Retrograde Analysis
Chess Problems

by Leo Mano


AR10 - Leo Mano
(16x16) n1bqkbr1 - rpppppp1 - p6p - 8 - 8 - P4n1P - 1PPPPPPN - 1RBQKBRN

Is this a legal check?

Solution: White is now in check, hence Black moved last. It's impossible!
When both sides has made the same number of moves, even or odd, then the next move is white. If White has made an odd number of moves and Black even, or vice versa, then the next move is black. The square's colors help us to determine how many moves the piece on it has made and, after sum, how many moves each side has made.

White: a3=Odd, h3=Odd, b1=Odd, g1=Odd, h2 plus h1=Even. Total=Even. Black: a6=Odd, h6=Odd, h7=Odd, g8=Odd, h8 plus f3=Odd. Total=Odd. Then the next move is black and the position is illegal.

My first problem after has knowed Retrograde Analysis in the Raymond Smullyan's The Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes.

Back to home


(p)2000-2001 by Leo Mano. Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil.