)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 3bRBB1/2ppBQRp/3ppRBb/6kB/6p1/1p3BP1/4P2P/6K1
Reprints: 3 Die Schwalbe Online 12/2020
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
19 - P1382906
Andrey Frolkin
Andrew Buchanan

4 Die Schwalbe 360-1, p. 738, 12/2020
P1382906
(14+9)
Erster Zug des wTf8?
R: 1. Tf1xLf8! e4-e3 2. 0-0! e5-e4 3. Lf1-g2 e6-e5 4. g2xBh3 h4-h3 and e.g. 5. d4-d5 h5-h4 6. Le4-c6 h6-h5 7. c7-c8=L! h7-h6 8. c6-c7 c7xLb6
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Good motivation for TxL
R: 1.Tf1xLf8! e4-e3 2.0-0 e5-e4 3.Lf1-g2 e6-e5 4.g2xPh3 h4-h3 and e.g.
5.d4-d5 h5-h4 6.Le4-c6 h6-h5 7.c7-c8=L! h7-h6 8.c6-c7 c7xLb6
f7xTg8=L happened early (2020-12-12)
comment
Keywords: Economy record (First move), Type A, First Move? (TxL), Castling in the retro play (wk), Non-standard material (LL), Castling (wk)
Genre: Retro
FEN: k1B2RQ1/Pp1pp1p1/rpB3N1/pN1P4/8/4p2P/2P1P1BP/6K1
Reprints: 4 Die Schwalbe Online 12/2020
www.thbrand.de 13/12/2020
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
20 - P1382907
Andrey Frolkin
Andrew Buchanan

5 Die Schwalbe 360-1, p. 738, 12/2020
P1382907
(13+12)
Erster Zug des wTf6?
R: 1. Tf1xTf6 c3-c2 2. Lf3-a8 c4-c3 3. 0-0 c5-c4 4. Lg2-f3 c6-c5 5. Lf1-g2 Kf4-g5,Kh4-g5 6. g2-g3+
play all play one stop play next play all
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: 1. Lg2-a8 c3-c2 2. Tf1xTf6 c4-c3 3. O-O ??? (Rochade nicht möglich wegen sTf6 !)

mögliche Lösung:
1. Tf1xTf6 c3-c2 2. Lf3-a8 c4-c3 3. O-O c5-c4 4. Lg2-f3 c6-c5 5. Lf1-g2 Kf4-g5 6. g2-g3+ Sg5-h7 7. Ld3-g6 Se4-g5 8. Th7-g7 Dg6-f7 9. f7-f8L Tf5-f6 10. Le5-h8 Lf8-h6 11. Lh4-e7 Dg5-g6 12. La7-e5 Tf6-f5 13. Lb8-a7 Th6-f6 14. Lf6-d8 Sc5-e4 15. Lb2-f6 Dd8-g5 16. Lf2-h4 Kg5-f4 17. f6-f7 Sa6-c5 18. Te7-h7 Th8-h6 19. f5-f6 Kh6-g5 20. La3-b2 Kg7-h6 21. Lf7-e8+ Kf6-g7 22. Lc1-a3 Kg7-f6 23. b7-b8L h7-h5 24. La7-f2 Kf6-g7 25. Lb8-a7 Kg7-f6 26. b6-b7 Kf6-g7 27. b7-b8L Kg7-f6 28. Te8-e7 Df6-d8 29. Ta8-e8 g5-g4 30. Le8-f7 f7xSe6 31. Sf4-e6+ Sb8-a6 32. Ta1-a8 Dd8-f6 33. e7-e8L Kf6-g7 34. e6-e7 Ke7-f6 35. b5-b6 g6-g5 36. b6-b7 g7-g6 37. c4xLb5 La6-b5 38. c2-c4 Lc8-a6 39. La6-d3 Ke8-e7 40. Lb7-a6 Ke7-e8 41. La8-b7 Ke8-e7 42. a7-a8L Ke7-e8 43. d5xTe6 Te3-e6 44. a6-a7 Ke8-e7 45. a5-a6 Ke7-e8 46. a4-a5 Ke8-e7 47. a2-a4 Ta3-e3 48. Sh3-f4 Ta8-a3 49. Sg1-h3 b7xSc6 50. Sa7-c6 Sc6-b8 51. Sb5xa7 e7xDd6 52. Dh6-d6 Sb8-c6 53. Dd2-h6 Sc6-b8 54. Dd1-d2 Sb8-c6 55. f4-f5 Sc6-b8 56. f2-f4 Sb8-c6 57. d4-d5 Sc6-b8 58. d2-d4 Sb8-c6 59. Sc3-b5 Sc6-b8 60. Sb1-c3 Sb8-c6 61. b5-b6 Sc6-b8 62. b4-b5 Sb8-c6 63. b2-b4 (2020-12-14)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Economy record (First move), Type A, First Move? (TxT), Castling in the retro play (wk), Non-standard material (LLLLL), Castling (wk)
Genre: Retro
FEN: B2BBBnB/2ppBqRn/3ppRBb/6kp/6p1/6P1/2p1P2P/6K1
Reprints: 5 Die Schwalbe Online 12/2020
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
21 - P1382908
Andrey Frolkin
Andrew Buchanan

