Die Schwalbe

1136 problem(s) found in 6241 milliseconds (displaying 100 problem(s)). [COMMENTDATE>=20200919 AND NOT K='Hilfsrückzüger' AND NOT K='Linienverstellung' AND K='Umwandlung'] [download as LaTeX]

1 - P0000034
Joachim Brügge
5468 Die Schwalbe 98 04/1986
P0000034
(13+12) C+
BP in 17,0
Wem gewidmet?
1. f4 a5 2. f5 a4 3. f6 a3 4. fxe7 axb2 5. exd8=S bxa1=S 6. Sxb7 Sf6 7. g4 Sxg4 8. Lb2 Se3 9. Sf3 Sc4 10. Lxg7 Lc5 11. Sa5 Lg1 12. Ld4 Lb7 13. Lf2 Tg8 14. Sd4 Lf3 15. c3 Sc6 16. Sc2 Tc8 17. Sb3 Sd4
play all play one stop play next play all
6S make "S"; 4L make "L"
"SL" = Sam Loyd
Ryan McCracken: Cooked...Nf6/Nh6 is one of many move defects. (2001-09-13)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stevio 1.2 1 Sekunde.
Keine Lösung: BP 16.0, BP 16.5.
Beispiel Notation:1.f4 Sc6 2.Sf3 Sf6 3.f5 Tg8 4.g4 Sxg4 5.f6 a5 6.fxe7 a4 7.exd8=S a3
8.Sxb7 axb2 9.Sa5 bxa1=S 10.Lb2 Lb7 11.Lxg7 Lc5 12.Sd4 Se3 13.c3 Sc4 14.Sc2 Lg1
15.Ld4 Tc8 16.Lf2 Sd4 17.Sb3 Lf3.
Die Idee mit den Buchstaben SL im Diagramm finde ich super! (2023-05-20)
A.Buchanan: Yes I like the letter idea, which can only work in German. Do you think this was intentionally a non-unique PG? Given the triumphs of the unique PG genre, such problems do not impress, but it wouldn't be "cooked". Or maybe we should classify all non-unique PGs here as cooked? What do you think? (2023-05-21)
Henrik Juel: Testing gives the result 'cooked'
This problem is correct in the sense that all shortest proof games last 17.0 moves
Still the current C+ is rather misleading
I suggest no label, neither C+ nor cooked (2023-05-21)
Moldenhauer: Ich nehme an, dass die Absicht es Sam Loyd zu widmen, das Ziel war.
Deshalb für diese Ausführung C+. Wenn der Autor selbst angibt das es nur
einen Lösungsweg gibt ist die Aufgabe cooked. NUPG haben andere
Schachproblemfreunde festgestellt und als Schlüsselwort angegeben. Oder irre ich? (2023-05-21)
Olaf Jenkner: Machine translation is very poor as far as problem chess is concerned. (2023-05-23)
A.Buchanan: Hi Moldenhauser. Non-unique PGs are uncooked if 1) the move total is correct, (2) the intended theme appears in every shortest solution. For a problem like this where the theme is the final diagram, the second is vacuous. In 1986 some unique PGs were being already published, and I t can be difficult to discern the intention of the composer but I think this one was intended to be non-unique. I don’t think any non-unique PG can be classed as C+. (2023-05-23)
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comment
Keywords: Non-standard material, Promotion, Non-Unique Proof Game, Symbolproblem Endstellung (SL)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stevio 1.2 1 Sekunde. Keine Lösung: BP 16.0, BP 16.5.
FEN: 2r1k1r1/2pp1p1p/8/8/2nn4/1NP2b2/P1NPPB1P/nN1QKBbR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-23 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 - P0000108
Andrey Frolkin
6272 Die Schwalbe 111 06/1988
1. Lob
P0000108
(30+0) C+
Färbe die Steine!
BP in 19.0
1. h4 d6 2. Th3 Sd7 3. Tb3 Sdf6 4. Tb6 axb6 5. f4 Ta3 6. Kf2 Th3 7. a4 Th1 8. Ta3 Lh3 9. Tg3 Dd7 10. Tg6 hxg6 11. a5 Th5 12. a6 Ta5 13. h5 Ta1 14. h6 Da4 15. h7 b5 16. h8=T Sh7 17. a7 f6 18. a8=T+ Kf7 19. Ta7 Dd4+
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: C+ by Natch 3.1 (16 min.)
The colored position has black Ta1,h1 and Pb5,g6, and white Ta7,h8, otherwise 'natural' (2018-12-07)
François Labelle: Henrik, did you really test all 2^30 possible colorings with Natch, or did you use human deductions to reduce the possibilities (making this HC+), or did you only test the intended coloring (making this a partial C+)? (2018-12-09)
Mario Richter: I do not think that it is necessary to check all 2^30 colorings, since the color of the pawns on files c,d,e and f is completely determined. This and more restrictions on the set of potentially possible colorings may be derived from insights presented in an article "Aggregierte Schlagbilanz" by Frolkin & Kornilov, feenschach 130, p.411ff. Since the mechanisms presented there can at least partially be implemented in a little computer program, even a "full C+" label for this problem is not out of reach ... (2018-12-10)
Henrik Juel: I only tested the intended coloring, Francois,
so the C+ label is not justifiable
In the other coloring proof games I write something like
The colored position was C+ by Natch

Mario is right, of course, in that not all colorings need testing; but still the number is very large
This genre is somewhat messy; at first I thought that the solver could determine the coloring, but this is clearly not the case; also, the intention is not
'color the men such that a correct proof game in 19 results' (2018-12-11)
A.Buchanan: Henrik: so what exactly should the stipulation be for clarity? (2018-12-12)
Henrik Juel: Pretty much as it is now, Andrew
Color the men
PG19 (2021-02-20)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Colouring problem, Promotion (TT), Phoenix
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Natch 3.1 (16 min.)
FEN: 5BNR/RPP1PKPN/3P1PP1/1P6/3Q1P2/7B/1PPPPKP1/RNBQ1BNR
Reprints: 158 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2022-02-08 more...
4 - P0000112
Dmitri W. Pronkin
Andrey Frolkin

6386v Die Schwalbe 113 10/1988
P0000112
(14+14) cooked
BP in 45.0
1. f4 g5 2. f5 g4 3. f6 g3 4. fxe7 gxh2 5. g4 d5 6. g5 d4 7. g6 d3 8. g7 dxc2 9. d4 f5 10. Lf4 c1=T 11. Lg3 Tc6 12. Dd3 Tg6 13. Da6 Sf6 14. g8=L c5 15. Lb3 c4 16. d5 Kf7 17. e8=T c3 18. Te4 c2 19. Ta4 c1=L 20. e4 Lf4 21. Sd2 h5 22. 0-0-0 h4 23. Te1 h3 24. Ld1 Th4 25. d6 L8h6 26. d7 Dh8 27. d8=T Le6 28. Tc8 S8d7 29. Tc2 Kg8 30. e5 Lf7 31. e6 Tf8 32. e7 Lb8 33. e8=S f4 34. Te7 f3 35. Se2 f2 36. Tg1 h1=S 37. b4 h2 38. Lh3 f1=S 39. b5 Sf2 40. b6 h1=L 41. bxa7 b6 42. a8=L Lb7 43. Th1 Lc8 44. Lag2 Se3 45. Lf1 S6e4
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. b4 c5 2. b5 c4 3. b6 c3 4. bxa7 d5 5. e4 d4 6. f4 d3 7. f5 dxc2 8. d4 g5 9. Lf4 c1=L 10. d5 g4 11. f6 g3 12. fxe7 gxh2 13. g4 c2 14. Lg3 Lf4 15. g5 c1=T 16. g6 Tc6 17. Dd3 f5 18. Sd2 h5 19. g7 Tg6 20. 0-0-0 Sf6 21. Te1 h4 22. d6 h3 23. g8=L Th4 24. Lb3 L8h6 25. Ld1 Kf7 26. d7 Dh8 27. d8=T Le6 28. Td4 Sbd7 29. e5 Tf8 30. e8=T Kg8 31. Tc8 Lf7 32. e6 b6 33. e7 Lb8 34. e8=S f4 35. Te7 f3 36. Se2 f2 37. Tg1 h1=S 38. Da6 h2 39. Lh3 f1=S 40. Ta4 Sf2 41. Tc2 h1=L
Michel Caillaud: cooked by Stelvio 0.93 :
1.b4 c5 2.b5 c4 3.b6 c3 4.bxa7 d5 5.e4 d4 6.f4 d3 7.f5 dxc2 8.d4 g5 9.Lf4 c1=L 10.d5 g4 11.f6 g3 12.fxe7 gxh2 13.g4 c2 14.Lg3 Lf4 15.g5 c1=T 16.g6 Tc6 17.Dd3 f5 18.Sd2 h5 19.g7 Tg6 20.0-0-0 Sf6 21.Te1 h4 22.d6 h3 23.g8=L Th4 24.Lb3 L8h6 25.Ld1 Kf7 26.d7 Dh8 27.d8=T Le6 28.Td4 Sbd7 29.e5 Tf8 30.e8=T Kg8 31.Tc8 Lf7 32.e6 b6 33.e7 Lb8 34.e8=S f4 35.Te7 f3 36.Se2 f2 37.Tg1 h1=S 38.Da6 h2 39.Lh3 f1=S 40.Ta4 Sf2 41.Tc2 h1=L... (2022-12-20)
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Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Move Length Record, Non-standard material, Castling, Promotion (tLTlTSsslL)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1bb1Nrkq/3nRb2/Qp4rb/8/R3n2r/4n1BB/P1RNNn2/2KB1B1R
Reprints: 583 Ukrainisches Album 1986-1990
80 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Silvio Baier, 2023-03-02 more...
5 - P0000250
Nikita M. Plaksin
Valery Liskovets

7577v Die Schwalbe 132 12/1991
P0000250
(5+14)
ser-h#5 (AP)
Typ Tauber/Caillaud
1. Kd4 2. bxc3ep (zuletzt nur K,T-Zug oder c2-c4) 3. e5! (nicht 4. Tb4? weil zuletzt K,T-Zug und 0-0-0 nicht mehr möglich) 4. Tb4 (zuletzt e7xLd8=S möglich) 5. Tc4 & 1. 0-0-0# nicht 1. Td1#? wegen fehlender AP-Legalisierung
play all play one stop play next play all
"das zeigt die Paradoxie der AP-Bedingung!" (MS). Gleich 1. bxc3 ep.? und dann 2. Kd4 geht natürlich nicht, weil zuvor außer K,T-Zug und c2-c4 auch S-Züge und c3-c4 möglich waren. "Interessanter und genau abgestimmter Lösungsverlauf" (GW) "Sehr schöne und ökonomische Verbindung zwischen konsequentem sh# und AP!" (TB) Mit 'Typ Tauber/Caillaud' ist gemeint, daß die einzelnen Stellungen doch als retroanlytischer Gesamtkomplex betrachtet werden dürfen/sollen (sonst wäre keine AP-Legalisierung möglich), obwohl sie ja aufgrund der retroanalytischen Neubewertung nach jedem Rückzug voneinander unabhängig sind. 6L./5+5P.
A.Buchanan: "By 'type Tauber/Caillaud' it is meant that the individual positions may/should be regarded as a retroanalytic overall complex (otherwise no AP legalization would be possible), although they are independent of each other due to the retroanalytic reassessment after each retraction." (2023-06-29)
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Keywords: Castling (wl), a posteriori (AP), Promotion (S), Seriesmover, Consequent, En passant
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 1N6/1ppppppn/n7/1Pq1k3/1pP1r3/4p3/1r6/R3K3
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-06-29 more...
6 - 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...
7 - P0000404
Michel Caillaud
Die Schwalbe 80 04/1983
P0000404
(11+15) C+
BP in 45,0
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. a3 Ta4 5. Ta2 bxa2 6. Tg1 axb1=S 7. Th1 Sc3 8. Tg1 Sd5 9. Th1 Sb6 10. Tg1 Sa8 11. Th1 b6 12. Tg1 La6 13. Th1 Dc8 14. Tg1 Db7 15. Th1 Df3 16. gxf3 h5 17. Lh3 h4 18. Le6 h3 19. La2 Lc4 20. Lb1 La2 21. b3 Thh4 22. Lb2 Thb4 23. Lf6 gxf6 24. Kf1 Lh6 25. Kg1 Kf8 26. Df1 Kg7 27. Dg2+ hxg2 28. h4 Kg6 29. Kh2 g1=S 30. Kg2 Lf4 31. h5+ Kg5 32. Th4 Lh2 33. Td4 Sh3 34. f4+ Kh4 35. Kf3 Sg5+ 36. Ke3 Kh3 37. h6 Kg2 38. h7 Kf1 39. h8=T Sh7 40. Kf3 Ke1 41. Kg2 Kd1 42. Kf1 Kc1 43. Ke1 Kb2 44. Kd1 Ka1 45. Kc1 Lg1
play all play one stop play next play all
Reto: This is now the new record for the longest computer tested SPG. Strategy seeking takes up all the time, playing the 800 strategies on the other hand is done within a few seconds. (2023-08-11)
Reto: With the upcoming v1.6, this is solved by Stelvio in around 20min. The improvement is due to the fact that the cage in the south-west is now detected (either the wRa1 is captured inside the cage or the wBc1 is captured at home) (2023-09-02)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Move Length Record, Non-standard material (ss), Promotion (ssT)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.5 in about 2.5 days.
FEN: nn4nR/2pppp1n/1p3p2/8/rr1R1P2/PP6/b1PPPP2/kBK3b1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-08-12 more...
8 - P0000411
Andrey Frolkin
4429 Die Schwalbe 82 08/1983
2. Lob
P0000411
(9+13) cooked
BP in 40,0
1. d4 e5 2. d5 f5 3. d6 Le7 4. dxe7 d5 5. e4 d4 6. Dg4 fxg4 7. c4 d3 8. c5 Dd6 9. b4 Kd7 10. cxd6 c5 11. b5 c4 12. b6 Sc6 13. e8=T d2+ 14. Ke2 c3 15. Kd3 d1=L 16. Sd2 Sd4 17. Tf8 Kc6 18. Tf4 exf4 19. e5 h5 20. e6 Lb3 21. e7 Lf7 22. bxa7 b5 23. e8=T b4 24. Te6 b3 25. Th6 gxh6 26. d7 b2 27. d8=T Lce6 28. Td5 Te8 29. Kc4 b1=L 30. a8=T Lh7 31. Ta3 c2 32. Tg3 Se7 33. a4 Thf8 34. a5 Sg6 35. a6 Sh8 36. a7 fxg3 37. a8=T gxh2 38. T8a3 Lhg8 39. Th3 gxh3 40. Se4 Lxd5+
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. b4 e5 2. d4 Le7 3. d5 f5 4. d6 h5 5. dxe7 d5 6. b5 Dd6 7. b6 Kd7 8. bxa7 b5 9. c4 b4 10. c5 d4 11. cxd6 c5 12. e8=T Sc6 13. Tf8 c4 14. e4 d3 15. Dg4 d2+ 16. Ke2 c3 17. Kd3 d1=L 18. Sd2 fxg4 19. Tf4 exf4 20. e5 Sd4 21. e6+ Kc6 22. e7 b3 23. e8=T b2 24. Te6 Lb3 25. Th6 Lf7 26. d7+ gxh6 27. d8=T Lce6 28. Td5 Te8 29. Kc4 b1=L 30. a8=T Lh7 31. Ta3 c2 32. Tg3 Se7 33. a4 Thf8 34. a5 Sg6 35. a6 Sh8 36. a7 fxg3 37. a8=T gxh2
38. T8a3 Lhg8 39. Th3 gxh3 40. Se4 Lxd5+
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stelvio 1.6 29:20:32 Stunden. (hh:mm:ss)
Da NUPG C+
Notation: 1.b4 e5 2.d4 Le7 3.d5 f5 4.d6 h5 5.dxe7 d5 6.b5 Dd6 7.b6 Kd7 8.bxa7 b5
9.c4 b4 10.c5 d4 11.cxd6 c5 12.e8=T Sc6 13.Tf8 c4 14.e4 d3 15.Dg4 d2+ 16.Ke2 c3
17.Kd3 d1=L 18.Sd2 fxg4 19.Tf4 exf4 20.e5 Sd4 21.e6+ Kc6 22.e7 b3 23.e8=T b2
24.Te6 Lb3 25.Th6 Lf7 26.d7+ gxh6 27.d8=T Lce6 28.Td5 Te8 29.Kc4 b1=L 30.a8=T Lh7
31.Ta3 c2 32.Tg3 Se7 33.a4 Thf8 34.a5 Sg6 35.a6 Sh8 36.a7 fxg3 37.a8=T gxh2
38.T8a3 Lhg8 39.Th3 gxh3 40.Se4 Lxd5+
3 schwarze Läufer stehen zum Schluss auf den weißen Felder d5, f7, g8. (2023-09-21)
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (TTTTT), Non-standard material (ll), Promotion (TlTTlTT)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 4rrbn/5b2/2k4p/3b3p/2KnN3/7p/2p2PPp/R1B2BNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2023-09-22 more...
9 - 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)
comment
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...
10 - P0000548
Alexander Kislyak
3463 Die Schwalbe 68 04/1981
Dr. L. Ceriani zum Gedenken
P0000548
(10+13) cooked
BP in 46,0
AL: 1. d4 a5 2. c4 a4 3. b4 a3 4. Lb2 axb2 5. a4 c5 6. a5 b5 7. a6 Lb7 8. a7 Da5 9. bxa5 Sc6 10. a6 0-0-0 11. a8=S Sa5 12. Sc7 b4 13. a7 b3 14. a8=S Sf6 15. Sb6 Kb8 16. Se6 dxe6 17. Sd7 Ka8 18. Sxf8 Td5 19. cxd5 c4 20. d6 c3 21. d7 c2 22. d5 c1=L 23. d6 Ld5 24. Ta4 Se8 25. Tf4 f6 26. Sc3 b1=L 27. d8=S b2 28. d7 Lg6 29. Sb7 b1=L 30. d8=S Lf7 31. Sg6 Lf5 32. Sd6 Lg4 33. Sf5 hxg6 34. Sb7 gxf5 35. Sc5 Th4 36. S5e4 fxe4 37. e3 Lf5 38. Ke2 Tg4 39. h4 Sb3 40. h5 Sa1 41. h6 Ld2 42. h7 Le1 43. h8=S Sc7 44. Sg6 Sb5 45. Sh4 Sa3 46. S4f3 exf3+
play all play one stop play next play all
Korrektur siehe 3463v
James Malcom: How in the world can a non-unique PG be cooked? I'm unmarking it, for now. (2021-01-25)
A.Buchanan: Maybe the intended theme was not forced? Haven’t looked at this problem though (2021-01-26)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Ceriani-Frolkin Theme, Non-standard material (ll), Castling, konsekutive Umwandlungen 8, Promotion, Superseded by (P0000582)
Genre: Retro
FEN: k7/4pbp1/4pp2/3b1b2/5Rr1/n1N1Pp2/4KPP1/n2QbBNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-01-26 more...
11 - P0000582
Alexander Kislyak
3463v Die Schwalbe 72 12/1981
Dr. L. Ceriani zum Gedenken
P0000582
(10+13) cooked
BP in 46,0
AL: 1. b4 a5 2. c4 a4 3. d4 a3 4. Lb2 axb2 5. a4 b5 6. a5 c5 7. a6 Da5 8. a7 Sc6 9. bxa5 Lb7 10. a6 0-0-0 11. a8=S b4 12. Sc7 Sa7 13. Se6 Sb5 14. Sxf8 Sh6 15. a7 f6 16. a8=S Sf7 17. Sc7 b3 18. Sce6 dxe6 19. Ta4 Td5 20. cxd5 c4 21. d6 c3 22. d5 c2 23. Sc3 Sg5 24. d7+ Kb8 25. d6 c1=L 26. d8=S b1=L 27. d7 b2 28. Sf7 Lf5 29. Sd6 Lh3 30. d8=S b1=L 31. S8f7 Lg6 32. Sh6 Lf7 33. Sg6 hxg6 34. Shf5 Th4 35. Tf4 gxf5 36. Sde4 fxe4 37. e3 Lf5 38. Ke2 Tg4 39. h4 Sa3 40. h5 Sb1 41. h6 Ka8 42. h7 Ld5 43. h8=S Ld2 44. Sg6 Le1 45. Sh4 Sh3 46. Shf3 exf3+
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: NL: 1. b4 a5 2. c4 a4 3. d4 a3 4. Lb2 axb2 5. a4 b5 6. a5 c5 7. a6 Sc6 8. a7 Lb7 9. Ta6 Da5 10. bxa5 0-0-0 11. a8=S b4 12. Sc7 b3 13. Se6 Sb4 14. Sxf8 Sf6 15. Te6 dxe6 16. a6 Td5 17. cxd5 c4 18. a7 c3 19. a8=S c2 20. Sc3 c1=L 21. Sb6+ Kb8 22. Sc8 b1=L 23. d6 Lg6 24. d7 b2 25. d8=D b1=L 26. Da5 Lbf5 27. d5 Se4 28. d6 f6 29. d7 Lf7 30. Sg6 hxg6 31. d8=T Lh3 32. Td4 Th4 33. Df5 gxf5 34. Sd6 Sg5 35. Tf4 Ka8 36. S6e4 fxe4 37. e3 Lf5 38. Ke2 Tg4 39. h4 Sc2 40. h5 Sa3 41. h6 Sb1 42. h7 Ld5 43. h8=S Sh3 44. Sg6 Ld2 45. Sh4 Le1 46. Shf3 exf3+
James Malcom: Again, how is this cooked? (2021-01-25)
A.Buchanan: The AL has 5 Wh S promotions in 46.0 moves but the cook shows this is not necessary. (2021-01-26)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (SSSSS), Non-standard material (ll), Castling, Promotion, konsekutive Umwandlungen 8
Genre: Retro
FEN: k7/4pbp1/4pp2/3b1b2/5Rr1/2N1Pp1n/4KPP1/1n1QbBNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-01-26 more...
12 - 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)
more ...
comment
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...
13 - P0000793
Nikita M. Plaksin
Andrey Lobusov

