Die Schwalbe

24 problem(s) found in 3941 milliseconds (displaying 24 problem(s)). [COMMENTDATE>=20200919 AND NOT K='Hilfsrückzüger' AND NOT A='Stojoski, Petre' AND K='Kein letzter Zug von Weiß'] [download as LaTeX]

1 - P0000846
Klaus Weisert
181 Die Schwalbe 04/1970
P0000846
(3+7) C+
h#1
wZug also
1. ... b3!#
1. d1=S?,d1=T? b3#
play all play one stop play next play all
Two indistinct retro tries.
Originalforderung: 'Hilfsmatt' in 1 Zuge

Die 'Schwalbe' (Heft 9, Juni 1971, S. 230) zum recht trivialen Inhalt des Problems: "Warum bringt der Redakteur so etwas? Erstens, um einen Verfasser, der sich zum ersten Mal an den Rand des Schachbretts [Name der Urdruck-Rubrik, in der solche Probleme publiziert wurden] begibt, zu ermuntern; und zweitens (indem er das Stück an den Anfang stellt), um Löser, die sich sonst nicht an den Rand des Schachbretts trauen, mit einigen leichten Punkten dorthin zu locken!"

Nicht 1. d1S(T) b3#, denn Schwarz ist nicht am Zuge; daher ganz simpel 1. b3#
A.Buchanan: I suspect I don't get the full idea here. (2021-10-20)
Henrik Juel: I do not either
The two possible promotions do not help (2021-10-20)
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & trivial retro-logic
FEN: 8/8/8/rr6/kp6/p7/KP1p4/Rn6
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
2 - P0003195
Thomas R. Dawson
2130 Die Schwalbe 07/1932
P0003195
(14+14) C+
h#2
WTM
1. ... bxc6ep 2. Da7 c7#
retro tries:
1) 1. Lxg3 b6 2. Lxd6 Lxd6#
2) 1. Dc6 b6 2. Dc7 dxc7#
3) 1. Ta7 f8=D,f8=T 2. Ka8 Dxc8#,Txd8# ("untolerated" dual)
R: 1. ... c7-c5 2. b4-b5 Dc4-a6 (move order variable beyond this point) 3. b2-b3 Ta6-a8 4. d5-d6 Te6-a6 5. b3-b4 Te8-e6 6. a2xSb3 Th8-e8 7. d4-d5 Lb4-e1 8. d3-d4 Lf8-b4 9. Kg5-h5 e7xSf6+
play all play one stop play next play all
Missing: Wh: SS Bl: SS
Pawn captures: Wh: axb, hxg Bl: exf, fxg
bPf6 comes from e7, else collision with wPf7. So can't uncapture fxg2 until wP retracted. White has 6 pawn retractions before retro-pat, just giving Bl time to put Le1 & Ta8 (impostor) back home, and uncapture exf6. So Black must retract first, and it's WTM. sD must clear out of the way, and c4 is the only possible square, wPaxSb can't happen on b5, or it would block sD. And axSb4 would block sLe1. It was axSb3. So wPb5 must retreat to b4, and thus Black cannot play R: 1. Lb4-e1. So neatly R: 1. c7-c5 is forced.
Ladislav Packa: Is wRh1 needed? (2021-10-22)
Mario Richter: Yes, wRh1 is needed - without it the ep-key would not be justified (last moves could have been R: 1. ... Th1-g1 2. Lg1-h2 or even R: 1. ... Ld2xTe1). (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: + three mostly clean retro tries. (2021-10-24)
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comment
Keywords: En passant as key, No legal last move for White, Impostor (t)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & simple retro-logic
FEN: rkb5/1p1p1Ppp/q2P1p2/pPp4K/6PR/1P4PQ/2P1P1pB/4bBrR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-08 more...
3 - P0003221
Thomas R. Dawson
1511 The Chess Amateur 10/1929
P0003221
(9+16) C+
h#2
1. ... bxc6ep 2. Le7 cxd7#
1. Lc6? bxc6 2. Le7 cxd7# WTM
R: 1. c6-c5? Kd3-e3 2. Dc5-c4+ Ke3-d3 3. Dc4-c5+ retro-loop.
R: 1. c7-c5! Kd3-e3 2. Dc6-c4+ Ke3-d3! clear
play all play one stop play next play all
Easy to see no last move for White. Moreover, Black just double-hopped to allow sD/wK to avoid retro-loop.
Single clean retro try.
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comment
Keywords: En passant as key, No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & moderate retro-logic
FEN: 3nkr2/3p1r2/1p1npb2/PPpb4/Bpq2PP1/1p2Kpp1/2PPP3/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-08 more...