6 Die Schwalbe 360-1, p. 738, 12/2020
P1382908
(11+14)
Erster Zug des wTf6?
R: 1. Tf1xDf6 b3xLc2 2. Le4-c2 and e.g. 2. ... c5-c4 3. Lf3-e4 c6-c5 4. 0-0 b4-b3 5. Lg2-f3 b5-b4 6. Lf1-g2 Kf4-g5 7. g2-g3+
play all play one stop play next play all
more ...
comment
Keywords: Economy record (First move), Type A, First Move? (TxD), Castling in the retro play (wk), Non-standard material (L), Castling (wk)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 3BBn2/2pRBrPn/3pQRrb/3pp1kp/2p3p1/6P1/2p1P2P/6K1
Reprints: 6 Die Schwalbe Online 12/2020
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-15 more...
22 - P1383249
Markus Johannes Ott
Andrew Buchanan

0 Die Schwalbe Online 12/2020
P1383249
(12+1)
Erster Zug des wBa3?
R: 1. b2xTa3 Tb3-a3,Tb3xSa3,Tb3xLa3
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: White pawns captured all 15 missing black men, so last move was not, say, Kxc2
Last move was b2xTa3 allowing Tb3-a3 or Tb3xLSa3 as preceding move
So first move by Pa3 was just this: b2xTa3 (2020-12-23)
comment
Keywords: First Move? (BxT), Type A, Economy record (First move)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/1P6/2P5/PP1B4/kBP5/P2N4/P1K5/1N6
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-23
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-26 more...
23 - 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...
24 - P1405296
Andrew Buchanan
Andrey Frolkin

AA042 The Hopper Magazine I02 23/06/2022
P1405296
(13+9)
First move of wRb2?
R: 1. g2xBh3 h4-h3 2. Te2-b2 h5-h4 3. 0-0-0-0-0-0 h6-h5 4. e7-e8=T h7-h6 5. f6xDe7,f6xL/Se7
play all play one stop play next play all
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e6e77hAXxKajrJdu5Rd3hdsA0k3QSH9D/view
Thanks to Mario Richter for finding a bug, now fixed by switching pawns g-h files
more ...
comment
Keywords: Type A, First Move?, Staugaard castling, Economy record
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: n2N4/PPkp1pp1/PNBp4/Bp1p4/1p6/4K2P/PR5P/7R
Input: James Malcom, 2022-10-20
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-07-27 more...
25 - P1409983
Andrey Frolkin
Werner Keym

1.67 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 196, 2010
P1409983
(10+2)
Letzter Zug?
R: 1. g3xBh4 h5-h4 and e.g. 2. Kf4-g5 Kh4-h3
play all play one stop play next play all
Compare P0000999 with more non-standard material
more ...
comment
Keywords: Economy record (Last Move? Type A), Last Move? (BxB), Non-standard material (L), Type A, Type B (a fortiori), Economy record (Last Move? Type B), Minimal
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/1p5P/6PP/5BK1/6PP/5B1k/6NP/8
Input: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-28
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-31 more...
26 - P1409984
Theophilus Harding Willcocks
1.68 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 196, 2010
P1409984
(3+9)
Letzter Zug?
R: 1. a7xTb8=L h7-h6 2. a6-a7 Ka7-a8 3. a5-a6 and e.g. 3. ... Ta8-b8 4. Tb8-c8
play all play one stop play next play all
Compare P0000957 with non-standard material.
more ...
comment
Keywords: Economy record (Last Move? Type A), Type A, Last Move? (BxT=L), Promotion (L)
Genre: Retro
FEN: kBRn4/1pKppp2/1pp4p/8/8/8/8/8
Input: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-28
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-31 more...
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