Questions tagged [retrograde-analysis]
Retrograde analysis is a technique employed to determine which events occurred leading up to a given situation.
138 questions
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Undecidable Checkmate
While playing chess, I had a momentary dizzy spell which erased most of my short-term memory. I knew only the current position, and that I was playing White, and that all play so far had been legal, ...
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What is the history behind this chess position?
In the game depicted below, Black managed to come out on top by delivering checkmate to the white king trapped in the corner. On the way to this outcome, seven pieces were captured at several points ...
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What were the last 15 single moves?
Here is a new retrograde analysis puzzle, once more a "simple" king and pawn endgame! The length of the task may sound a bit daunting at first, but I think this one should not be too hard to ...
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What happened to the missing pieces?
Once more, here is a new retrograde chess puzzle! This one might have turned out a bit tricky, so if you like a challenge, please have a go! :)
In the game leading up to the position below, both ...
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Will we be able to solve the Proca retractor?
A. -16 & #1 Proca retractor composer: Joaquim Crusats, Die Schwalbe 330 12/2024 (version by S.Nikhto) INCORRECT
White and black take turns retracting moves (white starts) and after white retracts ...
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Is it possible to put a helpmate in three moves here? - 2
Let's try to solve another similar puzzle. The task is the same: "White starts and, together with black, puts black's checkmate in three moves."
h#2,5(AP) Stepan Nichto (version), chessok....
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Is it possible to put a cooperative checkmate here in three moves?
The puzzle is presented in two versions: full (1) and abbreviated (2).
Is it possible to put a cooperative checkmate here in three moves? (white makes the first move)
h#2,5 (AP) Stepan Nichto. ...
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Can you colour these chess pieces?
Here is a new little retrograde chess puzzle! In the position below, only kings and pawns remain on the board. Unfortunately, the lighting in the picture was so bad that the black and white pieces ...
8
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What was the first capture?
Here is a new little retrograde chess puzzle. This one is intended to be (genuinely) approachable - so if you've never tried to solve one of these yourself before, give it a shot!
In this game, not a ...
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Can you find the missing chess pieces?
I originally wanted to post a new retrograde chess puzzle today. But unfortunately, before taking the picture of the final position, I accidentally knocked some of the pieces off the board :( All I ...
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What was the checkmating move?
Once again, here is a new retrograde chess puzzle! Recently, I have been trying to build something interesting with all 32 pieces still on the board. In this attempt at that, White somehow comes out ...
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Chess Retrograde Analysis Chain of Captures
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 ...
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Retrograde Analysis Chess by Raymond Smullyan
Black's first move was d5.
The knight on f5 moved exactly 3 times
The black king never moved
The black queen also never moved
Prove that this position is impossible to reach in real game
Puzzle by ...
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Chess: White to move, mate in 4 moves [duplicate]
The problem depicted here was contributed by Dunsany to The Week-End
Problems Book, compiled by Hubert Phillips.
Its solution calls more for logical
thought than skill at chess, although one does have ...
8
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White en passanted, now what?
Here is a new retrograde chess puzzle based round a new idea.
In the position below, White’s 9th move was an en passant capture. Can either player still castle?
(10+9) FEN: r2qk1n1/ppppp2P/P4P2/8/8/...