4 - P0003236
Thomas R. Dawson
10381 The Fairy Chess Review 12/1955
P0003236
(9+16) C+
h#2
1. ... bxc6ep 2. Dxa5 Db7#
1. Sc6? bxc6 2. Dxa5 Db7# but WTM
R: 1. ... c7-c5 2. g5-g6 Sc6-e7 3. De7-b4,D~ Sb4-c6+ unpromote wD on h8, etc.
play all play one stop play next play all
Clean retro try
Henrik Juel: Typo: 2.Dxa5 Db7#. wTa1 is missing, I think (10+15). -1... c7 -2.g5 Sc6 -3.De7 Sb4, unpromote wD on h8, etc. (2004-03-18)
A.Buchanan: I agree Henrik and have made changes. A number of these problems have been marked "Weisz zieht an", which is inappropriate as part of the point of the problem is to deduce this. I think it's 2. c2-c3! not 2. g5-g6? or the cross-captured pawns become retro-locked. (2021-10-21)
Henrik Juel: 2.g5-g6 also works, because the only cross-capture is axb,bxa
White captured [Pd7] with an officer (2021-10-22)
Henrik Juel: HC+ Popeye 4.61 (2021-10-22)
A.Buchanan: If g5-g6 also works, then can’t we have both? I.e. White moved last. I would be surprised if this was TRD’s intention, given the others of this general style (2021-10-22)
Henrik Juel: TRD died in 1951, so someone else may have messed up the problem
FRC is not generally available after 1953, so I cannot check the source (2021-10-22)
A.Buchanan: WinChloe has 29(!) posthumous problems by Dawson - the latest in 1958, FCR's final year. The composition in question is not one of them. (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: PROOF OF COOK + SUGGESTED FIX
I agree with much of what you say Henrik.
Capturing history. Basically 3 possibilities for the Black pawns.
Notation: ~,o,| denote "cross-capture", "original" & "waylaid"(=captured on home file by officer).
1) a~b co d~e f~g. This implies either (wPhxg & bPh=X) or (wPh=X & bPh|)
2) a~b co d~e hxgxf f|
3) a~b co hxgxfxexd d|
Suppose WTM. Then R: 1. c6-c5 c2-c3 2. c7-c6 g5-g6 3. Sc6-e7 De7-b4 4. Sb4-c6+ Kc5-c4 5. Lb2-d4+ etc. Now we're free to uncapture wDh8 (or g8 for scenario 1), and any of the three pawn scenarios can work. No e.p. rights means a cook.
If we fix it by e.g. shifting wPg6-g5 then I think that fixes this cook, and also it means that there is no solution if BTM.
Is there any possibility for premature capturing hxg? Not by Bl because scenario 1 says bPfxg, and the other two scenarios rely on wPh=X. If by Wh, then there's no waylaying on d or f, so we are back to scenario 1, but bPh is blocked from promotion, so that won't work.
But: what about R: 1. c6-c5 c2-c3 2. Sc3-b1 Th1-a1. Doesn't this completely cook it anyway?? How about k7/4n3/6P1/PPpPPP2/qQKbrrp1/ppRppp2/b1P5/1n6? h#2 (with Art 15 so it's really h#1.5)
Do you agree? (2021-10-23)
Mario Richter: In the diagram, both for WTM and BTM the retraction sequence c2-c3 Sc6-e7 De1-b4 Sb4-c6+ works and furthermore Andrew's R: 1. c6-c5 c2-c3 2. Sc3-b1 Th1-a1 shows, that Henrik's guess of the omitted wTa1 might be wrong. Instead, I think that Andrew's modification might be in fact the original Dawson diagram. (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: Yes that makes sense. I can well believe that there was a lot of constructions in flight when TRD passed away. It's not surprising that something appeared a few years later. Can we get access to FCR from that year to validate? (2021-10-23)
A.Buchanan: Brian Stephenson kindly checked the original magazine. He wrote:
"Eventually got round to looking out this TRD problem. It was published in the issue you quote as problem 10381. The diagram in PDB is wrong. There should be a bPc2. The solution was published in FCR April 1956 as: 1.Pb5xPc5ep Qxa5 2.Qb7#. Last moves must have been 1.Pc7-c5 Pg5-g6 2.Sc6-e7 Qe7-b4 Sb4-c6 ch etc. No flaws were noted, but I have looked later than that issue. Hope this helps." (2021-11-13)
A.Buchanan: The appearance of the 16th Black unit thanks to the offices of Brian Stephenson simplifies the retro logic substantially, and the solution seems sound. Amazing how much disruption a simple typo can cause, but at least this one I believe is laid to rest (2021-11-13)
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comment
Keywords: En passant as key, No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye 4.6 + non-trivial retro
FEN: k7/4n3/6P1/PPpPPP2/qQKbrrp1/ppPppp2/b1p5/1n6
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-08 more...
5 - P0003337
Rudolf Buljan
Problem 41-44 03/1957
2. Preis
15. Thematurnier
P0003337
(11+15) C+
h#2
1. ... exf6ep 2. Sf5 f7#
play all play one stop play next play all
White captured fxg and promoted [Pd2] on d8
Black captured axbxa2-a1=Y, b7xc6, d5xe4, and gxf
White cannot have moved last, and in fact Black's last move can only have been f7-f5 in order to give White a prior move. R: 1... d5-e4 would have retro-blocked wPd marching to its promotion.
So the retroplay was R: 1... f7-f5 2.f5xYg6
Numerous retro tries but none distinct.
"Autor Ing. Rudolf Buljan, Zagreb"
AB: Have therefore marked him in the author table as Croatian. Yugoslavia has been removed from the PDB country list, I see.
A.Buchanan: Any ideas how to distinguish usage of “whose move?” and “no legal last move for white” (or black) keywords (2020-10-01)
Henrik Juel: This problem is clearly the latter
I would use 'Whose move?' in retro problems where a deeper analysis is required to determine the move, often with stipulations like '#1 (who?)' (2020-10-01)
A.Buchanan: I think "Whose move?" is where there is no forward stip, or where we have to determine if the forward stip should be interpreted as orthodox or as half-duplex. "no legal last move for..." is where the mater/stalemater/etc is the usual one, but we add or remove a single move at the beginning of the forward stip. I guess a third possibility is "last move?" where in a Type A position we also have to figure out who moved last.
With respect, I don't think the level of analysis can be relevant. (2023-12-06)
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comment
Keywords: En passant as key, No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye 4.61
FEN: 5nkb/1qp1p1n1/2p3PQ/4PpKb/4prRp/P4prB/1PP3PP/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
6 - P0003339
Tivadar Kardos
2519 Revista Romana de Sah 01/1948
2. Preis
P0003339
(10+15) cooked
h# in wieviel?
1. ... cxd6ep 2. Tc8 dxe7 3. Tf8 exf8=S#
play all play one stop play next play all
AL ('Revista Romana de Sah', 06/1948, S.225-226):
Bekanntlich beginnt im Hilfsmatt Schwarz, also hat in der Diagrammstellung Weiß den letzten Zug gemacht. Man findet aber, wenn man die Position analysiert, daß Weiß den letzten Zug nicht gemacht haben kann.
Der weiße Doppelbauer auf der d-Linie läßt sich nur durch Schlagen des einzig fehlenden schwarzen Steines, des sBa7, erklären. Dieser konnte aber erst nach Umwandlung geschlagen werden. Dazu mußte er zunächst bis a3 vorrücken, dann nach b2 schlagen, und dann umwandeln.
Also kann Weiß nicht zuletzt b2-b3 gezogen haben.
Die anderen schwarzen Bauern haben mindestens 5 Schläge gemacht, um die Position im Diagramm zu erreichen (man beachte, daß der sBh7 zweimal schlagen mußte, um den wBh2 durchzulassen)
also kann auch g2-g3 nicht der letzte Zug gewesen sein, denn sonst hätte der wLf1 nicht von einem sB geschlagen worden sein können.
Für alle anderen weißen Steine ist leicht zu sehen, daß sie den letzten Zug nicht gemacht haben können.
Es stellt sich heraus, dass der letzte Zug von Schwarz gemacht wurde, und eine einfache Analyse zeigt, daß dies nur möglich ist durch d7-d5 (sonst wäre es unmöglich, daß die weißen Steine ihre Position im Diagramm erreichen könnten).
In diesem Fall Weiß kann 1. ... c5:d6(e.p.) spielen, gefolgt von 2. Tc8 d:e7 3. Tf8 e:f8C matt!
Das kürzeste Hilfsmatt wird also in 2,5 Zügen erreicht!
Cook: 1. ... Txg5+ 2. Kxg5 f3 3. Lg6 gxf4#
1. ... Kxd5 2. Kf6 e4 3. Tg6,Dg6 e5#
A.Buchanan: Popeye v.487. WinChloe has the same diagram, and although it just claims 1 solution, it's C? Yet WinChloe engine gives the cooks right away (2021-10-27)
Mario Richter: Shouldn't this problem get the Label "No legal last move for White"?
(White pawn d2 has captured the missing black piece (Pdxe), so black pawn a7 had to promote to get to the capture square. This requires one capture (Pa3xb2), together with bxc,cxd,hxg,gxh,gxh this accounts for all missing white pieces.)

Btw. "for me, "C?" stands for "Not yet computer-tested or computer test didn't come to a conlusion" ... (2021-10-28)
A.Buchanan: Hi Mario, thank you.
(1) The stipulation is non-standard. I think this is why the WinChloe database doesn't include a solution, and just marks it as "C?" However if I run the WinChloe solving engine manually it (like Popeye) gives 121 h#3 solutions and 4 h#2.5 solutions. I think you, me and Christian would all agree on the meaning of "C?"