1558 Die Schwalbe 33 06/1975
4. Preis
P0000793
(13+5) C+
#3 (AP)
1. cxd6ep+! Kxg3 2. 0-0! (proving ep ok)
2. ... Kg4 3. g8=D,T#
2. ... a1=D,L 3. Dg5#

R: 1. d7-d5 Tc6xh6 (unless R: Kg1-g2 Th~*h1)
play all play one stop play next play all
VL: A posteriori (AP)!
2.g8Q(R)+/Rg1+? Kf4 3.Qg5#??
Retro: d7-d5, Rc6xh6+ (unless Kg1-g2, Rh~-h1+).
One of the best AP-type problems. (2015-08-20)
James Malcom: The first Valladao AP? (2020-10-03)
A.Buchanan: Hi James, there are 6 earlier ones in PDB, not counting those which are not marked as Valladao (could quite a few, as basic AP is 2/3 of Valladao). Type k='a p' and not g='fairies' and k='valladao', and set sort order by date. The ur-problem is P0003417. (2020-10-03)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Castling (wk), a posteriori (AP) (Type Petrovic), En passant as key, Promotion (ws), Valladao Task (w w w/s)
Genre: Retro, 3#
Computer test: Popeye v4.85 + minor retro/AP thought
FEN: B7/p5PP/p6R/Q1Pp4/8/PP1P2P1/p3P1k1/4K2R
Reprints: (B) Die Schwalbe 48 12/1976
feenschach 40 11-12/1977
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-03-11 more...
14 - P0000819
Josef Haas
1893 Die Schwalbe 40 08/1976
1. Preis
P0000819
(9+6)
#1 vor 4 Zügen
VRZ, Typ Hoeg
R: 1. Kh3xBg3 hxg3ep+ 2. g2-g4 Ke6xBd6 3. exd6ep+ d7-d5 4. Sc4-b6, dann 1. Sd6#
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: It is illegal for Black to supplement anything on b6, because [Ta8] was captured in its corner and the other missing black men were captured by white pawns (2016-03-28)
Henrik Juel: ... as wLb3 is a pawn promoted on e8 or g8
Nice type Høeg defensive retractor
Here are some other explanatory comments
In retraction 1 White chooses to move his king back to h3; Black could choose to supplement a black man on g3 (or nothing), but supplementing a pawn is the only way to maintain legality (Kh3 stands in double check from Lc8 and Dh8); again moving Pg3 back to h3 and White supplementing a pawn on g4 is forced (this e.p. case is the only one where the supplementing does no happen on the abandoned square)
In retraction 2 the white retraction is forced, and then moving Kd6 back to d7 to uncheck is illegal because of the double check from Sb6 and Pc6, so Black must uncheck by moving Kd6 back to e6 and White choose to supplement a pawn on the abandoned square
In retraction 3 White chooses to move Pd6 back to e5, forcing another e.p. situation (2023-04-08)
Henrik Juel: The Proca type is easy to define: White and Black alternate retractions, until White can mate with a forward move
The Høeg type is usually defined the same way, except that the other side decides which man (if any) was captured; but this can be detailed as follows:
1. White chooses a man and 'moves it back'
2. Black chooses which man (if any) to 'supplement' on the abandoned square
(only now is the white retraction complete)
3. Black chooses a man and 'moves it back'
4. White chooses which man (if any) to 'supplement' on the abandoned square
(only now is the black retraction complete)
etc. etc. until, following a white retraction, White can mate with a forward move
In tries, Black can ruin the white plan by mating White with a forward move after a black retraction
It goes without saying that the resulting retractions must be legal
'supplement' is my (poor) translation of the danish term 'supplere'; maybe 'add' would be better
'the abandoned square' needs a special interpretation in the e.p. case, which happens twice in this problem
These details may be the cause why new type Høeg defensive retractors are rarely seen, as type Proca is more natural and straightforward (2023-04-08)
A.Buchanan: Thanks Henrik. Yesterday, I went through all the defensive retractors to clear up keywords & genres. There were a very few where the stip did not specify the VRZ Type, and others where Anticirce did not specify Calvet vs Cheylan. The answers are probably obvious to you, and if you want to comment on those, then I will update the stips & keywords.
A more general question: Typ Friedlich appears to be the German for Type Pacific: can we standardize on one? (2023-04-08)
Henrik Juel: Thanks Andrew for enabling me to post my type Høeg spiel once again
Anticirce without specification usually means that both Calvet and Cheylan work
Friedlich is indeed german for Pacific, and as the PDB is a german product, I guess we must live with the present conditions (2023-04-08)
comment
Keywords: En passant, Promotion, Defensive Retractor, Type Høeg
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2b4q/1p2p3/pNPk4/8/8/1B2R1K1/1P2PP1P/8
Reprints: feenschach 42 04-07/1978
345 Europe Echecs 241 01/1979
(5) Die Schwalbe 163 02/1997
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-04-07 more...
15 - 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)
more ...
comment
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...
16 - P0001030
Jan R. Mortensen
Werner Keym

Die Schwalbe 1984
P0001030
(3+6)
Welches war der letzte Zug?
Schwarz am Zug
R: 1. f7xLg8=T
play all play one stop play next play all
siehe auch P0001031
Henrik Juel: Source is almost surely Caissa 1979 (CA stopped in 1930) (2020-12-17)
A.Buchanan: According to Werner Keym in ES, the original source is JM+WK Die Schwalbe 1984. That probably means that Werner modified P0001031 to tackle the different task here. I will adjust the source & authors accordingly. For these task problems, no-one tracks versioning, or afters. We just lump together all the composers who lent a hand. (2020-12-18)
Henrik Juel: OK, fine
Of course, this is also an example of First move by promoted Tg8, but not an economy record in this genre (2020-12-18)
A.Buchanan: Any last move which is promotion is implicitly a zero move for a the promoted unit. So I feel probably not worth adding the keyword of first move except for those which were intended as first move records. What do you think? (2020-12-19)
Henrik Juel: The same position with wSg8 was similar, but it was a double economy record, I think
The position with wTg8 is a last move record, but not a first move record, as removing Th7 and moving Ph6 to h7 is more economical
The first move problems with a zero move are not very impressive, so your approach is fine (2020-12-19)
comment
Keywords: Last Move? (BxL=T), Type B, Promotion (T), Economy record (Last Move? Type B)
Genre: Retro
FEN: k4bRK/4p1pR/5p1p/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: 1.45B Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 188, 2010
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-03-30 more...
17 - 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)
comment
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...
18 - P0001107
Michel Caillaud
3332 Die Schwalbe 66 12/1980
2. Preis
P0001107
(7+9) C+
h#4.5 (AP)
Circe
1. ... hxg6ep[+sBg7] 2. a1=T+ Txa1[+sTh8] 3. 0-0 Ta3 4. bxa3[+wTa1] 0-0-0 5. Td8 Txd8[+sTh8]#
play all play one stop play next play all
Wenn die beiden Könige noch nicht gezogen haben (was a.p. durch Ausführung beider Rochaden bewiesen wird!), kann der letzte Zug nur g7-g5 gewesen sein, Sonst ginge z.B. auch R: 1. Kd8-e8 c2xDb3
Henrik Juel: A possible retroplay is -1... g7 -2.f3xP(-Pg7) b5 -3.f2 c6xP(-Pb2) -4.b2 a6 -5.Rc3 a7 -6.Rc1 b6xB -7.Bf8 b7 -8.Bg7xB etc. (2003-04-22)
Michel Caillaud: The problem is not cooked as indicated, as under A Posteriori convention both castles must be played in the solution to justify the en passant key. (2022-02-04)
A.Buchanan: If wK never moved, then Black has not just moved another non-capturing pawn, as White has no prior move. The only possible exception is R: 1. g7-g5 f/h3xPg4[+Pg7]. (2022-02-04)
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP), Circe, En passant as key, Castling (wgsk), Promotion in forward play, Valladao Task
Genre: Retro, Fairies, h#
Computer test: HC+ all solutions begin with ep, but only one includes both white & black castling
FEN: 4k3/8/7p/p1p3pP/Pp4Pp/RP4p1/pP6/4K3
Reprints: feenschach 61, p. 534, 08/1982
RA152 diagrammes 72 07-08/1985
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-06-28 more...
19 - P0001114
Michel Caillaud
3676 Die Schwalbe 71 10/1981
3. ehrende Erwähnung
P0001114
(13+12)
#1
Mars-Circe
Gerald Ettl: 1.h8D# (2023-04-03)
Gerald Ettl: die Stellung loest sich auf indem der sK nach b1 - g8 wandert und dann Sg5 weg zieht. Der wK kommt ueber g5 raus. (2023-04-03)
Michel Caillaud: The original stipulation is #1 (durch wen?).
As wPe2 cannot be captured on its file, the 4 white captures for 4 Pawns to promote to Knights are (a2)xb3, (e2)xf3 and (f2)xg3 2 times, and wPb2 was captured on its file by (Dd8)xb6.
As b3-b2 (before (a2xb3)) and c7-c6 (before (Dd8)xb6) cannot be immediately retracted, only bK and wSs can play the last moves.
As indicated by Gerald, bK has to go to g8 to unlock the position, freeing bSg5.
When Ka3-a2 is retracted, previous white move places the 6 white Knights on black squares; the resulting Retro-Opposition implies that black is to play in the diagram position.
1.b1S#! (1g8D#?) (2023-04-04)
Gerald Ettl: Danke Michel fuer Dein Erklärung.
Ich löse so auf, dass Schwarz am Rückzug ist:
R: 1.Kc1b1 Se4d6 2.Bb2b3 Sc5d3 3.Kb1a2 Sd3c1 4.Ka2b1 Sh1f2 5.Kb1a2 Sa4c5 6.Bb3b4 Sf5e3 7.Ka2a3 La1d4 8.Ka3a4 Sf2h1 9.Ka4a5 Sh1f2 10.Ka5b6 Sf2h1 11.Kb6c7 Sh1f2 12.Kc7d8 Sf2h1 13.Kd8e8 Sh1f2 14.Ke8f8 Sf2h1 15.Kf8g8 Sh1f2 16.Sg5f3 Kh6g5 17.Sb8a6 Sc5a4 18.Sa6c5 Sd6b5 19.Sc5b3 Sb5c7 20.Sb3a1 Sc7a6 21.Sa1b3 Sa6b8 22.Sb3a1 Sa4b6 23.Sa1b3 Sb6c8 24.Sb3a1 Sb8b7[+wBb7] 25.Sa1b3 Bb7a6[+sLb7] 26.Sb3a1 Sc8c7[+wBc7] 27.Lb7c8 Kg5h4 28.Sa1b3 Tg6g5 29.Sb3a1 Tg5f5 30.Sa1b3 Tf5f4 31.Tg7g5 Sf2h1 32.Tg5b5 Sh1f2 33.Tb5b8 Sf2h1 34.Bb4b5 Sh1f2 35.Bb5b7 Bc7b6[+sLc7] 36.Tb8a8 Tf4e4 37.Lc7f4 Sg3f5 38.Kg8f8 Sf2h3 39.Lf4h6 Sc1e2 40.Kf8e8 Se2g3 41.Lh6f8 Sf5h6 42.Sb3a1 Sh6g8 43.Sa1b3 Sg8g7[+wBg7] 44.Sb3a1 Bg7g6 45.Sa1b3 Bg6f5[+sTg6] 46.Tg6g8 Bf5f4 47.Tg8h8 Sg3f5 48.Sb3a1 Sf5h6 49.Sa1b3 Sh6g8 50.Sb3a1 Sg8g7[+wBg7] 51.Bg4g5 Bg7g6 52.Bf6g7[+wDf6] Lh5g4 53.Sa1b3 Bh7h6 54.Sb3a1 Bh6h5 55.Bg5h6[+wTg5]
warum geht das nicht? Den Zug b1S# habe ich vorher ueberhaupt nicht gesehen. (2023-04-04)
Gerald Ettl: Jetzt habe ich es gesehen: der wBa2 musste ja von a2 geschlagen haben. (2023-04-04)
comment
Keywords: Circe (Mars), Non-standard material, Promotion
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 1n6/p2ppprP/2p2pRK/2N2NnB/N3N1p1/6N1/1pPP4/B1k4N
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2019-02-03 more...
20 - P0001117
Michel Caillaud
3872 Die Schwalbe 74 04/1982
12. Lob
P0001117
(11+12)
h#2
b) sBh7 nach h6
a) 1. 0-0-0? Sg6 2. Lb8 Sxe7! illegal castling
1. Kf7! Sxh7 2. Ke6 Sg5#
b) 1. 0-0-0! Sg6 2. Lb8 Sxe7#
1. Kf7? Sh7 2. Ke6 Sg5+? 3. hxg5!
R: 1. Ke3-e4 Sd6-b7 2. h2xDg3 Dg2-g3+ 3. Kd2-e3 Db7-g2 4. Ke1-d2 Dc8-b7 5. e4-e5 Dd8-c8 6. f3xLe4 Lb7-e4 7. Kf1-e1 Lc8-b7 8. Ke1-f1 b7-b6 9. Kf1-e1 Lb6-a7 10. ... La5-b6 11. ... Ld2-a5 12. ... Lc1-d2 13. ... d2xTc1=L 14. ... e3xTd2 15. ... e4-e3 16. ... f5xLe4
play all play one stop play next play all
Missing: Wh: QRRBB Bl: QRBB
Captures: Wh: gxf3xe (inc B), hxg + [Bf8] Bl: axbxc (for Ba7) fxexdxc/e (g1 not possible)
Assume Black can castle: so neither bK nor bRa have moved. Before bPb7-b6 (which releases QB) *all* Bl captures have been made. wPd can freely advance, all Wh units released except for rooks & Bf1. gxRf3 is forced, and now all Wh units are free and can be captured. To avoid deadlock, wB was captured on e4 not e6. Sequence must be f7-f5 Rh8-f8-f6-...-f3gxRf3.
In this position wLe4 must be played back to f1. With bPh7, wBe4 must retract either by stopping on f7, (disrupting bK) or via f5 (implying retraction of f6-f5, in which case bRa8 is an imposter).
In the alternative route via h7, wB crosses over f7 harmlessly. While wB is on g5 & h4, f7 must be occupied by a static shielding knight, but there is no tempo issue. After all this excitement, b7-b6 if followed by simple and non-unique play to reach the diagram.

(Gerd's earlier solution: Weiße Schläge: h2xg3, gxfxe, sLf8. Schwarze Schläge: a7xb6xc5; fxexdxc1=L In dieser Stellung muß der wLe4 nach f1 zurückgespielt werden. Mit sBh7 kann der wLe4 nur entweder über f7 nach f1 zurück, so daß der sK bereits gezogen haben muß, oder der wLe4 kann über f5 zurück, wozu aber der sTa8 nach h8 zurückgezogen werden müsste, um f6-f5 zurücknehmen zu können.)
Henrik Juel: To make the retroplay plausible one should uncapture bQ early on g3 and retract it to d8. The wB could also get back to f1 via f5, but this would require retracting bRa8 to h8 before retracting bPf5, so castling is still illegal in part a). (2003-04-10)
Gerd Wilts: Hello Henrik, thank you for pointing out the inaccuracy of the solution, I will make the solution more precise soon. And thank you for adding all the other solutions! (2003-04-11)
A.Buchanan: Have posted a solution based on GW&HJ ideas. More often a j’adoube of a rook pawn signals a tempo idea, but not here. The surprising motivation harmonizes with accurate and varied forward play. (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: This problem was featured in yesterday's Monthly International Zoom Call, and was a great success, with audible gasps of appreciation, as the significance of h7 was realized :) (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: Oh dear, Alfred Pfeiffer has silently reverted the German keyword to "mit Umwandlungsfigur". I'm not going to enter an "edit war" with him, but I would appreciate if he can explain his position here. This is a problematic concept to keyword, but to me "mit Umwandlungfigur" is weak and inaccurate. What is the intended distinction with the existing keywords "Umwandlung" or "Umwandlungen"? It's hopeless. We have in PDB very many poor promotion keywords, and I would like to clean up progressively. I don't know if a native German speaker would care to engage with Alfred on this point. (2021-10-30)
A.Buchanan: To be clearer: to me the German definition seems pretty good. I think the term itself should give more of a clue what's happening :-) (2021-10-30)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Cant Castler, Castling (sg), Promotion (l), Obvious promotion (l), Corridor, Retro Shield
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Forward: C+ Popeye V4.87 Retro: non-trivial reasoning
FEN: r3kN2/bnppp1pp/1p6/2p1P3/4K3/3P2P1/PPP1PP2/N6n
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-30 more...
21 - P0001121
Michel Caillaud
4298v Die Schwalbe 80 04/1983
2. ehrende Erwähnung
P0001121
(12+14) C+
BP in 30,5
1. a4 c6 2. a5 Dc7 3. a6 De5 4. axb7 a5 5. b4 a4 6. b5 Ta5 7. b6 Sa6 8. b8=D a3 9. Dd6 a2 10. De6 dxe6 11. b7 Kd7 12. b8=T Kd6 13. Tb3 Kd5 14. Tf3 Ke4 15. Tf5 exf5 16. Sa3 Le6 17. Sb5 Lc4 18. La3 e6 19. Tc1 a1=S 20. d4 Sb3 21. d5 Sd2 22. d6 Sxf1 23. d7 Sg3 24. hxg3 Lb4+ 25. Kf1 Se7 26. Th6 Tb8 27. d8=L Sc8 28. Lh4 g5 29. g4 gxh4 30. g5 Le1 31. f3+
play all play one stop play next play all
more ...
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (DTsL), Unique Proof Game, Allumwandlung, Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 63 Sekunden. Keine Lösung: BP 29.5, BP 30.0.
FEN: 1rn5/5p1p/n1p1p2R/rN2qpP1/2b1k2p/B4P2/2P1P1P1/2RQbKN1
Reprints: 12 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
(A) Quartz 26 10-12/2004
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-04-15 more...
22 - P0001157
Georges Glaeser
31v Europe Echecs 22 06/1960
P0001157
(13+11)
Löse die Stellung auf!
hans: R: -1 Kh7-g8 Tf8-f7
(captures w fxSexSdxDcxTb8=L and KxLf8 s hxg cxSb6 and Lc1 on homesquare (2010-06-21)
A.Buchanan: Couldn't it equally be R: 1. Th4-h8 h6xBg5 etc? Not sure what this problem is driving at, except for what would later be termed Donati theme. (2021-10-24)
Henrik Juel: Yes, it seems that there are several ways to skin this cat
The problem may be the first to show the Donati theme (2021-10-24)
Mario Richter: The stipulation did not ask for "last moves", so it seems sufficient to have the "main events" unique, and this is the case here:
White captured black Bishop f8 on its home square, White pawn f2 captured 4 times to promote to a Bishop (the original wBishop c1 was captured by a black officer), so among the capture objects was bRa8, so the promotion took place on b8. White pawn g2 never left its home file, so it was captured by black pawn h7, leaving only c7xSb6 to explain the b-double pawn.

