- White gave black odds of both knights (white started the game without both knights)
- Neither king has moved nor been in check
- There is an unknown piece on h6, where was it two moves ago?
- This is a game played legally
Puzzle by Raymond Smullyan
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1 Answer
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What captured bBf8? Can only be a knight. So wPh promoted to knight. To avoid check can only have been via c7. This takes at least 5 captures, not counting bBc8.
We know that bRh8 never escaped its cage so promotion was on c8, having captured NNRQ in some order plus promoted bPa.
We also know now that wPde did not capture. Also, bPa captured 4 times to e2 then once more to d8 or f8. It captured BBRRQ in some order, before being captured itself by wPh.
When wPh promoted to knight on c8, there are only two other captures to be made: bBf8 & bRh8. The bR can vibrate from h8 to g8 while the wN moves to capture the bishop.
Then wN moves to capture bR, and the final moves are wNh6xRg8 bPf7-f6 and Ng8-h6. So 2 moves ago wN was still on h6.
Comment:
It’s a fun puzzle but with all the conditions it seems a bit contrived and I enjoy Tim Seifert’s puzzles more. It’s impressive that they are usually deeper without relying on side-conditions. But this is still fun
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$\begingroup$ The problem in this form has no solution at all. It is necessary, at least, to move the f2 pawn to f3. 1. d7xNc8 Nd5-c7 2. e5xQd6 Ne3-d5 3. f4xRe5 Nf1(d1) 4. g3xNf4; 4. ... e2xBf1N 5. h2xBg3 (Rh1?); 4. ... e2xRf1N 5. Rh1-f1 (Bf1? or Ra1, Bc1?); 4. ... e2xRd1 5. Ra1-d1 (Bc1? or Bf1?); White needs another tempo move. 4. ... e2xBf1N 5. f2-f3 e3-e2 6. Be2-f1 d4xRe3 $\endgroup$Элси Ринген Elsie Ringen– Элси Ринген Elsie Ringen2025-04-17 01:30:37 +00:00Commented Apr 17 at 1:30
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$\begingroup$ Or turn the pawns in the other direction. Instead of d3 and e4 - d4 and e3. $\endgroup$Элси Ринген Elsie Ringen– Элси Ринген Elsie Ringen2025-04-17 01:42:25 +00:00Commented Apr 17 at 1:42