(2) The problem does not rely on Article 15 to eliminate the first single move, but implicitly requests the shortest. Currently the PDB usage of "No legal last move..." is to indicate that Codex Article 15 applies, so I did not add it. But I'm ok if you want me to add the keyword. In my correction, I shift the stipulation to h#3 so it's clear that Article 15 and not any desire for brevity which push the problem to h#2.5.
(3) However the PDB usage is confused. Ideallly think the two "No legal..." keywords should be replaced by "Retro-stalemate", while two new keywords "Article 15" & "Whose mate?" indicate the choice of implications of the retropat for forward play. "Board rotation" and other jokes are also implications of retropat (and of illegal diagram).
(4) But this is complicated to implement, requiring either database-level access or screen-scraping. The latter is quite practical for some future time when I have more leisure.
(5) https://www.stere.ro/biblioteca-digitala/reviste/revista-romana-de-sah/ is an excellent archive of Revista Romana de Sah. My sincere compliments and thanks to whoever prepared it. And the magazines themselves contain thorough annual indices. p225-6 of 6/1948, contains the solution to Kardos. I haven't translated it, nor have I found time to locate the prize announcement.
Comments welcome! (2021-10-29)
Mario Richter: I still believe, that the label "No legal last move for White" is justified here, because this is exactly what the author wanted to show.
(And this is too, what the reprint in 'Problem (Zagreb)' 37-40 09/1956 is all about - it appears there inside asn article

Btw., I wouldn't call the presentation of the solution in 'Revista Romana de Sah', p.225, 06/1948, a "reprint" - it lacks the presentation of the position ... (2021-10-30)
A.Buchanan: Added the keyword.
Yes I know that's the usage of "reprint", but then there should be a field for the location of the solution :-) It's idiotic that if I want to say where the solution is contained, I have to embed it in text like this: 2519 Revista Romana de Sah , p. 225-6, 06/1948 (2021-10-30)
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comment
Keywords: En passant as key, Promotion (S), Superseded by (P1394978), No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye v4.87 & WinChloe both say cooked
FEN: 7b/4p1nP/2r1P1kq/1nPpKbrp/2pp1pRp/1P4P1/P3PP2/8
Reprints: (III) Problem 37-40 09/1956
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-30 more...
7 - P0003755
Eliahu Fasher
Israel Ring Tourney 1957
1. Preis
P0003755
(10+11) C+
h#3*
wZug:
1. ... f4 2. Txg2 f5 3. Le5 Lxg2#
*) 1. Te6 Le2 2. Le5 Lf3#
play all play one stop play next play all
See version at P1394748.
A.Buchanan: White has no tempo move to prefix the set play. (2021-10-20)
A.Buchanan: This is a terrific composition, a lot of fun to solve, and well merits its 1st prize. Thematic set play is key to the artistic intent of many of these older Art.15 problems, and I am now convinced that the stipulation should give a pointer. (2021-10-20)
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & trivial retro-logic
FEN: N7/r7/3p4/1ppk4/1p5p/1P1K2bP/1PPPrPPp/1b3B2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
8 - P0003761
Adrian Storisteanu
1613 Shahmat 11-12/1979
P0003761
(7+11) C+
h#2
b) wBc3 nach b3
a) 1. fxg1=S Dxe3 2. Sd2 Df2#
b) 1. ... Dxe3 2. c1=S Dc3#
play all play one stop play next play all
a) R: 1. d2xc3
b) WTM, so solution in a) can't work here.
Retro
b) Weiß am Zug
Adrian Storisteanu: Two knight promotions differently motivated.
The technical challenge was in averting the short second solution in a) as set play, in order to keep the two phases nicely apart, and also, of course, preventing black tempi and potential white retro moves. (2000-11-20)
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comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White, Promotion (s,s)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & simple retro logic
FEN: 8/8/8/8/8/2P1p1P1/ppp1ppRP/bqQbknRK
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
9 - P0003767
Zvonimir Hernitz
Problem 41-44 03/1957
1. Lob e.a.
15. Thematurnier
P0003767
(2+4) C+
h#2*
1. ... Dxb5 2. Ka2 Db2# because WTM.
So set play 1. Da4 Db2# because position not required to be legal.
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: The short retro try is presumably intended, else sTb5 would suffice (2021-10-16)
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comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White, Aristocrat, Minimal, Miniature
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & simple retro-thought
FEN: 8/8/8/1q6/8/k7/2br4/1QK5
Reprints: 6. Krumme Hunde 01/12/1970
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
10 - P0003781
Imre Sztankovszky
(IX) Problem 29-30 05/1955
P0003781
(5+14) cooked
h#3*
1. ... b6 2. Le7 Lxg2+ 3. Kd6 Sxc4#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: Popeye V4.87
1. ... Sxc4 2. Da1 Kxb3 3. Le5 Lxg2#
1. ... bxa5 2. Le5 Kb4 3. d6 Lxg2#
1. ... Sxd1,Sxd3 2. Le5 Sb2,Sf2 3. d6 Lxg2#
1. ... Sxc4 2. Le5 Sb2,Sd2 3. d6 Lxg2#
WinChloe has same diagram, also says is cooked.