Btw., in what sense is this Problem "C+"? (2021-10-24)
A.Buchanan: Hi Mario, this is not unsound, just loose. wDh2 prevents e.g. R: 1. Lg3-g1 Kb8-a8, so there seemed at least some interest in the last move. But 3 legal possibilities remain. Is there a typo in the diagram? With wKe8 instead of g8, I think the solution is R: 1. Th4-h8 h6xBg5 2. Lg3-b8 Kb8-a8 3. Tf4-a4+ which is a lot more satisfactory.
I've no idea why the problem has been marked as C+ (2021-10-25)
Mario Richter: I completely agree with Andrew, that e8 is a much better place for the wK (and only this way wQh2 makes any sense), so I'm supposing a typo.
Apropos, the third white retraction shoulkd read 3. Tf4-h4+ ... (2021-10-26)
A.Buchanan: Thanks Mario for correcting my spatio-algebraic dyslexia again :) We are still not using the fact that the White pieces are clustered tightly around wD. Any thoughts? Is there an (online) archive of this magazine? (2021-10-26)
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comment
Keywords: Promotion (L), Donati Theme (L), Obvious promotion (L)
Genre: Retro
FEN: kBb3KR/pp1pprp1/1p3p2/6p1/8/7P/PPPPP1BQ/6NR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-26 more...
23 - P0001263
Luigi Ceriani
135 Europe Echecs 78 06/1965
P0001263
(15+11)
h#2
1. bxa5 Sb6 2. axb4 Ta8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: analysis
Black captured a3xb2 (not a7xb6, as the SW corner then cannot be released)
The missing white man is [Pe2], which must have promoted on b8
Now the white captures can be seen: axb, exdxcxb, and [Lf8] on f8
The only free white officer is Dd8, so the retroplay must include unpromotion of it on b8
It is impossible to shield Ke8 from check by Db8, so Ke8 has moved and Black may not castle (2022-04-27)
Henrik Juel: solution
1.bxa5 Sb6 2.axb4 Ta8#
not 1.0-0? Lxb6 2.Txa8 Txa8
HC+ Popeye 4.61 (2022-04-27)
Henrik Juel: Andrew, I should have been more precise in recommending your suggestion to introduce the new keyword Organ Pipes
I was talking about the standard meaning of Organ Pipes, which dates back to Sam Loyd, 1859: black LTTL in a problem where each L interferes with each T and vice versa, forming four Grimshaws
You have probably used a pattern search to find all occurrences of black or white LTTL, and you have neglected the interferences
This problem has LTTL in the wrong color, and there are no interferences (2022-04-27)
James Malcom: I agree with Henrik, although White organ pipes still exist, few and far. (2022-04-28)
James Malcom: Until Andrew bumbles back, I've updated the English definition to "A problem *utilizing* the pattern bishop, rook, rook, bishop in a straight line to create multiple Grimshaws." This specifies the purpose and formation of the Organ Pipes. (2022-04-28)
Henrik Juel: Thanks, James (2022-04-28)
A.Buchanan: Hi Guys. I wondered about other uses of organ pipes. In a first pass population of the 500-odd records with the current PDB interface, there’s not much time for thinking. I have multiple tabs open to eliminate the wait time associated with PDB refresh. One could go back and eliminate those which are not grimshaws. Alternatively (and this would be my preference) accept that this is a visual pattern which may occur in non-Grimshaw context. Then use the keyword Grimshaw(4x) to indicate when it’s really Grimshaw. I think it can also occur with white pattern, as a problem by Pal Benko shows. So I blitzed through the d# records, if someone wants to complete the rest that’s good. I think the existence of a few false transient positives is an acceptable price even if we take the narrow definition of Organ Pipes. (2022-04-28)
A.Buchanan: By the way, these days Deepl is good enough to give us decent translation to Feench & German and as a matter of policy whenever I make a change to a definition I try to align the other two. Other users who do not maintain the glossary are encouraged to propose definitions where there is a gap (E.g. Grimshaw). There are a lot of undefined terms, many very recent. (2022-04-28)
A.Buchanan: Hi Henrik feel free to respond to my response to your message, say thanks for the tags I have added, or add tags yourself to complete the work. The ones I’ve added were mostly the d# and it was a deliberate decision to blast through as a first pass and just add them for now anyway, not “neglected”. Now, I really don’t feel like continuing (2022-04-28)
Henrik Juel: Andrew, I believe that most PDB users appreciate your contributions to the site
I certainly do, so please continue your good work (2022-04-28)
comment
Keywords: Castling (sk), Cant Castler, Promotion
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: N3k2r/2pppppp/1p6/B7/RP5P/RP3P2/BpPP2P1/NK1Q3r
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2022-04-28 more...
24 - P0001270
Matti Arvo Myllyniemi
142 Europe Echecs 84 01/1966
P0001270
(15+15) C+
BP in 9.5
1. e3 d5 2. Lc4 d4 3. Se2 d3 4. 0-0 dxc2 5. d4 Kd7 6. d5 Kd6 7. Dd4 Sd7 8. Ld2 c1=L 9. Lb4+ c5 10. dxc6ep+
play all play one stop play next play all
more ...
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, En passant, Non-standard material (l), Castling (wk), Promotion (l), Valladao Task (sww)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Ergänzung Stelvio 1.2 C+: Keine Lösung: BP 8.5, 9.0. 10. dxc6ep++ Doppelschach.
FEN: r1bq1bnr/pp1npppp/2Pk4/8/1BBQ4/4P3/PP2NPPP/RNb2RK1
Reprints: 92 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-25 more...
25 - P0001427
Karl Fabel
Am Rande des Schachbretts 1947
P0001427
(13+14) C+
BP in 41,5
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. a3 Ta4 5. Ta2 bxa2 6. Tg1 axb1=S 7. Th1 Sc3 8. Tg1 Sb5 9. Th1 Sa7 10. Tg1 b5 11. Th1 Lb7 12. Tg1 Ld5 13. Th1 La2 14. b3 h5 15. Lb2 h4 16. Lf6 h3 17. Lh4 Sf6 18. Da1 Sh5 19. Df6 Tf4 20. Da6 e6 21. Kd1 Dg5 22. Kc1 Dg3 23. hxg3 Lc5 24. gxf4 Le3 25. Lg3 Ke7 26. Lh2 Kf6 27. g3 Kf5 28. Lg2 Kg4 29. La8 Sbc6 30. Kb2 Tb8 31. Ta1 Lb1 32. Lg1 h2 33. Kc3 Kh3 34. Kd3 Kg2 35. Ke4 Kf1 36. Kf3 Ke1 37. Kg4 Kd1 38. Kg5 f6+ 39. Kg6 Kc1 40. Kf7 Sd8+ 41. Ke8 Kb2 42. Ta2+
play all play one stop play next play all
Sally: Eine eindeutige BwP., die lange Zeit den Längenreord hielt und, wenn auch mit langer Verzögerung, wesentlich zum Boom dieser Gattung in den letzten 15 Jahren beigetragen hat. Im-
mer noch eine faszinierende Aufgabe. Nr. KF-13 Schwalbe Okt. 2005. (2011-12-05)
Moldenhauer: Ergänzung: Keine Lösung: BP 40.5, BP 41.0. (2023-05-20)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Move Length Record, Non-standard material, Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.17, in 3h.
FEN: Br1nK3/n1pp2p1/Q3pp2/1p5n/5P2/PP2b1P1/RkPPPP1p/1b4B1
Reprints: 1366 FIDE Album 1945-1955 1964
301 Europe Echecs 200 07/1975
(VIII) feenschach 28 05-07/1975
feenschach 38 04-06/1977
78 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
17a 64 Proof Games 2012
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Reto, 2023-04-14 more...
26 - P0001550
Michel Caillaud
421 Europe Echecs 295 07/1983
A. Hazebrouck gewidmet
1. Preis
P0001550
(13+12) C+
BP in 35.5
1. h4 c5 2. h5 c4 3. Th4 c3 4. Tc4 b5 5. g4 b4 6. Lg2 b3 7. Lc6 bxa2 8. b4 a5 9. b5 a4 10. b6 a3 11. La4 Sc6 12. b7 d5 13. b8=D d4 14. Dd6 d3 15. Dg6 dxc2 16. d3 fxg6 17. Ld2 c1=L 18. Db3 c2 19. La5 Lh6 20. Sd2 c1=L 21. Sf1 Lcg5 22. f4 Kf7 23. 0-0-0 a1=L 24. fxg5 a2 25. gxh6 Kf6 26. Sh2 Kg5 27. Tf1 Lf6 28. Tff4 a1=L 29. Kb1 Lae5 30. d4 Lb7 31. dxe5 Dd2 32. exf6 Te8 33. f7 Sf6 34. Dd3 Sd7 35. Ld1 Sdb8 36. Sgf3+
play all play one stop play next play all
5 Frolkin-Ceriani-Umwandlungen: 4 schwarze Läufer und 1 weiße Dame! Eine der bahnbrechenden frühen KBPs.
Silvio Baier: Der wesentliche thematische Inhalt ist bereits nach 31,5 Zügen erreicht. Bis dahin ist es C+ (Euclide 0.98). (2010-08-04)
James Malcom: Is this fully C+ then? (2021-01-27)
Henrik Juel: No, only the first 31.5 moves are tested OK (2021-01-27)
James Malcom: No Henrik, as in is the entire problem testable. (2021-01-27)
Henrik Juel: I guess that testing the entire problem would take an unreasonably long time (2021-04-06)
A.Buchanan: It might be possible these days: the motivation for stopping at 31.5 is that the promotion theme had been demonstrated by then. But there’s still e.g. bSb8 as random impostor (2021-04-07)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 50:24:34 Stunden.(hh:mm:ss)
Keine Lösung: BP 34.5, BP 35.0. (2023-05-08)
Henrik Juel: Thanks for your patience, Moldenhauer; more than two days... (2023-05-08)
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (llllD), Unique Proof Game, Castling, Promotion (llllD), Impostor (s)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 50:24:34 Stunden.(hh:mm:ss) Keine Lösung: BP 34.5, BP 35.0.
FEN: 1n2rb1r/1b2pPpp/2n3pP/B5kP/2R2RP1/3Q1N2/3qP2N/1K1B4
Reprints: 25 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
(1) diagrammes 103 10-12/1992
(A) Quartz 22 10-12/2002
(8-a) Die Schwalbe 250A 08/2011
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-04-07 more...
27 - 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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comment
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...
28 - P0001569
Andrey Frolkin
439v Europe Echecs 310 10/1984
Lob
P0001569
(12+14) cooked
BP in 27,0
1. f4 h5 2. f5 h4 3. f6 h3 4. fxe7 f5 5. d4 Kf7 6. e8=T Kg6 7. Te6+ Kh5 8. Ta6 bxa6 9. Dd2 Lb7 10. e4 Lc6 11. e5 La4 12. e6 Sc6 13. e7 Db8 14. e8=T Db3 15. Te5 Te8 16. d5 Te6 17. dxe6 Lb4 18. Ta5 Lc3 19. Lb5 f4 20. e7 f3 21. e8=T f2+ 22. Ke2 f1=S 23. Tb8 Sxh2 24. Tb6 cxb6 25. Sf3 bxa5 26. Se5 Sf3 27. Sg4 Sfd4+
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. f4 h5 2. f5 h4 3. f6 h3 4. fxe7 f5 5. e4 Kf7 6. e8=T f4 7. Te6 f3 8. Ta6 bxa6 9. e5 Kg6 10. e6 Lb7 11. e7 Lc6 12. e8=T La4 13. Te5 Sc6 14. Ta5 Db8 15. d4 Db3 16. Lb5 f2 17. Ke2 f1=S 18. Sf3 Te8 19. Se5 Kh5 20. d5 Te6 21. dxe6 Sxh2 22. e7 Sf3 23. e8=T Lb4 24. Tb8 Lc3 25. Tb6 cxb6 26. Sg4 bxa5 27. Dd2 Sd4
more ...
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (TTT), Unique Proof Game, Non-standard material, Promotion (s)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stelvio 1.11 1 Sekunde. Keine Lösung: BP 26.0, BP 26.5.
FEN: 6nr/p2p2p1/p1n5/pB5k/b2n2N1/1qb4p/PPPQK1P1/RNB4R
Reprints: 21 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-08 more...
29 - P0001580
Dmitri W. Pronkin
450 Europe Echecs 319/320 07-08/1985
P0001580
(12+11) cooked
BP in 31,5
1. b4 h5 2. Lb2 h4 3. Dc1 h3 4. Kd1 hxg2 5. h4 e5 6. h5 e4 7. h6 e3 8. h7 exf2 9. e4 f5 10. Se2 g1=L 11. Lg2 f1=L 12. e5 Lb6 13. d4 Lfc5 14. dxc5 f4 15. cxb6 f3 16. Df4 f2 17. Sc1 La6 18. Sd2 f1=L 19. Tb1 Lfb5 20. c4 Se7 21. cxb5 Tg8 22. hxg8=L g5 23. Lc4 d5 24. bxa6 Lf5 25. e6 Sc8 26. e7 Kf7 27. e8=L+ Kg8 28. Leb5 c6 29. Tf1 cxb5 30. Tf2 Sc6 31. Sf1 dxc4+ 32. Ld5+
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. b4 e5 2. Lb2 e4 3. Dc1 e3 4. Kd1 exf2 5. g4 Ld6 6. g5 Lxh2 7. g6 Kf8 8. gxf7 g5 9. Lg2 f1=L 10. e4 Lb5 11. Se2 Lg1 12. Th4 h5 13. e5 Kg7 14. c4 Th6 15. cxb5 Ta6 16. Tc4 Lc5 17. d4 h4 18. e6 h3 19. e7 h2 20. e8=D d5 21. bxa6 Se7 22. Db5 c6 23. Sd2 cxb5 24. Sf1 h1=D 25. f8=T Dh6 26. Tf2 Db6 27. Df4 Lf5 28. Tb1 Kg8 29. dxc5 Sc8 30. cxb6 Sc6 31. Sc1 dxc4+ 32. Ld5+
Paulo Roque: obs: Cook: 26...D6b6 (2008-12-24)
paul: See P0001634 as correction. (2010-09-25)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stelvio 1.6 in 31:54:04 Stunden. (hh:mm:ss).
1 Lösung mit 20 cooks. (2024-01-07)
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (lllLL), Unique Proof Game, Promotion (lllLL)
Genre: Retro
FEN: r1nq2k1/pp6/PPn5/1p1B1bp1/1Pp2Q2/8/PB3R2/1RNK1N2
Reprints: 26 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-06 more...
30 - P0001600
Pascal Wassong
470 Europe Echecs 334 10/1986
P0001600
(13+14) cooked
BP in 20,0
1. b4 c5 2. b5 Sc6 3. bxc6 b5 4. c7 La6 5. c8=L d6 6. Lf5 Tc8 7. d4 Tc6 8. d5 Db8 9. dxc6 e6 10. c7 Le7 11. c8=S Ld8 12. Se7 Lb6 13. Sg6 hxg6 14. h4 Ke7 15. h5 Kf6 16. h6 Se7 17. h7 Te8 18. h8=T gxf5 19. Th4 Sg6 20. Te4 fxe4
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. b4 c5 2. b5 Sc6 3. bxc6 b5 4. d4 La6 5. d5 Tc8 6. d6 Tc7 7. dxc7 Db8 8. c8=L d6 9. Lf5 e6 10. h4 Ke7 11. h5 Kf6 12. c7 Le7 13. c8=S Ld8 14. Se7 Lb6 15. Sg6 Se7 16. h6 hxg6 17. h7 Te8 18. h8=T gxf5 19. Th4 Sg6 20. Te4 fxe4
Henrik Juel: Dual: ... 4.d4 La6 5.d5 Tc8 6.d6 Tc7 7.dxc7 Db8 8.c8L d6 9.Lf5 ... (2004-02-12)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (TLS), Unique Proof Game, Homebase (W), Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Ergänzung Stelvio 1.2. Keine Lösung BP 19.0, BP 19.5.
FEN: 1q2r3/p4pp1/bb1ppkn1/1pp5/4p3/8/P1P1PPP1/RNBQKBNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-21 more...
31 - P0001622
Christian Poisson
491b Europe Echecs 355/356 07-08/1988
P0001622
(3+11)
shc#11
1. Lf1 2. Kh3 3. Kh4 4. Lh3 5. fxg3ep 6. Kh5 7. Kg6 8. Kf7 9. Ke8 10. 0-0-0 11. Td7 a8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
The cluster of tries: Kh2-g1-f1-e1-d2-...-e8 0-0-0 Td7 is 12 moves: just too long.
In the diagram, e.p. is not permitted because last move might be g3-g4. So first shift sK to h4. Following the e.p., check that wK does now have prior move: Kf4-f3. Now sK scampers to e8 where through consequent forgetfulness it recovers castling rights.
more ...
comment
Keywords: En passant, Castling (sg), Seriesmover, Consequent, Valladao Task, Promotion in the mating move (D), Switchback (l), Promotion (D), Königswanderung
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: r7/P1p5/pp6/5pp1/5pP1/5K1b/4rp1k/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-09-14 more...
32 - P0001629
Andrey Frolkin
498 Europe Echecs 355/356 07-08/1988
2. ehrende Erwähnung
P0001629
(14+14) C+
BP in 26,5
1. Sc3 c5 2. Sd5 c4 3. Sxe7 c3 4. Sg6 hxg6 5. Sf3 Th5 6. Sd4 Ta5 7. Sb5 f5 8. Sa3 Df6 9. Sb1 La3 10. Tg1 d6 11. Th1 Ld7 12. Tg1 La4 13. Th1 Kd7 14. Tg1 Kc6 15. Th1 Kb5 16. Tg1 Sc6 17. Th1 Te8 18. Tg1 Te3 19. Th1 Td3 20. cxd3 c2 21. Tg1 cxd1=S 22. Th1 Sc3 23. Tg1 Se4 24. Th1 Dc3 25. Tg1 Sgf6 26. Th1 Se8 27. Tg1
play all play one stop play next play all
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 1 Sekunde.
Keine Lösung: BP 25.5, BP 26.0. (2023-04-02)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Non-standard material, Pendulum (T x15), Promotion, Impostor (S)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.11
FEN: 4n3/pp4p1/2np2p1/rk3p2/b3n3/b1qP4/PP1PPPPP/RNB1KBR1
Reprints: 502 Europe Echecs 358 10/1988
102 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2023-05-02 more...
33 - P0001634
Dmitri W. Pronkin
503v Europe Echecs 358 04/1989
5. Preis
P0001634
(12+11) C+
BP in 31,0
1. b3 h5 2. La3 h4 3. Dc1 h3 4. Kd1 hxg2 5. h4 e5 6. h5 e4 7. h6 e3 8. h7 exf2 9. e4 f5 10. Se2 g1=L 11. Lg2 f1=L 12. e5 Lb6 13. d4 Lfc5 14. dxc5 f4 15. cxb6 f3 16. Df4 f2 17. Sc1 La6 18. Lc5 f1=L 19. a3 Lfb5 20. c4 Se7 21. cxb5 Tg8 22. hxg8=L g5 23. Lc4 d5 24. bxa6 Lf5 25. e6 Sc8 26. e7 Kf7 27. e8=L+ Kg8 28. Leb5 c6 29. Ta2 cxb5 30. Tc2 Sc6 31. Sa2 dxc4+
play all play one stop play next play all
paul: Correction of P0001580 (2010-09-25)
Silvio Baier: Mit 30....dc+ ist das C+ (Euclide 0.98, Retractor für den letzten Zug) (2011-07-08)
James Malcom: So this is fully C+? (2021-01-27)
Henrik Juel: No, another problem in 30.0 moves ending with 30. Tc2 dxc4+ is tested OK (2021-01-27)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (lllLL), Unique Proof Game, Promotion (lllLL)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 65:30:51 Stunden. (hh:mm:ss) Keine Lösung: BP 30.0, BP 30.5.
FEN: r1nq2k1/pp6/PPn5/1pB2bp1/2p2Q2/PP6/N1R3B1/1N1K3R
Reprints: 580 Ukrainisches Album 1986-1990
26 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
H25 FIDE Album 1986-1988 1995
(H25) Die Schwalbe 156, p. 237, 12/1995
feenschach 141 06/2001
Thema Danicum 105 2002
(C) Quartz 22 10-12/2002
H2 The Problemist 07/2010
(18) Die Schwalbe 250A 08/2011
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-08 more...
34 - P0001653
Philippe Leroy
522 Europe Echecs 373 01/1990
P0001653
(12+13)
BP in 60.0
Es fand ein ep-Schlag statt. Welcher?
1. a3 b5 2. a4 b4 3. a5 c5 4. a6 Lb7 5. axb7 a5 6. c4 bxc3ep 7. e4 f5 8. e5 Sf6 9. exf6 c2 10. De2 d5 11. De4 dxe4 12. g4 h5 13. g5 Th6 14. gxh6 g5 15. Se2 h4 16. Sg3 hxg3 17. f7+ Kd7 18. d4 c4 19. d5 Ta6 20. h7 g2 21. h8=L g1=L 22. Lc3 a4 23. La5 g4 24. h4 Lh2 25. h5 g3 26. h6 g2 27. h7 g1=L 28. h8=L a3 29. Lhc3 a2 30. f3 Ld4 31. Lcb4 Lh8 32. La3 c3 33. Le3 c1=L 34. Lg1 c2 35. Sc3 Tf6 36. Sa4 Sa6 37. b8=L Lch6 38. Lba7 Lb8 39. Th4 c1=L 40. d6 Kc6 41. d7 Db6 42. d8=L Lcg5 43. Lc7 e3 44. Lch2 e5 45. Sc5 Sc7 46. Tb4 e4 47. Kd1 e2+ 48. Kc2 e1=L 49. f4 Leh4 50. Kc3 e3 51. Kd4 e2 52. Ke5 e1=L 53. Td1 a1=L 54. Td7 Leg3 55. Sa4 Df2 56. Sb6 Lfg7 57. Lb5+ Kc5 58. Lc6 Sd5+ 59. Tc7 Sxf4 60. f8=L+ Td6
play all play one stop play next play all
James Malcom: A very interesting retro problem, with long-winded bishops promotions to cover its en passant tracks. (2021-01-24)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: damit der Player klappt, muß 38. La7 in 38. Lba7 geändert werden. (2021-01-25)
James Malcom: Fixed. (2021-01-25)
comment
Keywords: Constrained problem, En passant, Non-standard material, Promotion, Non-Unique Proof Game
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1b3B1b/B1R3b1/1NBr3b/B1k1Kpb1/1R3n1b/B5b1/1P3q1B/b5B1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-01-25 more...
35 - P0001657
Philippe Leroy
526 Europe Echecs 376 04/1990
P0001657
(13+11) cooked
BP in 37,0
1. h4 d5 2. h5 d4 3. h6 d3 4. hxg7 h5 5. g4 h4 6. g5 h3 7. e4 h2 8. Sh3 Th6 9. Tg1 h1=D 10. e5 Dc6 11. Lg2 Dc3 12. dxc3 Tc6 13. e6 Sh6 14. g8=L Lg7 15. exf7 Kf8 16. Sd2 e5 17. Sf3 e4 18. Sh4 d2 19. Ke2 e3 20. Kf3 e2 21. g6 e1=D 22. Tb1 Dee7 23. De1 d1=T 24. Lg5 Da3 25. bxa3 Td4 26. Tb3 Tb4 27. cxb4 Lb2 28. Le7 Kg7 29. f8=S Sa6 30. Lc4 Sf7 31. Sd7 Kh6 32. Sb6 cxb6 33. g7 Sc7 34. La6 bxa6 35. g8=T Lb7 36. Tg5 Tc8 37. Ta5 bxa5
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. h4 d5 2. h5 e5 3. h6 f5 4. hxg7 h5 5. Sa3 h4 6. Sc4 h3 7. Sb6 h2 8. e4 Th3 9. exf5 Ta3 10. Sh3 Sa6 11. Tg1 h1=D 12. g4 Df3 13. f6 Dc3 14. dxc3 cxb6 15. Tb1 Sc7 16. La6 bxa6 17. bxa3 Lb4 18. cxb4 Sh6 19. g8=L d4 20. Ld5 Kf8 21. Lg2 e4 22. Ke2 e3 23. Kf3 e2 24. f7 Kg7 25. f8=S e1=L 26. Sg6 Lc3 27. Sh4 d3 28. g5 d2 29. De1 d1=T 30. g6 Td6 31. Lg5 Tc6 32. Le7 Sf7 33. Tb3 Kh6 34. g7 Lb2 35. g8=T Lb7 36. Tg5 Tc8 37. Ta5 bxa5
A.Buchanan: The unsoundness in this non-unique PG is that 6 promotions (apparently intended) are not forced (2023-05-11)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (dLdtST), Promotion, Non-Unique Proof Game, konsekutive Umwandlungen 6
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Computerprüfung: many solutions Stelvio 1.11 48 Sekunden. Keine Lösung: BP 36.0, BP 36.5.
FEN: 2rq4/pbn1Bn2/p1r4k/p7/1P5N/PR3K1N/PbP2PB1/4Q1R1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-05-11 more...
36 - P0001750
Michel Caillaud
Markus Johannes Ott

3710 feenschach 63 12/1982
K. Widlert gewidmet
2. Preis
P0001750
(10+15) C+
BP in 24.5
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. Sc3 bxc2 5. Se4 cxd1=S 6. Sg5 Se3 7. Sxh7 Sxf1 8. Sg5 Th5 9. Sh7 Tha5 10. Kd1 e5 11. Kc2 Lb4 12. Kd3 d6 13. Ke4 Sd7 14. Kf5 Sdf6+ 15. Kg5 Kd7 16. Tb1 Se8+ 17. Kg4 Kc6+ 18. Kf3 Kb5 19. Ke4 Ka4 20. Kd3 b5 21. Kc2 Lf5+ 22. Kd1 Lxb1 23. Ke1 f5 24. Sf6 gxf6 25. b3#
play all play one stop play next play all
13-zügiges Tempoverlustmanöver des wK.
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.2 18 Sekunden.
Keine Lösung: BP 23.5, BP 24.0. (2023-05-12)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Promenade (K), Non-standard material, Tempo Loss (K13), Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Euclide 0.93
FEN: r2qn1n1/2p5/3p1p2/rp2pp2/kb6/1P6/P2PPPPP/1bB1Kn1R
Reprints: 985 FIDE Album 1980-1982 1988
58 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
3384 U.S. Problem Bulletin 102/103 07-10/1995
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-02-15 more...
37 - P0001764
Henri Nouguier
25 Phénix 1 05/1988
P0001764
(9+13) cooked
shc#6
1. dxc3ep 2. Kxb5 3. Kxc6 4. Kd7 5. Ke8 6. 0-0 Th8#
Aber es geht auch R: 1. Kb2-a1!?
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: The intention may be 1.dxc3ep 2.Kxb5xc6-d7-e8 6.0-0 Rh8#, but -1.Kb2 seems possible. Should bBc1 be moved to a3? (2003-04-28)
GW: Yes, that's the solution, and the problem seems indeed to be cooked. I don't know if it has been corrected. (2003-04-28)
James Malcom: I believe that the intent was that the sLc1 must be the orginal one, and thus an impediment to wK foreplay, as the wBc6 "must" have captured the e7 Black pawn on its way from f2. The problem is that it can take the alternative path fxsLf3xDe3xTc5-c6, and there are enough White pieces to capture for the Black b pawn to make it d2 and for the d pawn to make it to c2. (2021-09-14)
James Malcom: It turns out this problem actually was corrected a long time later: P1012052 (2021-09-14)
comment
Keywords: En passant, Castling (sk), Seriesmover, Consequent, Non-standard material (sLb1), Valladao Task, Promotion in the retro play (sLb1), Obvious promotion ((sLb1)), Superseded by (P1012052)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 7r/5pnR/2P3pR/pPpn3p/1kPp4/3P4/P2pP3/Kbb5
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-09-14 more...
38 - P0001765
Kostas Prentos
26 Phénix 1 05/1988
P0001765
(11+15) cooked
BP in 18,5
1. Sf3 f5 2. Sd4 Kf7 3. Sb5 Kg6 4. Sd6 exd6 5. e4 Le7 6. e5 Lh4 7. e6 Df6 8. e7 Dxb2 9. e8=S Se7 10. Lc4 Tf8 11. 0-0 Tf6 12. f3 Kh5 13. Te1 Th6 14. Lf7+ Sg6 15. Te7 Dxc1 16. De1 Dxd2 17. De6 dxe6 18. Td7 Dg5 19. Sxg7#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. d4 g5 2. Sf3 Lg7 3. e4 Lxd4 4. e5 Lxb2 5. Dd6 exd6 6. e6 f5 7. e7 Kf7 8. e8=S Se7 9. Sxg5+ Kg6 10. Lc4 Kh5 11. 0-0 Tg8 12. Te1 Tg6 13. f3 Th6 14. Lf7+ Sg6 15. Te7 Lf6 16. Se6 dxe6 17. Td7 Lh4 18. Lg5 Dxg5 19. Sg7#
Kostas Prentos: A correction was published in Phenix, 2009 (No.186/Pg.7979)
Solution:
1. Sf3 f5 2. Sd4 Kf7 3. Sb5 Kg6 4. Sd6 exd6 5. e4 Le7 6. e5 Lh4 7. e6 Dg5 8. e7 Dg3 9. e8=T Se7 10. Lc4 Tf8 11. 0-0 Tf6 12. f3 Kh5 13. Te1 Th6 14. Lf7+ Sg6 15. T1e6 dxe6 16. Txc8 Sd7 17. Th8 Txh8 18. Le8 (2022-12-08)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stelvio 1.2 00:33:56 Minuten. (hh:mm:ss)
Keine Lösung: BP 17.5, BP 18.0.
Beispiel: 1.Sf3 f5 2.d4 Kf7 3.e4 g5 4.Lc4+ Kg6 5.e5 Lg7 6.e6 Lxd4
7.0–0 Lxb2 8.Dd6 exd6 9.e7 Kh5 10.e8S Se7 11.Te1 Tf8 12.Sxg5 Tf6
13.f3 Th6 14.Lf7+ Sg6 15.Te7 Lf6 16.Se6 dxe6 17.Td7 Lh4 18.Lg5 Dxg5
19.Sg7# (2023-05-30)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Castling, Promotion
Genre: Retro
FEN: rnb5/pppR1BNp/3pp1nr/5pqk/7b/5P2/P1P3PP/RN4K1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Gerd Wilts, 2006-10-15 more...
39 - P0002026
Thomas R. Dawson
Westen und Daheim 02/05/1915
P0002026
(7+2) C+
#3
1. Lf7! droht 2. Txc3 Kxh7 3. Th3#
1. ... c2 2. Txc2 Kxh7 3. Th2#
1. ... Kxh7 2. Tc5 Kh6,~ 3. Th5#

weisser Anzug ist legal, zuletzt z.B.:
R: 1. Kg7-h8 Be7-e8=S+
play all play one stop play next play all
Gerd Wilts (2001-10-17): The retro play given in the solution serves only to justify that it may indeed be White's turn. The forward play indeed starts with 1. Bf7. The idea of TRD was to compose a problem which is legal but in which one of the knights must be a promoted pawn. TRD called this an "obtrusive Knight".
more ...
comment
Keywords: Promotion (S)
Genre: Retro, 3#
Computer test: C+ Popeye 4.61
FEN: 4N1Bk/2R4P/8/8/1P1P4/1Kp5/8/8
Reprints: 17B Retrograde Analysis 1915
476 Hamburger Problem-Nachrichten 09-10/1949
E1 Problem 5-6 12/1951
RA69 diagrammes 28 07-08/1977
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-11-01 more...
40 - P0002241
Michel Caillaud
3817 feenschach 65 15/05/1983
1. ehrende Erwähnung
P0002241
(13+14) C+
BP in 34,0
1. f4 a5 2. f5 Ta6 3. f6 Tb6 4. fxg7 f5 5. h4 Sf6 6. g8=T Kf7 7. Tg6 Se8 8. Tc6 dxc6 9. h5 Dd4 10. h6 Dg7 11. hxg7 h5 12. g8=T h4 13. Tg4 h3 14. Ta4 h2 15. e4 Th3 16. La6 Ta3 17. d3 Kg8 18. Lh6 f4 19. Kd2 Lh3 20. g4 Lg2 21. Sh3 Sd7 22. Te1 h1=S 23. g5 Sg3 24. g6 Sf5 25. g7 Kh7 26. g8=T Sfd6 27. Tg5 Sc8 28. Tb5 cxb5 29. b3 bxa4 30. Kc3 Tb5 31. Sd2 Sdb6 32. Tc1 Sa8 33. Kc4 b6 34. c3 Tb4+
play all play one stop play next play all
Renny Bosch: This problem together with P0002238 and P0002243 form a lovely triad in each of which the rightmost three white pawns promote to a common target (Q's, R's, or B's) which subsequently get captured. Studying their similarities and differences, and what it took to make each one work, gives one a good appreciation of the art of SPG composition.

To see them all at once, enter
PROBID='P0002238' OR PROBID='P0002241' OR PROBID='P0002243'
into the search window on the home page.  (2008-03-23)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 00;56:06 Minuten. (hh:mm:ss)
Keine Lösung: BP 33.0, BP 33.5. (2023-04-19)
Reto: With Stelvio 1.33, solving time drops to 20sec (2023-06-10)
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (TTT), Unique Proof Game, Non-standard material, Promotion (sTTT)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.33, 20sec
FEN: n1n1nb2/2p1p2k/Bp5B/p7/prK1Pp2/rPPP3N/P2N2b1/2RQR3
Reprints: 20 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Reto, 2023-06-19 more...
41 - P0002277
Karlheinz Bachmann
v Die Schwalbe 104, p. 217, 04/1987
1. ehrende Erwähnung
P0002277
(11+15) C+
BP in 48,0
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. a3 Ta4 5. Ta2 bxa2 6. Tg1 axb1=S 7. Th1 Sc3 8. Tg1 Sd5 9. Th1 Sb6 10. Tg1 Sa8 11. Th1 b6 12. Tg1 La6 13. Th1 Dc8 14. Tg1 Db7 15. Th1 Df3 16. gxf3 h5 17. Lh3 h4 18. Le6 h3 19. La2 Lc4 20. Lb1 La2 21. b3 Sa6 22. Lb2 Sc5 23. Lf6 gxf6 24. Kf1 Lh6 25. Kg1 Kf8 26. Df1 Kg7 27. Dg2+ hxg2 28. h4 Kg6 29. Kh2 g1=S 30. Kg2 Lf4 31. h5+ Kg5 32. h6 Lg3 33. h7 Sh6 34. Th4 Tb8 35. Tb4 Tb7 36. f4+ Kh4 37. h8=T Sf3 38. Tg8 Se5 39. Tg5 Sg6 40. Kf3 Kh3 41. Ke3 Kg2 42. Te5 Kf1 43. Kf3 Ke1 44. Kg2 Kd1 45. Kf1 Kc1 46. Ke1 Kb2 47. Kd1 Ka1 48. Kc1 Sh8
play all play one stop play next play all
paul: Correction of P0000067. (2018-03-03)
Reto: The new length record for a fully tested SPG. (2023-09-18)
Olaf Jenkner: How long does it take with one core and how many cores did you use? (2023-09-18)
Reto: I used 15 seekers and 15 players, but not all of them are active all the time. My guess is that it takes about 7-10h single-threaded. (2023-09-19)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Move Length Record, Non-standard material, Promotion (Tss)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.66 in 23min (heavily parallelized)
FEN: n6n/1rpppp2/1p3p1n/2n1R3/rR3P2/PP4b1/b1PPPP2/kBK5
Reprints: 82 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Reto, 2023-09-18 more...
42 - P0002312
Kostas Prentos
5673 feenschach 93 11-12/1989
P0002312
(14+11) cooked
BP in 17,5
1. e3 b5 2. Ld3 b4 3. Lg6 b3 4. axb3 hxg6 5. Ta5 Th3 6. Tb5 Tg3 7. hxg3 a5 8. Th8 a4 9. Dh5 a3 10. Se2 Ta4 11. bxa4 gxh5 12. b3 g6 13. Lb2 Lh6 14. Lg7 Lg5 15. Lh6 Lh4 16. gxh4 a2 17. Sg3 a1=T 18. Txg8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. h4 b6 2. Th3 La6 3. Ta3 h5 4. e3 Lxf1 5. Se2 a6 6. Sg3 Le2 7. Txa6 b5 8. Th6 Ta3 9. Txh8 Tc3 10. a4 Lxd1 11. Ta3 Lf3 12. Tb3 Lb7 13. Txb5 Ta3 14. b3 g6 15. Lb2 Lg7 16. Lxg7 Ta1 17. Lh6 Lc8 18. Txg8#
s. Version P0007474
HHS: "Die Auflösung erscheint zunächst nicht übermäßig schwierig - die TTT schlängeln sich durch die BB hindurch, dabei geht geht der Tg8 über a6, um einen der sB dort wiedererstehen zu lassen. Im 'Gegenzug' vollbringt der Lc8 ein Husarenstück - Dd1 und Lf1 gehen auf sein Konto - aber es funktioniert nicht: Der L kommt nicht über b5 hinweg, denn weder der wT noch der sB (der dort entsteht) haben Zeit, ihm Platz zu machen. Also muß man sich was anderes ausdenken: Die sBB kann man zu einem Überkreuzschlagen der wBBa- und b- ausnutzen: Das erleichtert die Rückführung der linken Türme. Aber das genügt noch nicht: Jetzt braucht Schwarz zuviel Züge. Man muß den Gedanken an den L-Streich aufgeben. Dann können die wFiguren ein analoges Spiel der sB oben rechts ermöglichen. Schwarz schafft die Zugzahl spielend, aber Weiß braucht genau 18 Züge, und das auch nur dann, wenn Tg8 direkt nach g3 kann. Aber was sollte dann der erste wRückzug sein? Bis jetzt hat man die sFiguren problemlos einfach in der NO-Ecke wiedererstehen lassen - man muß auch da einen komplizierteren Modus wählen und darf den wBh- nicht einfach zurückgehen lassen, sondern man muß ihm die Möglichkeit geben, ebenso wie sein sGegenüber den wT auf der h-Linie durchzulassen. Das ist kompliziert und knifflig, aber so und nur so klappt es [dies Wort in Gottes Ohr! HG]. Bestechend ist der Einbau der Verführungen, die immer nur um Haaresbreite scheitern." "Gefällt mir!" (WD als Prüfer) Diese ausgekochten und tollen Kreuzschlagmanöver fand aber leider nur HHS, da es doch eine NL gibt.
Henrik Juel: The content is concealed pawn captures
Despite no visible captures White captured a2xPb3xTa4 to open the a-line for [Ta1,Pa7], and h2xTg3xLh4 with black h7xLg6xDh5 to open the h-line for [Th1,Th8]
This makes life difficult for the human solver and for Natch 3.1, who tested the first 15.0 moves correct in 40 sec.
Testing the entire proof game would need more than a couple of hours by Natch (2018-12-08)
paul: See P0007474 as a version. (2020-11-03)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Promotion (t)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 1nbqk1R1/2pppp2/6pB/1R5p/P6P/1P2P1N1/2PP1PP1/rN2K3
Reprints: 143 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Mario Richter, 2020-11-04 more...
43 - P0002316
Alexander Kislyak
3587 feenschach 60 05/1982
A. G. Kuznecow gewidmet
1. Preis
P0002316
(15+13)
BP in 44.0
1. a4 Sa6 2. a5 Sc5 3. a6 b6 4. Ta4 Sb7 5. axb7 c5 6. b8=L g6 7. Lg3 Dc7 8. Lh4 Dg3 9. hxg3 Lh6 10. Tg4 f5 11. Sf3 f4 12. Sd4 f3 13. Sc3 Lf4 14. gxf4 a5 15. Lg3 a4 16. Lh2 a3 17. g3 a2 18. Lg2 a1=D 19. 0-0 Da2 20. Kh1 Sf6 21. Lg1 Sd5 22. Kh2 Se3 23. Kh3 Sxd1 24. Kh4 Se3 25. Kg5 Tf8 26. Kh6 Tf5 27. Kg7 c4 28. Kh8 Kf7 29. Sd1 Kf6 30. Kg8 c3+ 31. Kf8 De6 32. Ke8 Kg7 33. Kd8 Kh6 34. Kc7 Ta7+ 35. Kb8 Tb7+ 36. Ka8 Tb8+ 37. Ka7 Tb7+ 38. Ka6 Tf7 39. Kb5 Kh5 40. Ka4 h6 41. Ka3 Sd5 42. Ka2 Sc7+ 43. Ka1 Ta7+ 44. Kb1 Da2
play all play one stop play next play all
Paulo Roque: Is not possible: 38... Kh5 39.Kb5 (because black rook at square f5).
Probably the continuation of the author:
38...Tf7 39.Kb5 Kh5 40.Ka4 h6 41.Ka3 Sd5 42.Ka2 Sc7+ 43.Ka1 Ta7+ 44.Kb1 Da2# (2008-12-11)
James Malcom: Fixed. (2021-02-15)
comment
Keywords: Promotion (L), Promenade (K), Castling (wk), Non-standard material, Non-Unique Proof Game
Genre: Retro
FEN: 2b5/r1nppr2/1p4pp/7k/3N1PR1/2p2pP1/qPPPPPB1/1KBN1RB1
Reprints: 152 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
(7) feenschach 103 01-09/1992
(8) diagrammes 15 07-09/1994
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-02-15 more...
44 - P0002337
Michel Caillaud
4019 Die Schwalbe 76 08/1982
Dr. Karl Fabel zum Gedenken
1. Preis
P0002337
(11+15) C+
BP in 47,0
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. a3 Ta4 5. Ta2 bxa2 6. Tg1 axb1=S 7. Th1 Sc3 8. Tg1 Sd5 9. Th1 Sb6 10. Tg1 Sa8 11. Th1 b6 12. Tg1 La6 13. Th1 Dc8 14. Tg1 Db7 15. Th1 Df3 16. gxf3 h5 17. Lh3 h4 18. Le6 h3 19. La2 Lc4 20. Lb1 La2 21. b3 Thh4 22. Lb2 Thb4 23. Lf6 gxf6 24. Kf1 Lh6 25. Kg1 Kf8 26. Df1 Kg7 27. Dg2+ hxg2 28. h4 Kg6 29. Kh2 g1=S 30. Kg2 Lf4 31. h5+ Kg5 32. Th4 Lh2 33. Td4 Sh3 34. f4+ Kh4 35. Kf3 Sg5+ 36. Ke3 Kh3 37. h6 Kg2 38. h7 Kf1 39. h8=T Ke1 40. Th5 Sh7 41. Ta5 Kd1 42. Ta7 Kc1 43. Tb7 Ta7 44. Kd3 Sa6 45. Tb8 Kb2 46. Tf8 Ka1 47. Kc3 Lg1
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: So Michel's proof game is not cooked; yet... (2019-09-10)
Reto: This is now the length record for a fully tested SPG. (2023-09-17)
Moldenhauer: Keine Lösung: BP 46.5. (2024-01-05)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Move Length Record, Non-standard material (ss), Promotion (ssT)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.64 in around 20min (highly parallelized).
FEN: n4Rn1/r1pppp1n/np3p2/8/1r1R1P2/PPK5/b1PPPP2/kB4b1
Reprints: diagrammes 69 01-02/1985
989 FIDE Album 1980-1982 1988
81 Shortest Proof Games 11/1991
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-09-17 more...
45 - P0002353
Theodor Tauber
Michel Caillaud

The Problemist 1991
P0002353
(14+11) C+
ser-h#3 (AP)
1. dxe3ep 2. fxg1=L 3. 0-0 Tg4#
1. dxe3ep 2. Ke7? 3. Kd6 Sf5# doesn't pay AP debt
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: If Black may castle, his latest move must have been e3xf2, so last move was e2-e4. (Orig. wPg2 promoted on g8, so g7xh6 happened early). 1.dxe3 e.p. 2.fxg1=B 3.0-0 Tg4# (2003-03-21)
James Malcom: Is this the only know one-sided Valladao in a regular series-mover helpmate? Also, can wPh2 be shifted to h4, and the White king moved as well to h2, so that the solution must have 2. fxg1=S? (2020-12-08)
James Malcom: Well, the only known one that is in minimum form, i.e. 3 moves, I mean. (2020-12-08)
A.Buchanan: This is nice. I don't know of any other AP ser-h#3 with Valladao, but there could be. Just been cleansing PDB data today. Yes I think wKh3 and wBh2 can be transposed, and then promote to S instead of L. (2020-12-08)
A.Buchanan: The legality of intermediate positions in seriesmovers is of course irrelevant. However, each proof game that leads to the diagram position with BTM can be appended with a black move and then a "flip" that changes the player to move. We can repeat this process, and then the fact that Black retains castling rights implies that they had castling rights in the diagram position. I think this is the right formal way to handle AP with seriesmovers. (2022-03-21)
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP) (Type Petrovic), En passant as key, Castling (sk), Seriesmover, Promotion, Valladao Task
Genre: Retro, Fairies
Computer test: C+ Popeye v4.85 + thinking
FEN: 4k2r/1pp2p1p/1N5p/3P4/2RpP2N/P2P1P1K/p1BP1p1P/B3b1R1
Reprints: Die Schwalbe 143 10/1993
Rex Multiplex 45-46 05/1994
(XII) Quartz 5 1997
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-03-21 more...
46 - P0002582
Alexander Kislyak
5604 feenschach 92 09-10/1989
P0002582
(10+15)
BP in 33,0
1. b4 c5 2. Lb2 c4 3. e3 e5 4. Ld3 Lc5 5. bxc5 c3 6. c6 cxd2+ 7. Ke2 d6 8. c7 Le6 9. c8=S Dg5 10. Se7 a5 11. Sg6 hxg6 12. c4 a4 13. c5 a3 14. c6 axb2 15. c7 Sc6 16. c8=S Sh6 17. Se7 Sg4 18. Sf5 gxf5 19. h4 Th6 20. h5 Tg6 21. h6 Sh2 22. h7 Sf1 23. h8=T f6 24. T8h3 Kd7 25. a4 Th8 26. a5 T8h6 27. a6 Sb4 28. a7 Sc2 29. a8=T Sa3 30. Ta4 Lg8 31. Te4 fxe4 32. f4 Dg4+ 33. Tf3 exf3+
play all play one stop play next play all
Frolkin-Thema, Typ SSTT. "Gefällt mir am besten, da die Begründungen für TT-UW zeitlich weit entkoppelt von den UW sind!!" (GL) [3,2/II]
Paulo Roque: obs: 23...Kd7 24.T8h3 f6 (2008-12-29)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: Cooked Stelvio 1.6 184:20:33 Stunden. (hh:mm:ss)
1.d4 Sa6 2.Ld2 Sb4 3.e3 Sf6 4.Ld3 c5 5.Ke2 c4 6.h4 c3 7.h5 cxd2 8.c4 Sc2 9.c5 Sg4
10.c6 e5 11.c7 Lc5 12.dxc5 d6 13.c6 Le6 14.c8=S Dg5 15.Se7 Sh2 16.Sf5 Sf1 17.c7 a5
18.c8=S a4 19.Sce7 a3 20.Sg6 axb2 21.a4 hxg6 22.a5 Th6 23.a6 gxf5 24.a7 Tg6
25.h6 Kd7 26.h7 f6 27.h8=T Sa3 28.T8h3 Th8 29.a8=T Thh6 30.Ta4 Lg8 31.Te4 fxe4
32.f4 Dg4+ 33.Tf3 exf3+
Keine Lösung: BP 32.0 wegen der Retraktion. Da NUPG C+. (2023-09-28)
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (SSTT), Promotion (SSTT)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 6b1/1p1k2p1/3p1prr/4p3/5Pq1/n2BPp2/1p1pK1P1/RN1Q1nNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-05-09 more...
47 - P0003138
Branko Koludrovic
4208 Problem 12/1979
P0003138
(11+9)
h#3 (AP)
0.1...
1. ... axb6ep 2. 0-0-0 0-0-0 3. Td7 a8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
This problem can be solved presuming that both castlings are executable. It implies that the last halfmoves have been.-1.Bb6xa7 sBb7-b5.
Bb5 could not come from c6 (sBc6xFb5), because all of the missing white pieces(5) have been captured on white squares except wLc1,which must have been captured by Bc7(Bc7xwLb6).Further,it has not played immediately before -1.Bb6-b5 because this would prevent white castling(forcing wT or wK to move)
Here is the proof that 4 remaining white pcs have been captured on white squares:
black d-pawn must have been captured on d4 and h,g f pawns had to promote after Bh3xwFg2,then wBh2moved to h4, enabling Bg4x Fh3 ..h1T, and finnaly sBf7
after fxg2... g1S. sLf1 prevented the check from Th1, and later has been captured by a white officer.
Conclusion:
Retro:-1.wBb6xFa7 Bb7-b5
Forward(AP) 1....axb6 e. p.2.0-0-0 0-0-0 3.Td7 a8Q# (Author)
Branko Koludrovic: P.S.
The black pawn a4(on the diagramm)came from c7 after capturing the white bishop on b6, then moving to b5 and capturing a white officer on a4. (2010-09-28)
A.Buchanan: I think sBf must have captured on g2 & then promoted on f1 to S, otherwise it’s impossible to unlock the southeast cage (2023-07-11)
A.Buchanan: So that means it’s sound. However I don’t see that it needs to have been sL shielding on f1 (2023-07-11)
more ...
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP), En passant as key, Castling (sgsgwg), Promotion (D), Valladao Task
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: r3k3/P3p3/p7/Pp6/p6P/2P3PR/2PPP2b/R3K1nr
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-07-11 more...
48 - P0003287
Tomislav Petrovic
(VIII) Problem 37-40 09/1956
P0003287
(5+9) C+
h#2
1. fxg3ep h8=S 2. Sg4 Sxg6#
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: The point I think is that the en passant is a tempo move. Otherwise wBf2 serves no purpose. How about sBh5 instead of sT? (2021-10-19)
more ...
comment
Keywords: En passant as key, Promotion (S), Tempo Move
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.61 & trivial retro-logic
FEN: 8/7P/6pP/6pr/5pPk/4np1n/5P1p/7K
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-10-19 more...
49 - P0003325
Tivadar Kardos
4272 Arbejder-Skak 08/1956
P0003325
(6+13) C+
h#5
a) 1. gxf3ep g4 2. Kd5 gxf5 3. Kc6 fxe6 4. Kb7 exd7 5. Ka8 dxc8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: Popeye v4.87 (via Olive v1.4 ) for PDB problem P0003325 h#5 delivers the correct solution with en passant set to f2f3f4. However no solution when the "intelligent" flag is also set. Reported to Popeye Github. (2021-11-23)
Henrik Juel: Popeye 4.61 with 'opt var int enp f3' works fine
Maybe you just have to change f2f3f4 to f3, Andrew (2021-11-23)
A.Buchanan: Thanks for the suggestion, Henrik, but even without the "intelligent", opti vari enpa f3 fails with v4.87. I think that the syntax has been rendered more complicated since v4.61 in order to support fancy fairy en passants. (2021-11-23)
comment
Keywords: En passant as key, Promotion (D), Excelsior, Pac-Man
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: HC+ Popeye C-Version 3.52 & trivial retro-logic
FEN: 2n5/p2p4/4b3/p4p2/P3kPp1/Ppp5/Pp4P1/bK2n3
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-11-23 more...
50 - P0003335
Tomislav Petrovic
(XXI) Problem 37-40 09/1956
P0003335
(5+9) cooked
h#9
1. dxc3ep dxc3+ 2. Ka5 c4 3. d2 c5 4. d1=L c6 5. Lg4 hxg4 6. Kb6 g5 7. Ka7 g6 8. Kb8 g7 9. Kc8 g8=D/T#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: 1. b2 c5 2. b1=S c6 3. Sc3 dxc3+ 4. Ka5 cxd4 5. Kb6 d5 6. Ka7 d6 7. Kb8 dxc7+ 8. Ka7 c8=D 9. a5 Db7#
paul: See P0003212 as version. (2011-08-06)
Anton Baumann: C+?? Die Aufgabe ist eindeutig inkorrekt! (2021-01-27)
James Malcom: Fixed. (2021-01-27)
comment
Keywords: En passant as key, Promotion (D), konsekutive Umwandlungen 2 (L, D/T), En passant, Kindergarten Problem
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: 8/2p5/p7/8/1kPp3p/1p1p2pP/3P2Pp/7K
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-01-27 more...
51 - 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)
more ...
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...
52 - P0003369
Valerian Onitiu
6643 The Fairy Chess Review 02/1946
P0003369
(14+11) C+
h#1*
1. ... fxg6ep#
1. dxe3ep fxe3#
play all play one stop play next play all
Gerald Ettl: Der rumänische Autor zeigt, dass der letzte Zug jeweils ein Doppelschritt g7g5 oder e2e4 gewesen sein muss. Die wBc6,d7 schlugen ueber Kreuz und der wUW-L hat bxaB und a7xXb8 geschlagen. Die Forderung lautet wohl h#1 (2010-07-12)
Alfred Pfeiffer: Ja, die Forderung ist h#1*.
Online: "http://problem64.beda.cz/silo/fcr_4_1946.pdf" (2010-12-15)
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Keywords: En passant as key (2), Promotion (L), Non-standard material (L)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: C+ Popeye 4.61 and analysis
FEN: 4b3/1p1P1p2/2PRBR1P/2prpPpK/3pPkr1/5pN1/P4P1B/6B1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-06-30 more...
53 - P0003417
John Frederick Keeble
2206 The Problemist Fairy Chess Supplement 16, p. 173, 02/1936
P0003417
(4+5) C+
h#2.5 (AP)
1. ... exd6ep 2. 0-0-0 dxe7+ 3. Tf8 exf8=T,D#
play all play one stop play next play all
H.Juel: If Black may castle, last move was not made by Ke8 or Ta8, but by Pd5, so it was d7-d5, and hence White may capture en passant. 1... exd6ep 2.0-0-0 dxe7 3.Tf8 exf8=D,T# where the castling (belatedly) justifies the e.p. capture.
Not 1... exd6ep 2.Kd8? dxe7 3.Kc8 e8=D,T
AB: Another 120 retro tries (=60x2 due to tolerated dual promotion) of general form 1. exd6ep 2. T~ dxc7 3. T~ c8=D,T.
No set play
Nachdruck in "Die Schwalbe" 33 mit Diagrammfehler (wBe6 fehlt).
VL: The first AP-problem! Thematic illegal try:
1. ... exd6ep 2.Kd8? dxe7+ 3.Kc8 e8=T(D)#?? (2007-02-11)
Mario Richter: 46 years between this Problem and P1366663 - perhaps this was not Keeble's first AP-Problem?! (2019-08-29)
Ladislav Packa: Of course I know the idea a posteriori. But let my heresy be forgiven - I do not consider it logical. In this particular example, I consider e.p. for proof that black can castling - not vice versa. (2019-08-29)
A.Buchanan: Hi Ladislav. If ep is ok, then Black just moved a pawn with double hop. That doesn't stop Black having e.g. moved bK right at the beginning of the game. So you can't prove that Black definitely can castle this way. What am I missing here? (2019-08-29)
Ladislav Packa: Your statement is perfectly fine. However, the AP condition is usually interpreted as castling is evidence of e.p. However, the second party does not have to do castling - the possibility has already been demonstrated by the existence of e.p. (2019-08-29)
A.Buchanan: Hi again Ladislav. Please try again, I am obviously being very stupid. I don't understand how 1. exd6ep is any more indicative that Black can castle than 1. K~. (2019-08-30)
Ladislav Packa: Hi, Andre!
e.p. is just a result of the d7-d5 move. Black can castle only if it was the last move of black (even without wPe5). Therefore, it does not have the logic of joining the e.p. with castling. For example, ask yourself if black is allowed to castle in the position without wPe5. (2019-08-30)
A.Buchanan: @Ladislav: ep is not "proof that black can castle", rather it is a *necessary* condition for Black to be able to castle. The logical implication is the other way round. We can castle because of the optimistic convention, and because sPd might just have moved. Without wPe, there is no solution, but whatever White plays, Black can castle (2020-12-11)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: was heißt hier Thematisch Illegal ??
Mir völlig wurscht ob ep möglich oder nicht, nach dem weißen Zug ist natürlich Kd8 möglich !!
also ist auch 1. ... exd6ep 2. Kd8 dxe7+ 3. Kc8 e8DT# eine Lösung, sonst müßte auf die erzwungende Rochade in der Aufgabenstellung hingewiesen werden ! (2020-12-11)
A.Buchanan: Can one tolerate “tolerated dual promotion” in Valladao? Well Valladao himself did, so it must be ok (2022-03-26)
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Keywords: a posteriori (AP) (Type Petrovic), En passant as key, Castling (sg), Promotion (D/T), Tolerated dual promotion (D/T), Valladao Task, Retro Strategy (RS)
Genre: h#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye 4.61
FEN: r3k3/2p1p3/2P1P3/2KpP3/8/8/8/8
Reprints: V. Die Schwalbe 33, p. 323, 06/1975
2001 CHM Themes 12/2000
3 Die Schwalbe 215, p. 240, 10/2005
A1 Problemkiste 169 02/2007
402 Eigenartige Schachprobleme , p. 130, 2010
14 Die Schwalbe 241, p. 374, 02/2010
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-06-10 more...
54 - P0003423
Matti Arvo Myllyniemi
3975 Stella Polaris 01/1971
P0003423
(7+11)
h#3 (AP)
0.2.1...
1. ... g6 2. 0-0 gxf7 3. Kh8 Le5#
1. ... cxb6ep 2. 0-0-0 bxa7 3. Td7 a8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
Henrik Juel: Analysis
If Black can castle both ways, last move must have been b7-b5
C+ Popeye 4.61 (2020-10-25)
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP), En passant as key, Castling (sksg), Promotion (D), Valladao Task
Genre: h#, Retro
FEN: r3k2r/p4p1p/8/KpP2PP1/4PBpP/5pp1/6p1/8
Reprints: Nordisches Turnier 1970-1971
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2020-10-25 more...
55 - 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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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...
56 - 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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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...
57 - 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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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...
58 - 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)
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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...
59 - P0003960
Arthur Ford Mackenzie
467 Jamaica Gleaner 1891
P0003960
(3+1) C+
#3
1. La7 Kxa7 2. c8=T Ka6 3. Ta8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Max J. Meyer in 'Brighton and Hove Society', 1904: "It will be seen that the ideas of these two problems [dieses und P1143870] are the same. The addition of the White B. enables Mr. Mackenzie to get a much better key for this position, a point in which Steinweg's problem does not excel; but, of course, the use of an extra piece renders the miniature less remarkable from the point of view of smallness in size."
Paulo Roque: .
Solution:
1) 1. La7 KxLa7 2. c8=T! Ka6 3. Ta8#

2) Proof da legality of the answer:
Retro: 0... Ka7-a8 -1. b7-b8=L etc (2009-09-06)
Sally: Der letzte weiße Zug von Weiß kann nur Ba7xb8L gewesen sein, demgemäß enthält die Aufgabe 2 Bauernumwandlungen
in verschiedenen Figuren: in der lösung in einem turm und retrospektiv in einen Läufer.
406 Mattaufgaben mit 3 und 4 Steinen (Teil 1) Speckmann 1976 (2016-08-30)
Henrik Juel: There is even a third promotion in the threat 2.c8=D+
C+ by Popeye 4.61 (2016-08-30)
A.Buchanan: Here the threat play (1) is sound & (2) can never occur as Black has no neutral move. But if threat play is *unsound* yet can never occur, can it be safely ignored or will some directmate purists regard that as a defect? (2022-04-02)
Henrik Juel: I think not, Andrew
When I test problems, I ignore plays that do not occur (2022-04-02)
comment
Keywords: under-promotion (T), Stalemate avoidance, Promotion in the retro play (L)
Genre: 3#, Retro
Computer test: Popeye 4.61
FEN: kB6/2P5/2K5/8/8/8/8/8
Reprints: 64 Chess Lyrics , p. 100, 1905
1359 Wiener Hausfrauen-Zeitung 5, p. 77, 29/01/1905
5 Vliegend Blaadje 22/07/1911
Szachy 01/1958
The Problemist (20) 03/1969
406 Mattaufgaben mit drei und vier Steinen 1976
diagrammes 64 01-02/1984
(1) diagrammes 15 07-09/1994
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: Mario Richter, 2020-02-26 more...
60 - P0004036
Sergey A. Komarov
Andrey Frolkin

diagrammes 85bis 04-06/1988
3. Lob
P0004036
(5+15)
shc#7
1. a1=S 2. fxg3ep 3. Kxh5 4. Kxg6 5. Kf7 6. Ke8 7. 0-0-0 a8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
8. TT
Henrik Juel: Solution: 1.a1S 2.fxg3ep 3.Kxh5xg6-f7-e8 7.0-0-0 a8Q#. Nice problem with open and hidden ep capture (exf3ep). (2003-04-28)
James Malcom: How is the key here justified? (2021-01-18)
James Malcom: I am still pondering. (2021-09-14)
Henrik Juel: James, I have forgotten all about this weird stipulation during the time since my last comment, and I don't know what I meant so say...
The definition of shc in the PDB is not complete; here is the Schwalbe definition:
Konsequenter Serienzüger: Ein Serienzüger, bei dem nach jedem Zug die Retroanalyse der Stellung neu durchgeführt wird (also ohne Kenntnis früherer Züge und Analysen). Beispielsweise wird eine Rochade wieder möglich, wenn König und Rochadeturm auf ihre entsprechenden Felder ziehen (weil in der neuen Analyse "vergessen" ist, dass beide bereits gezogen haben).
In english, something like
After each move the analysis of the position is done afresh, without knowledge of previous moves;
for instance, castling is possible when king and rook reach their original squares (e8 and a8), because it is 'forgotten' that they have already moved (2021-09-14)
Henrik Juel: You ask for a justification of the key, James; there is no need for justification, Black can do whatever he likes
In the position after 1.a1=S last move must have been g2-g4, so the ep capture 2.fxg3ep is legitimized
In the position after 2.fxg3ep last move must have been Ke3xPf3, with the double check being explained by exf3ep++; this is the 'hidden ep capture' I mentioned in my youthful comment (2021-09-14)
James Malcom: Thanks Henri! While the definition is incomplete, the reset each time is deducible from looking over shc problems. The justification here, however, was a level above me somehow. (2021-09-14)
comment
Keywords: Seriesmover, Consequent, En passant, Promotion (sD x2), Valladao Task, Castling, Promotion in the mating move
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: r7/P1pp4/pp3pP1/4rpbP/5pPk/3n1K1b/p6q/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-09-14 more...
61 - 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...
62 - P0004481
Matjaz Zigman
Länderkampf Mazedonien-Slowenien 1969
7. Platz
P0004481
(13+10) cooked
ser-h#6** AP
* 1. ... Sb5#
* 1. ... dxc3#
1. fxe3ep 2. e2 3. exf1=S 4. Se3? 5. Sd5 Sb5# (must castle for AP)
1. fxe3ep 2. e2 3. exf1=S 4. Sxd2 5. Sxb1 6. Sxa3 0-0-0!#
play all play one stop play next play all
Luckily, illegal diagram can be fixed by removal of bPa4.
Then if White castling rights remain, ep is on. One ser-h#5 & 18 ser-h#6 tries exist, in which White does not bother to castle.
We don't know if this was a transcription error or a counting mistake by the composer.
Cook: Too many pawn captures required. For retro problem, illegal position implies unsound
Mike Neumeier: The solution appears to be 1.fxe4 e.p. 2.e2 3.exf1=L 4.Ld3 5.Le4 6.Ld5 dxc3#. Was that the intention? (2013-02-18)
Arno Tüngler: There would even be a solution in 5 moves by 3.exf1=S 5.Sd5 Sb5#
However, in order to justify the e.p.-key there must be an AP prove that e2-e4 (and not a move by the wK or wRa1) was played as White's last move. Thus the only solution giving this in 6 moves is 1.fxe3 e.p. 2.e2 3.exf1=S 4.Sxd2 5.Sxb1 6.Sxa3 0-0-0!# (2013-02-18)
Mike Neumeier: It struck me as odd there was no solution listed. (2013-02-18)
Mike Neumeier: And, if we let black be the idle side, there is 1.Txg1 2.Lxh1 3.Kd1 4.Kc1 hxg1T#. What does the asterisk(*) mean? (2013-02-18)
Henrik Juel: The asterisk means that there is also a white mate if he had the move, in this case two mates, so maybe the stipulation should be ser-h#6**:
1.dxc3,Sb5# (2013-02-18)
Ladislav Packa: It is clear that e.p. is possible only when the wK and wRa1 done neither move.
What convention is used here for the right to castling? (2013-02-18)
Henrik Juel: White may castle, unless you can show that he has lost the right to castle. In this problem there is a major difficulty, I think: the position seems illegal.
White pawns captured b2xc3xd4xe5xf6, g2xf3, and axb, promoting on b8; Black captured bxc, dxc, and g3xh2. We cannot explain the destiny of [Ph7].
Reversing wPh3 and bPh2 seems to handle the illegality, but then the problem can be solved in 5 moves (2013-02-18)
Mike Neumeier: Thanks, Henrik. Maybe the stipulation was a typo. Considering all comments together, perhaps the stip should have been ser-h#5**, with the one solution being the 5-mover Arno gave. I do not think it can be proven, except by a stipulation of ser-h#5 that en passant is possible. Which leads to the question of convention. Can the existence of a unique solution as implied only by the stipulation be used to determine that en passant is permissible? Whether there is castling or not here seems immaterial. It is just another 6-move solution. There are 19 6-movers (Popeye) with one queenside castling among them. But only the one 5-mover. (2013-02-18)
Henrik Juel: By convention, an en passant capture as first move is not permitted, unless the pawn double step can be shown by some kind of retro analysis.
(Conversely, a castling is permitted, unless it can be shown by retro analysis that the right to castle has been lost, i.e., that king and/or rook has moved) (2013-02-18)
A.Buchanan: Suggested repair: Remove bPa4. Add AP to stipulation.
As Henrik points out, the diagram as it stands is illegal. We can't swap wPh3 & bPh2, because that allows 2 h#1 cooks.
Suppose we remove bPa4 instead. Then we still at least 5 White pawn captures: bxcxdxexf6 & gxf3. But wPh3 did still move from h2, so there are 3 Black pawn captures bxc, dxc & gxh2. So [bhP] died without capturing or promoting. [waP] must have promoted - so either [baP] was captured to clear the way, or [waP] captured to promote, and later [baP] promoted. Either way, all the numbers add up, and the position is legal. wPe4 cannot have just come from d3. So AP is triggered. Forward logic works just as before without bPa4. There is 1 5-move try, and 18 6-move tries, but AP eliminates them all because of need for castling to retrospectively justify the ep. (2013-02-23)
A.Buchanan: Mike asked: "Can the existence of a unique solution as implied only by the stipulation be used to determine that en passant is permissible?"
Answer: No. The stipulation does imply a default player to move, but otherwise cannot be used as a premise to determine game state (castling, en passant). (2022-03-21)
A.Buchanan: WinChloe & Yacpdb have the same cooked diagram as PDB, so I think this cook was in the design. I would like to post a sound version with bPa4 removed, and I think it would just be “Zigman correction” with no one else’s name mentioned in the credits. Is everyone ok with this? (2022-05-30)
Mario Richter: 'Bilten 1970' (printed 1971) contains on pp. 62-81 a complete report on the "Problem Duel Slovenia - Macedonia 1969", the problem here can be found on page 79 and is printed there exactly as given here.
Andrew's handling of the suggested correction (remove black pawn a4) is o.k. for me. (2022-05-31)
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comment
Keywords: Castling (wg), Seriesmover, a posteriori (AP) (Type Petrovic), Illegal position, En passant as key, Promotion (s), Valladao Task, Superseded by (P1401546)
Genre: Retro, Fairies
Computer test: Popeye v4.87 but simple retro-logic shows illegality
FEN: 8/8/5P2/2p1p3/p1pkPp2/N1p2P1P/2PP1PBp/RN2KRbr
Reprints: 104 Bilten 1970 1971
(72) Problem 144-147 12/1971
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-06-01 more...
63 - P0004536
Hans Gruber
2286 feenschach 40 11-12/1977
P0004536
(1+2)
Ergänze wK, wT, 4wBB und 2sBB zu einem IC!
a) +wKc1 wTd1 wBb2d2e3h2 sBe7g7
Zuvor 0-0+ illegal, da sLc5=Umwandlungsläufer! Umwandlung auf g1=L, Lf2+ Schach
play all play one stop play next play all
Bernd Schwarzkopf: In der Lösung muss es +wBd2 (statt e2) heißen; auf e2 steht im Diagramm schon ein wB. (2020-12-16)
A.Buchanan: @Bernd: I made the change you suggested, but having seen the result I think the original diagram was wrong, not the solution. In the diagram with just wKh1, sLc5 & one wB , the wB should be on d2 (or f2) not e2, in order to eliminate a cook. Otherwise, the final pawn can be on d2 or f2: both are ICs. (2020-12-17)
Henrik Juel: Andrew, the final pawn must be on d2, not f2
Without wPd2 last move could be Td8-d1+, so this position is no IC (2020-12-17)
A.Buchanan: Oh yes of course thanks. So what cooks does showing wBe2 in the diagram prevent? (2020-12-17)
Henrik Juel: I was asking myself the same question, Andrew
But there are so many IC's around that it is unadvisable to move Pe2 from the diagram to the stipulation list
We should have asked Hans, some 40 years ago... (2020-12-17)
comment
Keywords: Illegal cluster, Castling (wg), Promotion (l)
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/8/8/2b5/8/8/4P3/7k
Reprints: feenschach 45 01-03/1979
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-03
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2020-12-17 more...
64 - P0005597
Frank Schützhold
Jorge Abel Barros
Raul Ocampo
Jorge Joaquin Lois
Julio Alberto Pancaldo

(2) Die Schwalbe 25 02/1974
P0005597
(15+15)
BP in 28,5
(27,5?)
1. Sc3 Sh6 2. Sd5 Tg8 3. b4 Sc6 4. b5 Sb8 5. b6 Sc6 6. La3 Sb8 7. Db1 Sc6 8. Db5 Sb8 9. Da6 bxa6 10. Kd1 Lb7 11. Kc1 Dc8 12. Sf6+ Kd8 13. Sxg8 Sc6 14. Sf6 Sg8 15. Sd5 Ke8 16. Kb2 Dd8 17. Kc3 Lc8 18. b7 Sh6 19. b8=D Sg8 20. Db1 Sh6 21. Dd1 Sg8 22. Lc1 Sh6 23. Kd3 Sg8 24. Ke3 Sh6 25. Kf3 Sg8 26. Kg3 Sh6 27. Kh3 Sg8 28. Sc3 Sb8 29. Sb1
play all play one stop play next play all
Konstruktionsausschreiben 06/1973
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ NUPG BP 28.5 cooked in 1 Sekunde.
Keine Lösung: BP 26.5 bis BP 28.0.
Beispiel: 1.Sc3 Sa6 2.Sd5 Tb8 3.b4 Ta8 4.La3 Tb8 5.Db1 Ta8 6.Kd1 Tb8 7.Kc1 Ta8
8.Kb2 Tb8 9.Kc3 Ta8 10.Kd3 Tb8 11.Ke3 Ta8 12.Kf3 Tb8 13.Kg3 Ta8
14.Kh3 Tb8 15.b5 Ta8 16.b6 Sb8 17.Db5 Sc6 18.Da6 bxa6 19.b7 Sh6
20.b8D Tg8 21.Db1 Lb7 22.Dd1 Dc8 23.Sf6+ Kd8 24.Sxg8 Sb8 25.Sf6 Sg8
26.Sd5 Ke8 27.Lc1 Dd8 28.Sc3 Lc8 29.Sb1 (2023-04-02)
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Construction task, Promotion
Genre: Retro
FEN: rnbqkbn1/p1pppppp/p7/8/8/7K/P1PPPPPP/RNBQ1BNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-05
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2012-04-08 more...
65 - P0005899
Unto Heinonen
Suomen Tehtäväniekat 02/1993
1. Lob
P0005899
(7+7)
BP in 30,5
1. h4 g5 2. hxg5 a5 3. b4 axb4 4. Th4 Ta3 5. Sf3 Te3 6. a4 Sf6 7. gxf6 e5 8. Tc4 h5 9. a5 h4 10. a6 h3 11. a7 h2 12. a8=L h1=L 13. Ta6 Th6 14. dxe3 Le7 15. Te6 fxe6 16. La3 b3 17. Lc5 Sc6 18. Sd4 exd4 19. Sc3 dxc3 20. g4 Se5 21. Lg2 b6 22. Lac6 dxc6 23. fxe7 Dd3 24. Ld5 exd5 25. cxd3 Lf5 26. gxf5 Te6 27. fxe6 Le4 28. dxe4 bxc5 29. f4 dxc4 30. Dc2 bxc2 31. fxe5
play all play one stop play next play all
Juha Saukkola:: Solution not unique! (2000-09-29)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ NUPG Stelvio 1.11 00:02:12 Minuten. (hh:mm:ss)
Keine Lösung: BP 29.5, BP 30.0. (2023-04-24)
Moldenhauer: Beispiel Stelvio 1.11: 1.Sc3 Sc6 2.b3 Sf6 3.La3 a5 4.g4 a4 5.Lg2 Ta5 6.h4 Tf5
7.Lc5 axb3 8.Ld5 b6 9.a4 bxc5 10.gxf5 g5 11.hxg5 e5 12.Th4 h5 13.Tc4 h4
14.a5 h3 15.a6 h2 16.a7 h1D 17.Ta6 De4 18.Sf3 Le7 19.Sd4 exd4 20.a8D Se5
21.Te6 dxc3 22.Dc6 dxc6 23.d4 fxe6 24.dxe5 exd5 25.gxf6 Le6
26.fxe6 dxc4 27.fxe7 Ddd3 28.cxd3 Th3 29.Dc2 Te3 30.dxe4 bxc2 31.fxe3 (2023-04-24)
comment
Keywords: Non-Unique Proof Game, Promotion
Genre: Retro
FEN: 4k3/2p1P3/2p1P3/2p1P3/2p1P3/2p1P3/2p1P3/4K3
Reprints: The Problemist 11/1993
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1995-06-26
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2012-04-10 more...
66 - P0006423
Andrey Frolkin
9128 Die Schwalbe 157, p. 283, 02/1996
Leonid Borodatow gewidmet
P0006423
(9+4)
#3 (AP)
White pushes the move (Keym AP)
1. ... f5! (f6?,fxe6?,fxg6? 2.0-0! ~ 3.Tf3#) 2. gxf6ep! exf6 3. 0-0! f5 4. Tf3#
(2. 0-0=?)
Valladao Task via the try: 1. exf7? e5! 1. ... e6? 2. f8=D e5 3. Da3#
Another try shows fully differentiated black Albino:
1. Kf1? fxg6!
1. ... f5? 2. Lxf5! h3 3. Txh3#
1. ... fxe6? 2. Lxe6! h3 3. Txh3#
1. ... f6? 2. Lf5! h3,fxg5 3. Txh3#,Th3#
And retro tries:
1. 0-0?? f5,~ 2. Tf3# (short solution)
1. f5? f6,~ 2. 0-0?? fxg5,~ 3. Tf3#
play all play one stop play next play all
Wenn Schwarz zuletzt gezogen hat, dann kann Weiß nicht mehr rochieren: R: 1. Kh2-g3 Tf1(g1)-h1+. Da aber Weiß in einem direkten Matt beginnt, ist die Rochade nicht mehr zulässig. Der Zusatz "AP" in der Forderung ist überflüssig: es könnte höchstens der Anzug a posteriori dem Schwarzen übertragen werden. Das geht aber nicht, da Weiß in einem direkten Matt beginnt.
Guus Rol: This is apparently AP after Keym. The move goes to black:
0. ... f5! 1.gxf6ep exf6 2.0-0(justifies the handover) f5 3.Tf3 (2007-02-13)
A.Buchanan: There are two kinds of directmate Type Keym. In one Black unsuccessfully pulls the move, in the other (as here) White successfully pushes it to Black. (2022-04-16)
A.Buchanan: I disagree with the German comment in the solution text. I think including "AP" is advisable in the stipulation. Keym AP riffs off Codex Article 15, but it's not the default. (2022-04-17)
more ...
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP) (Type Keym), Castling, En passant, Promotion (D), Valladao Task
Genre: Retro, 3#
FEN: 8/4pp2/4P1N1/6PP/5P1p/6kB/6P1/4K2R
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-12
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-04-18 more...
67 - P0006477
Thierry Le Gleuher
3350 diagrammes 114 07-09/1995
P0006477
(11+16) C+
BP in 26,0
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. a4 Ta6 5. a5 Td6 6. a6 Txd2 7. a7 d5 8. a8=S Ld7 9. Sb6 cxb6 10. c4 b5 11. c5 Db6 12. c6 Dd4 13. c7 Lc6 14. c8=S Sd7 15. Sd6 exd6 16. e4 Se7 17. e5 Sc8 18. e6 Se5 19. e7 Kd7 20. e8=S Ke6 21. Sf6 gxf6 22. g4 Lg7 23. g5 Te8 24. g6 Lh8 25. g7 Te7 26. g8=S Sf3+
play all play one stop play next play all
Brilliant cavalcade in a very clear construction.
Moldenhauer: Ergänzung: C+ Stelvio 8 Sekunden.
Keine Lösung: BP 25.5. (2023-06-24)
comment
Keywords: Ceriani-Frolkin Theme (SSS), Unique Proof Game, Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Resolution time : 18 mn 14.45 s., Natch 2.3 Copyright (C) 1997,98,99,2001,2002,2003,2004 Pascal Wassong
FEN: 2n3Nb/1p2rp1p/2bpkp2/1p1p4/3q4/1p3n2/1P1r1P1P/RNBQKB1R
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-16
Last update: James Malcom, 2023-06-24 more...
68 - P0006492
Thierry Le Gleuher
601v Europe Echecs 438 10/1995
P0006492
(16+13) C+
BP in 21,0
1. h4 a5 2. h5 Ta6 3. h6 Tb6 4. hxg7 Tb3 5. Th6 b5 6. Ta6 h5 7. axb3 h4 8. Ta4 h3 9. Th4 h2 10. c4 h1=T 11. Dc2 Th3 12. Dg6 Tc3 13. Th1 Thh3 14. Db6 Thf3 15. exf3 a4 16. Ld3 a3 17. Le4 a2 18. d3 a1=T 19. Le3 Ta4 20. Ld4 Tb4 21. Ta1 Ta4
play all play one stop play next play all
White Rooks are permuted. Black Rooks are promotees. A very nice maneuver.
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stevio 1.11 00:49:45 Minuten.(hh:mm:ss)
Keine Lösung: BP20.0, BP 20.5. (2023-03-16)
Henrik Juel: Hello Moldenhauer
Your tests with Stelvio are much appreciated
Did you notice any improvement by version 1.11 over version 1.0? (2023-03-16)
Moldenhauer: Hallo Henrik Juel
Danke! Seit der neuen Version Stelvio 1.11 hat sich die Anzahl der Strategien reduziert.
Beispiel: P1000406 von 6775 auf 4994, was natürlich das Tempo erhöht. Habe ich zufällig bemerkt.
Dieses Beispiel habe ich auch gespeichert. Herr Reto Aschwanden schrieb glaube ich auch darüber.
Bei mir laufen immer mehrere Stelvios gleichzeitig. Vielleicht ist mein Rechner deshalb
gegenüber anderen langsamer. AMD Ryzen 3950X 16 Kerne 3 Jahre alt. (2023-03-16)
Henrik Juel: Thanks, Moldenhauer (2023-03-20)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Interchange (TT), Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.11
FEN: 1nbqkbn1/2ppppP1/1Q6/1p6/r1PBB3/1PrP1P2/1P3PP1/RN2K1NR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-16
Last update: Silvio Baier, 2023-03-20 more...
69 - P0006745
Gligor Denkovski
453 feenschach 7 01/1972
P0006745
(6+3) C+
ser-h#7*
1. ... hxg6ep#, 1. gxh4 2. h3 3. h2 4. h1=L 5. Lc6 6. Le8 7. Lxh5 g5#
play all play one stop play next play all
Anton Baumann: C+ Gustav 4.1d (2021-01-29)
comment
Keywords: En passant as key, Seriesmover, Promotion in forward play
Genre: Retro
FEN: 8/7p/4NP1k/5KpP/6PR/8/8/8
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-07-24
Last update: James Malcom, 2021-01-29 more...
70 - P0007039
Andrey Frolkin
3406 U.S. Problem Bulletin 102/103 07-10/1995
P0007039
(12+16) C+
BP in 27,0
1. Sf3 a5 2. Sd4 a4 3. Sb3 axb3 4. a3 Ta4 5. Ta2 bxa2 6. Tg1 axb1=S 7. Th1 Sc3 8. Tg1 Se4 9. c3 Sg3 10. Dc2 Sh1 11. Dg6 hxg6 12. Kd1 Th5 13. Kc2 Sh6 14. Kd3 Td5+ 15. Ke3 e5 16. Kf3 Dh4 17. Ke3 Lc5+ 18. Kf3 La7 19. h3 b6 20. Ke3 La6 21. Kf3 Ld3 22. Ke3 Lf5 23. Kf3 e4+ 24. Ke3 Sg4+ 25. Kf4 Dh8 26. Kg5 f6+ 27. Kf4 g5+
play all play one stop play next play all
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 5 Sekunden.
Keine Lösung: BP 26.0, BP 26.5. (2023-03-30)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Promenade, Non-standard material, Pendulum (K x9), Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.11
FEN: 1n2k2q/b1pp2p1/1p3p2/3r1bp1/r3pKn1/P1P4P/1P1PPPP1/2B2BRn
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-08-12
Last update: James Malcom, 2023-05-02 more...
71 - 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...
72 - P0008204
Unto Heinonen
3230 U.S. Problem Bulletin 99/100 01-04/1995
1. Preis
P0008204
(13+15) C+
BP in 27,0
1. g4 a5 2. g5 a4 3. g6 a3 4. gxh7 axb2 5. a4 bxa1=T 6. Lb2 g5 7. Lg7 b5 8. Lh6 Lg7 9. a5 Lc3 10. a6 Sf6 11. a7 Tg8 12. h8=S Lb7 13. Sg6 Lxh1 14. Sf4 Sc6 15. Sh5 Db8 16. f4 Db6 17. Sf3 0-0-0 18. a8=L Se5 19. Le4 Ta8 20. Lh7 La5 21. Sc3 g4 22. Da1 g3 23. Sd1 g2 24. Dd4 Tg3 25. Dg1 Th8 26. Sd4 Ta3 27. c3 Ta1
play all play one stop play next play all
D. Meinking: 1st Prize, USPB 1995-1997 (2002-07-06)
paul: The report of the judge G. Lauinger in StrateGems 19/2002 (2021-10-29)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Interchange (ttt), Castling, Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: C+ by Stelvio beta from Reto Aschwanden
FEN: r1k4r/2pppp1B/1q3n1B/bp2n2N/3N1P2/2P5/3PP1pP/r2NKBQb
Reprints: feenschach 153 10-12/2003
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-09-11
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2022-11-27 more...
73 - P0008565
Unto Heinonen
Thema Danicum 1996
3. ehrende Erwähnung
P0008565
(12+12) C+
BP in 19,5
1. Sc3 Sf6 2. Se4 Sxe4 3. b4 Sxf2 4. e4 h5 5. Dxh5 Txh5 6. Se2 Tc5 7. Sg3 d5 8. Le2 Ld7 9. 0-0 Sd3 10. Txf7 Sxc1 11. Txg7 Sb3 12. Tg6 Kf7 13. axb3 Le8 14. Ta5 Dd7 15. Tb5 a5 16. h4 a4 17. h5 a3 18. h6 a2 19. h7 a1=S 20. h8=S#
play all play one stop play next play all
James Malcom: The $100 theme in a proofgame; a fantastic problem! (2021-03-09)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Castling, 100 Dollar task, Promotion (Ss), Phoenix (Ss)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Resolution time : 1 mn 30.33 s., Natch 2.3 Copyright (C) 1997,98,99,2001,2002,2003,2004 Pascal Wassong
FEN: rn2bb1N/1ppqpk2/6R1/1Rrp4/1P2P3/1P4N1/2PPB1P1/n5K1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1997-01-09
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-04-06 more...
74 - 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...
75 - P0008793
Andrej N. Kornilow
Shakhmaty v SSSR 1978
P0008793
(15+8)
#1.5
a) 1. "Ta1-d1+?" ... Td4 2. Txd4# (Completing the illegal castling!)
b) 1. "xc5ep+?" ... Tb5 2. Txb5# (Completing the illegal e.p.!)
c) 1. "xe8=S+?" ... e6 2. Sf6# (Completing the illegal promotion!)