Henrik Juel: Black is missing [Lc8], which was captured on c8, and a rook
Last move was not c3xTb4, because sTc4's check is impossible, so White has the move (2020-10-01)
A.Buchanan: Shifting sLd6 to c5 removes the cooks. What's the artistic intent here though? (2021-10-16)
Henrik Juel: Maybe the unique h#2 try plays a role: 1.Le5 b6 2.d6 Lxg2# (2021-10-16)
A.Buchanan: In the h#2 try, b5-b6 is cool as the sole tempo move available to White. However there are plenty of *pairs* of White moves e.g. Sxd1-f2, which lose two tempi. These lead directly to h#2.5 cooks, and I see no way to eliminate these without losing the h#2 try. (2021-10-17)
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: 8/1p1p4/3br3/pP1k4/KPbp4/pn1p4/qN4p1/3n3B
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
11 - P0003784
Imre Sztankovszky
2917v FEENSCHACH 01-02/1956
P0003784
(7+14) C+
h#3
1. ... b3! 2. Tg2 La3 3. Kf2 Lc5#
1. Dg2? b3 2. Tff1 La3 3. Kf2 Lc5# as WTM
play all play one stop play next play all
Clean retro try.
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comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White, Obvious promotion (l)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 & simple retro-thought
FEN: 8/1p1p4/8/np6/5P1p/2P2p1p/1PPnpr1P/KbB1rqk1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
12 - P0003788
Zvonimir Hernitz
Vladimir Birek

Problem 41-44 03/1957
1. Preis
15. Thematurnier
P0003788
(2+8) C+
h#6*
1. ... ... 2. Th3 f4+ 3. Kf6 f5 4. Kg7 f6+ 5. Kh8 f7 6. Th7 f8=D#
1. ... fxe3 2. Dd4 exd4+ 3. Kd6 dxc5+ 4. Kc7 c6 5. Kb8 c7+ 6. Ka8 c8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
Autoren Zvonko Hernitz, Zagreb & Vladimir Birek, Rijeka
PR Imre Sztankovszky, Böde
Retro-Patt, Excelsior
TLi entdeckte ein eindeutiges Satzspiel: 1. ... ... 2. Th3 f4+ 3. Kf6 f5 4. Kg7 f6+ 5. Kh8 f7 6. Th7 f8=D# mit Echo in der gegenüberliegenden Ecke!
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comment
Keywords: Echo, Promotion (D), No legal last move for White, Minimal, Homebase
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB)
FEN: 8/r7/8/2p1k3/4p3/3qpr2/4pP2/4K3
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
13 - P0003789
Zvonimir Hernitz
Problem 41-44 03/1957
1. ehrende Erwähnung e.a.
15. Thematurnier
P0003789
(3+13) C+
h#3*
1. ... exd7 2. Tfe7 d8=T 3. T7e6 Tf8# (since Wh to move)
1. Sc7 e7 2. Se6 e8=S# (unique set play)
play all play one stop play next play all
Numerous retro tries h#3, but none distinct. Unique retro try h#2 which under Article 15 becomes the set play.
A.Buchanan: So what's the tourney theme exactly? Is it just the wonderful Art.15, the "official joke". There is a unique h#2 retro try: is that a requirement of this tourney? (2020-05-10)
Henrik Juel: You can find the award here, Andrew
http://problem64.beda.cz/silo/problem_41-44_1957.pdf
on p.79
My Serbo-Croatian is a bit rusty, so I will leave the translation to you (2020-05-10)
A.Buchanan: I cannot see the logic behind sBc4d3g5. The solution, the h#2 retro try, and the retro logic are all unaffected by their removal. There are numerous h#3 tries anyway.
I have found the results of this tourney on pages 79-81 of the document above. At 70 pages, it is too long for google translate, but apparently one can do character recognition in google drive for free, and then those pages might be translatable. There is also an interesting article by Fabel at the beginning about conventions, which might be worth resuscitating. I will leave these for someone else.
This document has been photocopied multiple times, and some of the diagrams are very difficult to read. It makes me never want to compose with a black piece on a black square ever again! However the retro condition makes it easier to reconstruct the diagrams. (2020-09-30)
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comment
Keywords: Promotion (T,S), No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Henrik Juel: C+ by Popeye 4.61 (2020-05-10)
FEN: 8/3p1rp1/3PPk2/2pnrbpK/2p1q2b/3p4/8/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
14 - P0003793
Zvonimir Hernitz
635 Problemnoter 03/1956
P0003793
(2+14) C+
h#3*
wZug also
1. ... bxc7! 2. b6 c8=S 3. Lc7 Sxa7#
*) 1. Lc8 bxa7 2. Kd7 axb8=S#
play all play one stop play next play all
Numerous retro tries h#3 but none distinct, however unique h#2 which serves as setplay under Art. 15.