0) 1. Sxe7+! Lxe7 2. f8=B# (Truncating the promotion move!)
play all play one stop play next play all
n in directmate stipulation #n means that White has n moves to do the job. With n=1.5, therefore, one of the White moves is fractional, so we know we are in the realm of jokes, ho ho!

If White's first move is the fractional one, there are three retro tries which attempt to complete: castling, ep & promotion. However all are illegal:
castling: 8 white pawns, so wTa5 came from h1, dislodging wK.
ep: retracting sBc5 to c7 means wLb8 is promoted, but 8 white pawns.
promotion: white made 7 pawn captures, while sBgh were waylaid.

So we consider that White's second move was the fractional one, by omitting the replacement of wBf8 by an officer.
Henrik Juel: Completing the key isn't legal, 1.'Rd1'/'-bPc5'/'e8S'+, but omitting the promotion in the mating move is, 1.Sxe7+ Bxe7 2.'f8'#. Excellent joke. (2003-09-19)
James Malcom: A very witty joke Valladao! (2020-09-24)
A.Buchanan: Really like this joke (2020-09-25)
Henrik Juel: To see the illegality of completing 1.fxe8=S+?, note the captures:
Black captured fxDe, so [Pg7,h7] were captured on their files, while the other six missing black men were captured by white pawns
The illegality of completing 1.0-0-0,bxc6ep? is rather obvious (2020-09-26)
James Malcom: And for those you don't find it obvious: If the White king hasn't moved, then where did wRa5, and wBb8 if bPb5 has just done a double-step, come from? Neither can be promoted pieces, as White still has all eight pawns. Trying to finish castling and en passant therefore both produce illegal positions and thus cannot be the solution. (2020-09-26)
Henrik Juel: Continuing beating the dead horse...
How does the white player actually perform an entire move?
1.0-0-0+: Ke1-c1 and Ta1-d1
1.bxc6ep+: Pb5-c6 and remove sPc5
1.fxe8=S+: remove sYe8 and Pf7-e8 and replace wPe8 with wSe8 (three fractional actions)
2.f8=Y#: Pf7-f8 and replace wPf8 with wYf8
So a marginally better stipulation might be: 'White to move mates in less than 2 moves' (2020-09-26)
A.Buchanan: Hurray I've got the animation working! I agree with Henrik's stipulation. There is a dummy pawn on f8, but not by the Dummy Pawn rule. Instead it's the joke that does it. If Dummy Rule applied, the move would be full length! :) (2022-02-09)
more ...
comment
Keywords: En passant, Start a move but do not finish it, Castling, Promotion (S,B), Valladao Task (half!), Joke (End move, Start move), Dummy Pawn (not! Start move), Complete an unfinished move, waylaid (sBgh)
Genre: Retro, 2#
FEN: 1B1N1bB1/p2ppP2/2P5/R1pk1N2/1r2p3/1P2P1P1/4PP1P/R1K5
Reprints: (III) Quartz 4 1997
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1997-06-21
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-04-08 more...
76 - P0008794
Alexandr A. Klibanski
2 Shakhmaty v SSSR , p. 31, 07/1977
P0008794
(14+4)
#1
1. Tb1#
zuletzt geschah
R: 1. ... Kc2-b2 2. e5xf6ep+ f7-f5 3. e4-e5+
oder
R: 1. ... Kc1-b2 2. 0-0+
oder
R: 1. ... a2-a1=L
play all play one stop play next play all
weiße Bauernschläge: axb3,b2xc3xd4xe5xf6,c2xd3xe4xf5xg6xh7-h8=L,e2xfxg = 12 Schläge, alle fehlenden schwarzen Steine sind erklärt, insbesondere hat der wBh2 nie die h-Linie verlassen.
Der sBh4 stammt also entweder von f7 (2 Schläge) oder von h7 (ebenfalls 2 Schläge, um den wBh2 vorbeizulassen). Damit sind auch alle fehlenden weißen Steine erklärt. Da zu diesen auch der schwarzfeldrige wLc1 gehört, kann zuzletzt nicht h5-h4? geschehen sein ('Shakhmaty v SSSR' nennt das "Farbeffekt").
paul: La question est si les Blancs sont a jouer et le reponse est affirmative. Les seuls retro-jeux plausibles sont:
1.Rc1-b2 0-0;
1.Rc2-b2 e6xf6 e.p. 2.f7-f5 Tg6-a6+;
1.a2-a1F.
Donc le task Valladao. Le coup matant est 1.Tb1#
Est interessant a voir pourquoi ne va pas le retro-jeu h5-h4?.
L?analyse demontre que le seul Pion blanc transforme en en h8 a ete Pc2 et la sequence des coups a ete c2xd3xe4xf5xg6xh7-h8F. Le P blanc h6 vient de h2 sans captures, donc le P noir h4 a effectue deux prises, don?t une d?un F blanc de camps noirs. Donc h5-h4 est illegal. (Quartz 4/1997) (2010-03-22)
Henrik Juel: For the benefit of readers, whose French is a bit rusty:
Paul points out that the retroplay given on top is incorrect. Ph4 is [Pf7] who captured the dark-squared [Lc1] on its way to h4; so its latest move was g5xh4, not h5-h4. (2010-03-26)
Paulo Roque: Henrik:
Not R: 1.h5-h4. See also that [Pa7] was promoted in the square a1, at some point. But I think also possible Ph4 is [Ph7], by: h7xg6-g5xh4 or h7-h6xg5xh4 (2010-03-27)
Henrik Juel: You are right, Paulo; my mistake, not Paul's. I should have written: Ph4 is [Pf7] or [Ph7], who captured the dark-squared [Lc1] on its way to h4; so its latest move was g5xh4, not h5-h4. (2010-03-27)
James Malcom: Question: What prevents the Black king from going to c1 after castling is retracted? (2022-06-17)
comment
Keywords: En passant in the retro play, Castling, Promotion in the retro play, Valladao Task
Genre: Retro
FEN: 6NB/Q5pB/R4P1P/6P1/7p/1P4P1/1k1P1P2/b4RK1
Reprints: (V) Quartz 4 1997
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1997-06-21
Last update: Mario Richter, 2022-06-17 more...
77 - P0008845
Gianni Donati
62 Quartz 5 1997
P0008845
(11+11) C+
BP in 11.5
1. d4 e5 2. Lg5 Dxg5 3. a4 Dxg2 4. a5 Dxg1 5. a6 Dg6 6. axb7 a5 7. dxe5 Da6 8. Dxd7 Kxd7 9. Lh3+ f5 10. exf6ep+ Kd6 11. 0-0 Sxf6 12. bxc8=S+
play all play one stop play next play all
White consecutively plays the three thematic moves. This PG cannot be extended to move beyond the check in the final diagram.
Henrik Juel: The ep capture is well hidden, and it is not obvious that Sc8 is promoted as Sg1-c8 also takes five moves
Interesting that Euclide 1.01 is 10 times faster than Natch 2.3 here (2021-07-04)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, En passant, Castling (wk), Promotion (S), Valladao Task (www), Phoenix (S)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: C+ Natch-2.3 11m 28.52s C+ Euclide 1.01
FEN: rnN2b1r/2p3pp/q2k1n2/p7/8/7B/1PP1PP1P/RN3RK1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1997-10-19
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-07-04 more...
78 - P0009071
Thierry Le Gleuher
3871 diagrammes 123 10-12/1997
P0009071
(9+10)
shc#10
1. c5 2. c4 3. c3 4. c2 5. c1=S 6. Kf7 7. Kg6 8. Kh5 9. Kxh4 10. h5 g3#
play all play one stop play next play all
Vor Kf7-e8 geschah Bg6xh7, deshalb muß zuerst einer der sB durch Umwandlung eliminiert werden.

In der Diagrammstellung haben die Bauern jeweils alle fehlenden gegnerischen Steine geschlagen:
W: Bdxexfxgxh, Baxbxa (oder Bcxbxa)
S: Bfxg, Bdxcxb, Bexdxcxb, Bbxa

Nach 1. Kf7? oder 1. Kf8 2. Kg7 3. Kg6 hätte W jeweils keinen letzten Zug. (R: h3-h4 sperrt den Th1 aus, der aber auch zu den Schlagopfern der sBB gehörte).
Also muß im Vorwärtsspiel zunächst eine Stellung mit geänderter Schlagbilanz erreicht werden.
Der Versuch 1. Kf8 2.Kg8 3. Kxh7 4. Kg6 5. Kh5 6. Kxh4? - aber nun hat W keinen letzten Zug - zeigt, daß der wBh7 erhalten bleiben muß, also muß die virtuelle Rücknahme h2,h3-h4 ermöglicht werden. Dies geschieht durch "Elimination" des Bc7, indem dieser auf c1 umwandelt. Bei einem sUW-Lc1 würden weiterhin 7 sBB-Schläge erforderlich sein, sUW-Dc1 oder sUW-Tc1 böten Schach, sodaß nur ein sUW-Sc1 übrig bleibt.
Nach 1. c5 2. c4 3. c3 4. c2 5. c1=S 6. Kf7 hat W nun h2,h3-h4 als Rücknahmemöglichkeit, weil nun der wTh1 nicht mehr notwendig als Schlagobjekt benötigt wird.
Henrik Juel (PDB 2021-09-15): This is one of the few shc#'s without ep capture and/or castling
Henrik Juel: I don't agree entirely with you comment, James; this seems clearer:
1.Kf7? does not work, because now White has no last move ([Th1] was captured by a pawn)
1.Kf8 2.Kg7 3.Kg6? fails for the same reason
After 5.c1=S 6.Kf7 last move was h3-h4 or h2-h4
This is one of the few shc#'s without ep capture and/or castling (2021-09-15)
James Malcom: Henrik, what comment of mine? I merely edit swapped some text. (2021-09-15)
Henrik Juel: OK, so it was probably Gerd who wrote it in 1998; the early updates are no longer available, when you click on 'more...'
The german text roughly translates to:
Pg6xh7 happened before Kf7-e8, so first one of the black pawns must be eliminated by promotion.
I still like my comment better... (2021-09-15)
comment
Keywords: Seriesmover, Consequent, Promotion (s), Excelsior
Genre: Retro, Fairies
FEN: 4k3/2p4P/7p/P5p1/pp4pP/bp6/pP2PPP1/K4B2
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1998-06-26
Last update: Mario Richter, 2021-09-16 more...
79 - P0009121
Tomislav Petrovic
2949 Phénix 69 12/1998
P0009121
(10+9) C+
h#2 (AP)
1. fxe3ep d8=S 2. Kxd5 0-0-0# (Td1#?)
play all play one stop play next play all
White has made 6 pawn captures with one missing black piece unaccounted for, that by parity can only have been captured by an officer. White's last move cannot have been a pawn capture. If R: 1.f2-f3, then sLg1 was promoted, implying 7 captures by black pawns - one too many. So if White can prove they retain castling rights, then the ep is on. Hence AP Petrovic is valid.
Henrik Juel: 0... fxe3ep 1.d8S Kxd5 2.0-0-0#. Not -1.f2? and Lg1 is caught. (2004-09-16)
Vaclav Kotesovec: Similar problems should not be labeled as "C+". Such a designation is only acceptable if the entire analysis was performed by a computer program. (2023-08-03)
Henrik Juel: In principle I agree, Vaclav
But PDB does not (yet) allow HC+, so I find it acceptable to use the C+ label, when you also tell the whole story after 'Computer test:' below (2023-08-03)
A.Buchanan: Hopefully Gerd will have more time at some point, and can expand the functionality in this and other areas. In the meantime, engine solving of conventional retros including AP, is in its infancy. Retractor 2 has some effectiveness, but is still basic. And there is nothing that yet grasps the intricacies of castling/ep etc. However AP problems do often contain considerable forward chess, and the C+ tag is very useful to filter out those that have already been solved forwardly, without pretending that these are in any sense fully solved (2023-08-04)
Ladislav Packa: I know the definition of AP, but I don't understand the logic behind it. The move 1.fxe3 e.p. proves that White CAN castling. But the solution (2. ...Rd1#?) claims that castling is MANDATORY. From my point of view, AP is correct when only castling is necessary for the solution and the Rook move would be a dual. (2023-08-04)
A.Buchanan: @Ladislav: I am not sure how to help you. Maybe you can read this page from Retro Corner: https://www.janko.at/Retros/Glossary/APosteriori.htm (2023-08-05)
Ladislav Packa: Andrew, what should the article help me with? I quote the final sentence:
Some people still oppose this rule and argue that it should certainly not be the default convention. (2023-08-05)
Henrik Juel: You could view it this way, Ladislav
h#2 means that it is Black to move, so White made last move
What was last move? A little analysis shows just three possibilities: f2-f4, move by Ta1, or move by Ke1
So normally we cannot assume that last move was f2-f4
But if White can castle, then the last move was f2-f4
So if we could start with 0... 0-0-0, then 1.fxe3ep would be legitimate
AP says that you are allowed to reverse the sequence of events; first do the ep capture, then later legitimize it by castling
Was this helpful? (2023-08-05)
Ladislav Packa: Henrik, you don't have to explain that to me. I've done a few AP issues myself, like P1348357. But that doesn't mean I agree with AP's logic. I already wrote it - the term "you can castle" is applied as "you must castle". But these are only problems where, in addition to castling, the Rook move can also be used, I consider that a dual.
From that point of view, the P1000662 issue is perfectly fine for me. (2023-08-05)
Joost de Heer: AP: By castling, you prove a posteriori that the ep-capture was not just a try but the actual solution. Without castling, the ep-solution just is that: a try.
So: Try 1. fe3 ep e8=S 2. Kd5 Rd1 - but ep capture not allowed, as there is no proof that f2-f4 must've been the last move.
Solution 1. fe3 ep e8=S 2. Kd5 OOO - Now the ep capture was justified because white castled, thereby proving that the last move before the diagram position indeed was f2-f4. (2023-08-06)
Joost de Heer: See e.g. P1052919 : The try is an ep capture which is unjustified. (2023-08-06)
A.Buchanan: OK Ladislav: I think I get your point. If one solution with castling justifies the e.p., then based on that certainty, why shouldn't an alternative solution with no castling *then* be allowed as well? There are problems in which one twin shows 0-0-0 and the other shows 0-0. Each is based on the other in a similar way, so the idea of dependency is not new. Why are we not allowed to add other "parasitic" solutions as well? Why can we only have the "paying" solutions? We can't say that we are restricted to one solution: that's not the way chess problems operate! And this is just in the help world - in the adversarial world it might get even more complicated. Is this your issue, Ladislav? (2023-08-07)
Ladislav Packa: I don't want to unnecessarily prolong this discussion. However, I will add one more note: in this position, white castling is also possible without e.p. in Black's 1st move. If B1 were an indifferent move, then white can 1...0-0-0! The Codex of Chess Composition writes about it in Article 16 (1):
Castling convention. Casting is permitted unless it can be proven that it is not permissible.
In our case, 0-0-0 is possible because White's last move exists - e2-e4! It does not matter if it is this move or some a2-a3, both moves are equivalent. EP does not prove the possibility of casting, it would be legal even without it. (2023-08-07)
A.Buchanan: Ladislav was what I wrote your issue pls? Y/N :-) (2023-08-07)
Ladislav Packa: I have no problem, I'm just expressing my own opinion about the AP convention. (2023-08-07)
A.Buchanan: OK cos I think the point I raised is a real one that should be addressed by theory some day. Clearly from the nice problem that you composed Ladislav you understand the mechanics very well. From a justification perspective it's all a bit iffy, but that's why it's controversial. Under RS it's really the only way one can end up actually eping, and it's proved compositionally fertile. So that's enough to justify (2023-08-08)
Ladislav Packa: No need to apologize. This is a normal discussion with different views on the issue. Maybe it will come to some conclusion.
I just want to point out the fact that it is not the e.p. that authorizes castling, because according to the Codex castling is possible regardless of the e.p. It's the exact opposite: castling authorizes the possibility of e.p. (2023-08-08)
Joost de Heer: "I just want to point out the fact that it is not the e.p. that authorizes castling, because according to the Codex castling is possible regardless of the e.p. It's the exact opposite: castling authorizes the possibility of e.p."
You misinterpret AP. The e.p. capture does not authorize castling, castling provides a justification later on (hence the 'a posteriori') for the legality of ep.
Usually, for ep justification you need to examine all game trees that lead to the diagram, and only if all game trees end with the double-step, then ep is allowed.
With AP, you examine all the game trees including the actual play. If all those game trees have as last move before the diagram position the double step, then ep is possible.
In this case, if white doesn't castle, then there are game trees which don't have as last move the double step, and therefore AP logic dictates that the ep capture was illegal. However, all game trees which lead to the diagram and which have castling in the actual play have as last move before the diagram position the double step, hence AP dictates that the ep capture is legal. (2023-08-09)
Ladislav Packa: Joost: A simple question - is white allowed to castle after any 1st move by black (except e.p.)? (2023-08-09)
Joost de Heer: Of course he is. AP only is used to combine the ep justification with castling, not the castling right per se. (2023-08-09)
more ...
comment
Keywords: a posteriori (AP) (Type Petrovic), En passant as key, Castling (wg), Promotion (S), Valladao Task
Genre: Retro, h#
Computer test: HC+ Popeye v4.87 + simple retro-logic
FEN: 8/3P2p1/2PP4/1ppPp3/2pkPp2/5PP1/6Pp/R3K1b1
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1999-02-27
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-09-11 more...
80 - P0009132
Michel Caillaud
R042 Probleemblad 01/1999
P0009132
(13+15) C+
BP in 24,0
1. g4 c5 2. Lg2 Da5 3. Lc6 Dxa2 4. Lb5 Dd5 5. Ta6 Sh6 6. Tc6 dxc6 7. b3 Lf5 8. Lb2 Sd7 9. Lf6 exf6 10. g5 Ld6 11. g6 Ke7 12. gxh7 Thb8 13. h8=T a5 14. Tc8 a4 15. Tc7 Th8 16. f3 Ke8 17. Kf2 Lf8 18. Kg3 a3 19. Kh4 Ta4+ 20. Kh5 Tg4 21. d4 Sb8 22. Dd3 Dd8 23. Sd2 Lc8 24. Dh7 Sg8
play all play one stop play next play all
Switchback von 7 schwarzen Figuren, davon nur einer mit Schlag!
Henrik Juel: Natch 3.1 made no progress after half an hour (2018-12-13)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Pure Round Trip (d), Switchback (sldklst), Promotion (T)
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.11 00:03:45 Minuten. (hh:mm:ss) Keine Lösung: BP 23.0, BP 23.5.
FEN: 1nbqkbnr/1pR2ppQ/2p2p2/1Bp4K/3P2r1/pP3P2/2PNP2P/6NR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1999-02-27
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2023-04-01 more...
81 - P0009165
Michel Caillaud
PR17 Problem Paradise 12 01-03/1999
3. ehrende Erwähnung
P0009165
(15+13) C+
BP in 22,5
1. f4 Sc6 2. f5 Tb8 3. f6 exf6 4. a4 Lb4 5. a5 Lc3 6. dxc3 De7 7. Le3 De5 8. Lxa7 b6 9. a6 Tb7 10. Lb8 Sge7 11. a7 Tg8 12. a8=L Ta7 13. Lb7 Ta8 14. h4 Sa7 15. Le4 d5 16. Lxh7 g6 17. h5 Tg7 18. h6 Dh5 19. Lg8 Lf5 20. h7 Sec8 21. h8=D Th7 22. Dg7 Th8 23. Dh7
play all play one stop play next play all
Rundlauf der sTT a8 und h8.
Henrik Juel: Natch 3.1 made no progress after half an hour (2018-12-13)
Moldenhauer: Computerprüfung: C+ Stelvio 1.0 27:15:46 Stunden.
Keine Lösung: BP 21.5, BP 22.0. (2023-02-18)
comment
Keywords: Unique Proof Game, Pure Round Trip (tt), Promotion
Genre: Retro
Computer test: Stelvio 1.0
FEN: rBn1k1Br/n1p2p1Q/1p3pp1/3p1b1q/8/2P5/1PP1P1P1/RN1QKBNR
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1999-02-27
Last update: Silvio Baier, 2023-03-03 more...
82 - P0500201
György Bakcsi
2452 Die Schwalbe 28-29, p. 517, 04-05/1967
1. Preis
P0500201
(7+9) C+
h#4
1. h2 Tg1 2. h1=D Tf5 3. Dh8 Tgg5 4. Dxe5 Txe5#
play all play one stop play next play all
Sally: Umwandlung in sD, Liniensperre und vedoppelung der Türme
mit verändeter Reihenfolge.
S. 218 Ungarische S. Pr. Anthologie ( Bakcsi). (2010-06-21)
Erich Bartel: Hier wird der Vorwurf unnötigerweise auf 4 Züge aufgebläht. Zudem
ist in dieser Aufgabe kein kritischer Zug vorhanden,denn das kritsche
Feld g5 wird nur geräumt, nicht überschritten. Des weiteren ist der
Zug 1.h2 vollkommen irrelevant und überflüssig, da er mit dem Thema
nichts zu tun hat.Vielleicht war dies alles seinerzeit ein Grund,
dieser Aufgabe einen 2.Preis (?!)zu geben. (\eb)
vergleiche P1112056 (2010-08-01)
Viktoras Paliulionis: The problem shows a rare theme - Brunner-Zepler doubling. Rh5-f5 is an anti-critical move there. Additionally, there is Klasinc wR-wR. (2021-02-11)
SCHRECKE: exakt: 3.Dh8 Tgg5! (2021-02-11)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Check Protection, Promotion (d), Klasinc theme (T-T), Turton (T-T), Brunner-Turton
Genre: h#
Computer test: Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB)
FEN: 8/1p1p4/3Pp3/4P1RR/3pkp2/3p1p1p/3P1P2/5K2
Reprints: Ungarische Schachproblem Anthologie , p. 218, 1983
127 Int. GM und M für Schachkompositionen 1988
H) Problemkiste (87-88) 07/1993
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-06
Last update: Gunter Jordan, 2024-02-10 more...
83 - 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...
84 - 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...
85 - P0501019
Zdravko Maslar
2837 Problemkiste 12/1991
P0501019
(1+12) cooked
ser-h=29
1. b1=D 2. Db4 3. De1 4. b4 5. b3 6. b2 7. b1=D 8. Db6 9. Dbg1 10. b5 11. b4 12. b3 13. b2 14. b1=D 15. Db8 16. c1=D 17. Dcf4 18. Dff1 19. Tf2 20. f5 21. f4 22. f3 23. Sh1 24. Dbh2 25. Tg3 26. Lh3 27. Dfg2 28. Def1 29. Ke1 Kc2 =
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: NL (s.PK137):
von George P.~Sphicas wird folgende von
Mike Neumeier gefundene NL mitgeteilt: 1.Tf2 2.b1\prom{S} 3.Sd2
4.Sf3 5.Sg1 6.b4 9.b1\prom{L} 10.La2 11.Lad5 12.Lf1 13.L5g2 14.b5
18.b1\prom{D} 19.Db4 20.De1 21.f5 23.f3 24.Sh1 25.Tg3 26.Lh3
27.L1g2 28.Df1 29.Ke1 K×c2=
Erich Bartel: Nachdrucke:
1) G29 Fide-Album 1989-1991
2) 975 Minimalkunst im Schach 2006 (2013-03-07)
paul: See P1330761 as correction. (2022-07-10)
comment
Keywords: Promotion (dddd), Rex solus (w), Seriesmover
Genre: Fairies
FEN: 8/1p3p2/5r2/1p6/6p1/3K2nr/1pp1p1b1/3k4
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-06
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2013-07-17 more...
86 - P0501243
Vladislav Bunka
2794 Sachova skladba 10/1991
P0501243
(2+13) C+
h#1
b) wTh2 statt wDh2: h#2
c) wSh2 statt wDh2: h#3
d) wLh2 statt wDh2: h#4
e) wBh2 statt wDh2: h#5
a) 1. Te2 Dg1#
b) 1. Te2 Tg2 2. Sf2 Tg1#
c) 1. Kd1 Sf3 2. Kc1 Se1 3. Ld1 Sd3#
d) 1. Ke2 Lf4 2. Kd3 Lxg5 3. Kc3 Lxf6 4. d3 Lxe5#
e) 1. Kf2 h4 2. Kg3 h5 3. Kh4 h6 4. Kh5 h7 5. Kh6 h8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all
Task
A.Buchanan: Now *this* is a minimal. (2021-07-22)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Forsberg Twins, Excelsior (s), Promotion in the mating move, Minimal (D,T,L,S,B)
Genre: h#
Computer test: C+ Gustav 4.1d
FEN: 8/8/5pp1/1K2p1q1/3p2b1/1p6/2rp2rQ/1n2k2n
Input: Gerd Wilts, 1996-06-06
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-07-22 more...
87 - P0502162
John Niemann
383v Schachmatt 33 15/06/1947
P0502162
(3+4) C+
h#4
1. Tg8 h8=D 2. Kg6 Df6+ 3. Kh7 Dxf8 4. Kh8 Dh6#
play all play one stop play next play all
Achim Schöneberg: Vergleiche P1414844 (2024-02-07)
comment
Keywords: Miniature, Promotion (D)
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.47 (1024 KB))
FEN: 5n2/7P/6r1/5k2/8/1p6/1P6/K7
Input: hpr, 1996-07-23
Last update: Achim Schöneberg, 2024-02-07 more...
88 - P0503740
Karl Fabel
84v The Problemist 07/1966
P0503740
(8+9) C+
h#14
1. Kb7 Lh3 2. Kc6 Lg4 3. Kd5 Lh3 4. Kc4 d3+ 5. Kxd3 Lg4 6. Kc3 Lh3 7. d3 Lg4 8. d2 Lh3 9. d1=L Lg4 10. Lb3 Lh3 11. Le6 fxe6 12. Kxb4 e7 13. Ka5 e8=D 14. Ka6 Da8#
play all play one stop play next play all
vgl. Karl Fabel 2279 Die Schwalbe 08-09/1966
SCHRECKE: vergleiche: P0559299 (2021-03-23)
comment
Keywords: Pure Round Trip (k), Promotion
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB))
FEN: 8/8/kp3p1p/1p3P1P/1P1p1pB1/5Pp1/3P2Pp/7K
Input: hpr, 1996-09-23
Last update: hpr, 1999-06-13 more...
89 - P0505331
Wilhelm Hagemann
689 Essener Volkswacht 14/03/1931
P0505331
(3+4) cooked
h#3
1. d1=T Th1 2. Tg1+ Kf6 3. Tg4 Tf1#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: NL
1. Kg5 Txe3 2. Kh5 Kf6 3. Kh6 Th3#
versetzt man wBh2 nach h3, HJS gibt's ne neue eindeutige Lösung: 1. d1=T Tg1 2. Tf1 Kf6 3. Tf3 Tg4#,
Yuri Bilokin: Correction: +bbe8 4b3/6K1/8/8/4pk2/4p3/3p3P/4R3 (3+5) (2019-03-22)
Yuri Bilokin: version wKg7-c6, bPe4-g5 8/8/2K5/6p1/5k2/4p3/3p3P/4R3 (3+4)
1.d1=R Rh1 2.Rg1 Kd5 3.Rg4 Rf1# (IM) (2022-05-31)
comment
Keywords: Bahnung, Promotion key, under-promotion (t)
Genre: h#
FEN: 8/6K1/8/8/4pk2/4p3/3p3P/4R3
Input: hpr, 1996-12-27
Last update: Alfred Pfeiffer, 2019-03-23 more...
90 - P0508285
Viktor Sizonenko
1277 Die Schwalbe 05/1963
P0508285
(7+14) C+
h#2*
*) 1. ... f8=S 2. f1=L Le3#
1) 1. f1=T f8=D 2. Tf6 Dxg7#
play all play one stop play next play all
t/Allumwandlung, u/61112, u/SDlt
Vorläufer: A.C.White,1930, s.Nr.1056
s. A. C. White 364v L'Echiquier 07-08/1930
Anton Baumann: Die Aufgabe stammt gem. 'Die Schwalbe' 05/1963 von André Simonet, Brüssel
Vorgänger vergl. P0542142 (2022-11-16)
comment
Keywords: Allumwandlung, Promotion
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB))
FEN: 4N3/5Pp1/6Pk/7p/4P2P/pp6/pqpp1p2/bbrr2BK
Input: Erich Bartel, 1997-05-23
Last update: hpr, 1999-10-16 more...
91 - P0508390
Branko Koludrovic
1022 Mat (Belgrade) 02/1975
P0508390
(4+3) C+
h#2
2.1...
1) 1. cxb1=S g8=D 2. Sc3 Db3#
2) 1. cxb1=L g8=T 2. Ka2 Ta8#
play all play one stop play next play all
t/Allumwandlung, u/61113, u/DTsl
Yuri Bilokin: you can see 1...g8=Q 2.cxb1=B Qb3#
1...g8=Q 2.cxb1=S Qb3#
1...Bxc2 2.Ka2 Ra4# (2024-02-29)
comment
Keywords: Allumwandlung, Sacrifice of white pieces, Promotion
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3. 47 (1024 KB))
FEN: 8/6P1/8/8/1R6/k2p4/2p5/1BK5
Input: Erich Bartel, 1997-05-23
Last update: hpr, 1999-10-16 more...
92 - P0510719
Albert Heinrich Kniest
1216 Allgemeine Zeitung Chemnitz 25/10/1931
P0510719
(2+3) C+
h#5
1. f1=L c4 2. e1=T c5 3. Te7 c6 4. Lc4 c7 5. Lf7 c8=D#
play all play one stop play next play all