A.Buchanan: In some cases, as here, the unique retro try is short: just h#2. It's clearly intentional (the 3 Bl units on e-file serve just this line). (2021-10-20)
A.Buchanan: For h# problems, Art. 15 is just a motivation for set play. They come down to the same thing, pruning the first single move. So if we talk about set play for an Art. 15 problem, maybe it means *after* the player has been flipped for retro reasons. And set play doesn't care whether the position is legal or not! (Otherwise it would be called "*consequent* set play", maybe!)
So here we start with a h#3*, which for retro reasons, becomes a h#2.5*. This yields a mate in 2.5 and a mate in 2.0, and comically we never get to worry that the latter is in an illegal position. If there was a clean mate in 3.0, that could be denoted h#3v, to indicate the try.
Does that work as a notation? How about directmates? (2021-10-20)
Henrik Juel: In problems with stipulations like #2 or #3, the convention is that the number (2 or 3) is the number of white moves, so there the retro joke is clear
For helpmates there is no such convention, but your notation seems OK (2021-10-20)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Promotion (S,S), No legal last move for White, Minimal (B)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB)
FEN: Kb1nr3/pprbp3/1Pknp3/p1qp4/8/8/8/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
15 - P0500706
Simo Ylikarjula
4665 feenschach 76 08/11/1985
P0500706
(2+6) C+
h#5
2.1...
1) 1. ... g4 2. e6 g5 3. Ke7 g6 4. Td8 gxf7 5. Td7 f8=D#
2) 1. ... g3 2. Kd7 g4 3. Td8 g5 4. Ke8 g6 5. Sd7 gxf7#
play all play one stop play next play all
Numerous retro tries but none distinct
Retro!-patt, Aufspaltung Doppelschritt!, Excelsior, Umwandlung
more ...
comment
Keywords: Promotion in the mating move, Excelsior white (auto key), No legal last move for White, Minimal
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB)
FEN: 4k2r/4ppK1/5n1p/8/8/8/6P1/8
Reprints: 365 Minimalkunst im Schach 2006
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-06
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-08 more...
16 - P0510541
Dragomir Rusin
Problem 41-44 03/1957
3. Preis
15. Thematurnier
P0510541
(3+14) cooked
h#4
1. ... Txg7 2. Td3 Txg6 3. Sd4 Txg4 4. Sb3 Ta4#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: NL
1. ... Txg7 2. Ka1 Txf7 3. Sg3 Tf2 4. Dc8 Lxd4#
Yuri Bilokin: Correction: 4nrRB/2p2pbK/p3p1p1/5n2/3r2q1/5p2/k7/1b6 (3+14) (2019-01-19)
A.Buchanan: The diagram matches the published one (2020-10-01)
A.Buchanan: Yuri’s correction is sound and seems economical (2020-10-01)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Check Protection, No legal last move for White, Superseded by (P1389481)
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: 5rRB/pp2ppbK/2pp2p1/5n2/3r2q1/8/k7/1b6
Input: Markus Manhart, 1997-06-26
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-05-12 more...
17 - P0575522
Johann J. Chaschtschanski
13414 Schach 07/1995
P0575522
(3+4) C+
h#5
1. ... Lxd3 2. La6/Lb5/Ld5/Le6/Lf7/Lg8 Kb1 3. a2+ Kc1 4. a1=L Lxa6/Lxa5/Le4/Lf5/Lg6/Lh7 5. Ka2 Lc4#/Lc4#/Lxd5#/Lxe6#/Lxf7#/Lxg8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Es war zum Abschlus noch ein ganz besonderer Gag - "zum wiederholten Male stellt der Autor die Löser mit einem Retro-trick auf die Probe".
"denn eine rückshauende Betrachung der Stellung ergibt daß Weiß nicht zuletzt gezogen haben kann, mithin also am Zuge ist."
"aber da gibt es wohl jede Menge Variationsmöglichkeiten bei den Läuferzugen.
In diesem speziellen Fall blieben sie unbewertet, zumal es ja auch eine spezielle Spielart, das sog. "Varianten Hilfsmatt" geben soll."
"Fazit: eine gute Mischung!"
"Durch die Hilsmatt-chwemme war es eine recht einfache, aber nicht uninteressante Angelenheir, vor allem die Nr. 13412 und natürlich der Retro-Witz haben mir gefallen."
Dennoch "Ein kleines Selbstmatt dazwischen (so in neun Zügen oder mehr) ware schon gang recht gewesen."

Some retro tries h#6 but not distinct.
Cook: The 6 helpmate variants seem to be intended.
A.Buchanan: If one wanted a unique solution, -wLc4 +wBd6 seems the only way (2023-04-24)
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White, Miniature
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: C+ Helpmate Analyzer 6 variant solutions
FEN: 8/8/8/8/2b5/pk1p4/1P6/KB6
Input: Felber, Volker, 1999-12-27
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
18 - P0579831
Michel Olausson
7092 Springaren 1991
P0579831
(13+11) C+
h#2
3 Lösungen
1) 1. ... g4 2. Lxe4 e3#
2) 1. ... exd3 2. Sxd2 Lxd2#
3) 1. ... exd3 2. Sf6 g3#
play all play one stop play next play all
sLa1 promoted = sBdxcxbxa exhausts all white captured units, so sBf & sBh waylaid. For white therefore since c2xb3xa4 captures on light squares, wBfxLe3 earlier. So White has no legal last moves: a2-a3? blocks promotion S~-h2? impossible check.
2 of the solutions are variations.
Numerous retro tries but none distinct.
more ...
comment
Keywords: Obvious promotion (l), No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 + simple retro logic
FEN: 8/6p1/1p6/p1p1p2n/P3Pk1P/Pn1b3K/1P1PP1PN/b1B2BRr
Input: hpr, 2001-01-20
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-08 more...
19 - P1088622
Ladislav Packa
2872 Pravda 29/09/1995
P1088622
(5+11) C+
h#2
1. ... a8=T! 2. Tb5 Tc8#
1. Kb5? a8=S 2. Lc6 Sc7#
but White has no last move, so White to move in diagram
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: If the unconventional party must move first due to retro considerations, then according to Footnote 19 of the Codex, the stipulation should state the number of White moves. This means that direct mates & self mates become half a move longer, but help mates become half a move shorter.

So this becomes sound if we were to remove the "*" from the stipulation. The 2.0 solution becomes a retro try, and the 1.5 set play becomes the solution. (2013-07-20)
A.Buchanan: Nice problem. Can sTd6 be downgraded to sB? (2023-12-06)
Ladislav Packa: Yes, it is possible. I used the same mechanism in another problem:
StrateGems SG63 July-September 2013 C0490, dedicated to Valery Liskovets
White Pb7 Pb6 Pa2 Pd2 Kh1
Black Pe7 Ph7 Pc6 Qh6 Pa5 Pb5 Kd5 Sc4 Ph4 Pc3 Se3 Bc2 Rg2 Bh2
pser-h#4 (legal parry) 2 solutions
I. 1.Kc5 dxc3 2.Sd5 3.Qd2 (Bd6?) b8S 4.Bd6 Sd7#
II. 1.Kd6 d4 2.Bd3 (Rg6?) b8R 3.Rg6 4.Re6 Rd8# (2023-12-06)
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Trivial retro analysis + Popeye Windows-32Bit v4.51
FEN: 8/P2p4/Ppkr4/p1rb4/p1p5/K1p5/P1P5/b7
Input: hpr, 2009-07-11
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2018-01-28 more...
20 - P1343579
Kjell Widlert
9771 FEENSCHACH 817-820 07-09/1970
P1343579
(6+9) C+
h#2
Circe
1. ... gxh6ep[+sBh7]! 2. Dxg4[+wBg2] Sxg4[+sDd8]#
1. Sf3? gxh5[+sBh7] 2. Dg4 Sxg4[+sDd8]#
R: 1. h7-h5 2. Sf3xBh2[+sBh7]
play all play one stop play next play all
Five retro tries h#2 but not distinct:
1.Sh4-f3 g4*h5[+bPh7] 2.Qh3-g4 Sh2*g4[+bQd8] #
1.Sh4*g6[+wPg2] g2*h3[+bQd8] 2.h5*g4[+wPg2] Sh2*g4[+bPg7] #
1.Sh4*g6[+wPg2] g4*h5[+bPh7] 2.Qh3-g4 Sh2*g4[+bQd8] #
1.h5*g4[+wPg2] g2*h3[+bQd8] 2.Sh4-f3 Sh2*g4[+bPg7] #
1.h5*g4[+wPg2] g2*h3[+bQd8] 2.Sh4*g6[+wPg2] Sh2*g4[+bPg7] #
Klären ob Originalforderung h#2
Alfred Pfeiffer: Originalforderung war h#2. In der Lösungsbesprechung (fs-1, 01/1971, S.17) steht: "Korrekterweise sollte bei Aufgaben dieser Art ein Hinweis gegeben werden, daß sie Retroanalyse erfordern!".
Bei der Scheinlösung hat weiß keinen letzten Zug. (2017-11-23)
Henrik Juel: Giving a hint about retro analysis would spoil the fun (2017-11-23)
A.Buchanan: Quite right Henrik. Solvers should always be on their toes (2023-12-07)
comment
Keywords: Circe, En passant as key, No legal last move for White
Genre: Fairies, Retro, h#
Computer test: laut WinChloe
FEN: 8/8/6P1/6Pp/6Pn/4P1pq/3prk1N/4bb1K
Input: HBae, 2017-11-23
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
21 - P1380195
Norbert Geissler
The Problemist Supplement 2018
after Andrew Buchanan
P1380195
(10+12) C+
h#3
1. ... e3 2. Da5 Df3 3. b6 Dxa8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Numerous retro tries but none distinct
The task here is to maximize the number of necessary units in a homebase h#.