Duplicate Diagram: P0509698

Erich Bartel: steingetreu nachempfunden: Kahl,Trautmann 7596 FS (Bl.629) XII 1965.--

Nachdruck 1) 485 Ajedrez Magico (13) XII 1969 (2007-01-05)
Klaus Funk: weiterer Nachläufer: P1979776 (gespiegelt);
siehe auch P1095134 (2022-05-05)
YM: P1318489, P1318490, P1320464 (2022-05-06)
comment
Keywords: Check Protection, Promotion, Excelsior white (auto key)
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB))
FEN: 4k3/8/8/8/8/8/2P1pp2/7K
Input: Markus Manhart, 1997-06-27
Last update: hpr, 1999-05-09 more...
93 - P0516063
Jacobus Theodorus Sanderse
8293v FEENSCHACH 06/1967
P0516063
(2+5) cooked
h#7
1. f5 b4 2. f4 b5 3. f3 b6 4. f2 b7 5. f1=L b8=L 6. Lc4 Lxd6 7. Lcg8 Le5#

NL:
1. Le4 b4 2. Ld5 b5 3. Kg8 b6 4. Kf8 b7 5. Ke8 b8=D+ 6. Kd7 Ka6 7. Kc6 Dc8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Yuri Bilokin: correction wKa7-b1, +bNd1 7k/5p1b/3p4/8/8/8/1Pn5/1K1n4 (2+6) h#7

1.f5 b4 2.f4 b5 3.f3 b6 4.f2 b7 5.f1=B b8=B 6.Bc4 Bxd6 7.Bcg8 Be5# (MM)

Excelsior (black)
Excelsior (white)
Promotion (Bb, 1, 1)
Model mate × 1 (2023-05-10)
comment
Keywords: Symmetrical position, Promotion, Excelsior black (auto key), Excelsior white (auto key), Excelsior (sw)
Genre: h#
FEN: 7k/K4p1b/3p4/8/8/8/1Pn5/8
Input: Hans-Jürgen Schäfer, 1997-09-01
Last update: Rainer Staudte, 2014-06-21 more...
94 - P0516610
Pietro Faletto
Limburgsch Dagblad 05/1940
P0516610
(3+2) C+
h#3*
*) 1. ... g7 2. Ka2 g8=D,g8=T 3. Ka3 Da8#,Ta8#
1) 1. b2 Lh8 2. Ka1 g7 3. b1=L g8=D,g8=L#


NL:
geduldete Umwandlungsduale
play all play one stop play next play all
Verstellung BcL
Mario Richter: Werden im Hilfsmatt UW-Duale tatsächlich geduldet? (2022-07-19)
comment
Keywords: Promotion, Line closure, Minimal, Miniature
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB))
FEN: 8/8/6PK/8/8/1pB5/8/1k6
Input: Andreas Mokosch, 1997-07-26
Last update: Mario Richter, 2022-07-19 more...
95 - P0517661
Karl Hasenzahl
228 Problemas 01-03/1957
P0517661
(2+10)
h#2
1. d1=T+ Le1 2. Td4 Lc3#
play all play one stop play next play all
Verst-4
klären Stellung
SCHRECKE: Unlösbar - wLb1 gehört vielleicht nach c2!? (2023-03-10)
HBae: habe korrigiert, auch das Datum war falsch (2023-03-10)
SCHRECKE: C+, popeye 4.87 (2023-03-10)
comment
Keywords: Promotion, Line closure, Minimal (L)
Genre: h#
FEN: 7b/6q1/3p4/6p1/5p2/4p1B1/p2p4/kb3K2
Input: HBae, 1997-06-23
Last update: Gunter Jordan, 2023-03-10 more...
96 - P0519878
Erkki Heinonen
Suomen Tehtäväniekat 1973-1974
2. ehrende Erwähnung
Thematurnier (Laaksonen 60 Jahre)
P0519878
(3+14) C+
h#3
3.1...
1) 1. Txe8+ fxe8=S 2. f1=S Sxd6 3. Sh2 Se4#
2) 1. Dc6 De3 2. De8+ fxe8=D 3. fxe3 De5#
3) 1. De3 Dxe3 2. Se8 fxe8=D 3. fxe3 Dxb8#
play all play one stop play next play all
Teppo Mänttä: The competition was for helpmates with white Queen + white Pawn + black Queen and the theme white Queen sacrifice. (2021-05-06)
comment
Keywords: Sacrifice of white pieces, Promotion
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.52 (2048 KB))
FEN: 1b2QK2/p4P2/3n4/8/5ppp/5pkb/5pp1/2q1r1n1
Input: Hans-Jürgen Schäfer, 1997-10-11
Last update: hpr, 1999-10-28 more...
97 - P0520611
Fadil Abdurahmanovic
8695v Schach-Echo 24, p. 383, 12/1975
P0520611
(9+13)
h#4*
* 1. ... c8=D 2. Txh7 Dxc6 3. Th3 Dxg2+ 4. Kxg2 Db7#
1. cxb1=L c8=D 2. Lxf5 Dxc6 3. Lh3 Dxg2+ 4. Kxg2 Le4#
play all play one stop play next play all
siehe P0520614
Felber, Volker: Korrektur 06/1976, Heft 12/1976, Seite 192: +wBe2 (2015-10-25)
SCHRECKE: C+, Gustav 4.2a, Brute Force (2022-04-05)
comment
Keywords: Sacrifice of white pieces, Promotion
Genre: h#
FEN: 8/prP4B/P1p5/2p2P2/2P5/6p1/2pPPprb/nQK2bqk
Input: Hans-Jürgen Schäfer, 1997-10-11
Last update: Felber, Volker, 2015-10-25 more...
98 - P0530250
Mikhail Sosedkin
3810 Themes-64 04-06/1981
P0530250
(6+2) C+
h#2
3.1...
1) 1. d1=S f4 2. Se3 Sd6#
2) 1. d1=T Lg4 2. Td4 Sc5#
3) 1. d1=L Lh5 2. Lf3 Lg6#
play all play one stop play next play all
A.Buchanan: This is a very nice composition. Note also how d1=D could not work. (2021-05-03)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Ideal mate (3), Promotion (T,L,S)
Genre: h#
Computer test: (Popeye C-Version 3.47 (1024 KB))
FEN: 8/5N2/2K5/8/4k3/1N4P1/3pBP2/8
Reprints: 4866 Ideal-Mate Encyclopedia Vol.2 2000
Input: Ralf Krätschmer, 1998-02-16
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-05-03 more...
99 - P0531710
Tode Ilievski
Rokada 1982
P0531710
(4+3) cooked
h#6*
*) 1. ... Kf7 2. c5 Ke6 3. c4 Kd5 4. cxb3 Kc4 5. b2 Kb3 6. b1=L Le5#
1) 1. gxf4 b4 2. f3 b5 3. f2 bxc6 4. f1=T c7 5. Tf2 c8=D 6. Ta2 Dc1#

NL:
*) 1. ... b4 2. Ka2 b5 3. Kb3 b6 4. Kc4 b7 5. Kd5 b8=D 6. Ke6 Dd6#
1. Kb1 b4 2. Kb2 b5 3. Kb3 b6 4. Kc4 b7 5. Kd5 b8=D 6. Ke6 Dd6#
uvm
play all play one stop play next play all
Yuri Bilokin: correction wPb3-b2, wBf4-h2, -wPg4, bPc6-c7, +bPb7, +bNh8 6Kn/1pp5/8/6p1/8/8/1P5B/k7 (3+5) h#6 2.1…
1.g4 b4 2.g3 b5 3.gxh2 b6 4.h1=R bxc7 5.Rh2 c8=Q 6.Ra2 Qc1# (MM)
1.Sf7 Kxf7 2.c5 Ke6 3.c4 Kd5 4.c3 Kc4 5.cxb2 Kb3 6.b1=B Be5#
Excelsior (black)
Excelsior (white)
Zilahi (passive, BP, 2) (2022-07-12)
comment
Keywords: Promotion
Genre: h#
FEN: 6K1/8/2p5/6p1/5BP1/1P6/8/k7
Input: Ralf Krätschmer, 1998-03-30
Last update: hpr, 1999-11-07 more...
100 - P0552475
Aurel M. Karpati
Raketa 07/1941
P0552475
(8+7) cooked
h#5
1. bxa1=S Sg6 2. Sxb3 Sh4 3. Sd4 Lc4 4. Sdf3 Lf1 5. Sh2 Lg2#
play all play one stop play next play all
Cook: NL
1. Se2 Sg6 2. Sd4 Sh4 3. Sxc2 Kxc2+ 4. b1=T Sf3 5. Tg1 Txg1#
Adrian Storisteanu: Possible fixes: wSa1 (instead of the wR); or bBg1 (instead of the bS), +wPf3 (9+7). (2015-08-07)
Yuri Bilokin: Correction: wSa1, wSf8-g8, -bPb4, -bPf5 7N/8/3p4/3P4/5P2/1Pp5/BpP5/NK4nk (8+5) (2021-02-11)
Hans-Jürgen Manthey: die Fen von Yuri (wSf8-h8 nicht wSf8-g8): 1. b2xa1S Sh8-g6 2. Sa1xb3 Sg6-h4 3. Sb3-d4 La2-c4 4. Sd4-f3 Lc4-f1 5. Sf3-h2 Lf1-g2# (2021-02-11)
Viktoras Paliulionis: Another possible fix: wSa1 wSf8-b6 -bPb4 -bPd6 -wPf4 -bPf5 (7+4) (8/8/1N6/3P4/8/1Pp5/BpP5/NK4nk) (2021-02-12)
A.Buchanan: Viktoras’ version is much more economical with an open board, and I think no more pawns can be trimmed. I prefer bS starting on h2 rather than g1 because 3. Sc1 is also a try. (2021-02-14)
A.Buchanan: So shall we publish this new version here in PDB? Five people to repair one person’s composition :-) (2021-02-14)
more ...
comment
Keywords: Promotion (s), Superseded by (P1386489)
Genre: h#
FEN: 5N2/8/3p4/3P1p2/1p3P2/1Pp5/BpP5/RK4nk
Input: Hans-Jürgen Schäfer, 1998-07-01
Last update: A.Buchanan, 2021-02-15 more...
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Gerd Wilts (86)
hpr (3)
Erich Bartel (2)
Markus Manhart (1)
Hans-Jürgen Schäfer (4)
Andreas Mokosch (1)
HBae (1)
Ralf Krätschmer (2)