Henrik Juel: 1... e3 2.Da5 Df3 3.b6 Dxa8#
White (not Black) has no last move, so he has the move, and the stipulation is really h#2.5 (2020-09-23)
A.Buchanan: Can shift sBd7 to c7 for an entirely different mate, but alas one of sBg7h7 might be removed without losing soundness. (2020-09-24)
comment
Keywords: Homebase (2), No legal last move for White
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: C+ Popeye v4.85 + retro thinking
FEN: r2qk1nr/pp1ppppp/8/8/8/8/1PPPPPP1/2BQKB2
Input: A.Buchanan, 2020-09-23
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
22 - P1389481
Dragomir Rusin
Yuri Bilokin

PDB Website 19/01/2021
DR, correction YB
P1389481
(3+14) C+
h#4
1. ... Txg7 2. Td3 Txg6 3. Sd4 Txg4 4. Sb3 Ta4#
play all play one stop play next play all
Numerous retro tries but none distinct
See P0510541.
more ...
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White, Check Protection
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye 4.61 It is obvious that Black made last move, so White begins.
FEN: 4nrRB/2p2pbK/p3p1p1/5n2/3r2q1/5p2/k7/1b6
Input: A.Buchanan, 2021-05-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-07 more...
23 - P1399586
Andrew Buchanan
12559 feenschach 246, p. 176, 07-09/2021
nach Bernt Ahlgren
P1399586
(2+13) C+
h#3 (2.1...)
b) Rotate the board by 180°
a) WTM
1. ... Lxh2 2. Lc3 Lxf4 3. Le5 Lg5#
1. ... Lxf2 2. f3 Le3 3. De5 Lg5#
b) BTM (R: 1.b7-b8=L)
1. Td4 Lxc7 2. Ld3 Lg3 3. c4 Le1#
1. c6 Lf4 2. Lg5 Lc1 3. Ld2 Lb2#
play all play one stop play next play all
Numerous retro tries but none distinct in the retro twin a).
Henrik Juel: In part a) it is clear that White has the move, so the stipulation is really h#2.5
1... Lxh2 2.Lc3 Lxf4 3.Le5 Lg5#
1... Lxf2 2.f3 Le3 3.De5 Lg5#
In part b) last move was b7-b8=L
1.Td4 Lxc7 2.Ld3 Lg3 3.c4 Le1#
1.c6 Lf4 2.Lg5 Lc1 3.Ld2 Lb2#
Very good; the rotation changes everything, incl. preventing the former mates on g5, now b4 (2022-03-02)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Twinning by board rotation, No legal last move for White, Minimal
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: forgot to mention C+ Popeye 4.61
FEN: 8/5p1p/4rk1K/5b1p/5ppp/8/5p1q/4b1Br
Reprints: Discord Chess Problems & Studies Server 02/03/2022
Input: A.Buchanan, 2022-03-02
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
24 - P1409850
Andrew Buchanan
H1327 Problem Paradise 97, p. 11, 01-03/2022
P1409850
(3+13) C+
h#3
b) sSb5<->sBa7
a) 1. ... axb7 2. Kc7 Kd5 3. Kd8 b8=D#
b) 1. Tc7 e7 2. Kd7 Kd5 3. Kc8 e8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
Unique set play retro try in the retro twin s). 1.Kc7 axb7 2.Kd8 b8=D#. Zero set play in b).
All pieces are necessary for soundness in at least one twin except for sBa4 ("the manager").
First publication had typo in stipulation
Henrik Juel: If you disregard retro considerations and blindly test with Popeye 4.61, you get lots of cooks in part a) and 1.Re7-c7 e6-e7 2.Kc6-d7 Ke4-d5 3.Kd7-c8 e7-e8=Q #
in part b) (2023-05-20)
Henrik Juel: Part b) is OK, because last move could be Kd4-e4, and a normal h#3 ensues
But in part a) White (not Black as intimated by the Keyword) has no last move, and the stipulation changes to h#2.5 with the solution 1...a6*b7 2.Kc6-c7 Ke4-d5 3.Kc7-d8 b7-b8=Q #
Nice symbol problem (2023-05-20)
more ...
comment
Keywords: No legal last move for White, Character problem (PP)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye 4.61 and simple analysis
FEN: 8/pp2rp2/P1k1P1p1/pn2nr2/p3K3/q3b3/8/8
Reprints: OP015 The Hopper Magazine I02 25/06/2022
Input: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-20
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-12-06 more...
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