A puzzle for Rating 2400+ (very hard)

I haven´t seen it here but it is quite probable.

Originally posted by Fat Lady
Perhaps that's why the puzzle is supposed to be difficult. It's clear that Black's last move must have been a king or rook move, hence O-O-O is impossible.

Oh yeah... Fat Lady! What happened to your ban?

Originally posted by Fat Lady
Perhaps that's why the puzzle is supposed to be difficult. It's clear that Black's last move must have been a king or rook move, hence O-O-O is impossible.

Of course. And most likely, Bigdogproblem will provide us with a version without the overhead 😉

Originally posted by Alethia
Can Black castle? If he can't, it's very easy, and I'm not 2400+. More like 1500+!

Look at the pawns, think a little and then look at Fat lady's post.

Astound me with the solution. You're all better than I am... I can't see it.

Originally posted by kbaumen
Perhaps people would like to see it here...

[fen]r3k3/p1p5/Q3K3/8/1N3BP1/6p1/6N1/8 w[/fen]

EDIT:Are you sure it's for GM's and IM's only?

EDIT2:To make a board show up here, you must use the 'insert board from FEN' function. Here is the code for this particular position - r3k3/p1p5/Q3K3/8/1N3BPP/6p1/6N1/8. It shows which pieces are on which squares ...[text shortened]... t there is a black rook on a8, b8 to d8 are empty, black king on e8 and f8 to h8 are empty.

I can't solve this one...

Originally posted by Alethia
Astound me with the solution. You're all better than I am... I can't see it.

It has already been posted. 1. Qa1 anything 2. Qh8#. As Fat lady said, castling is impossible. Last one was a king or a rook move.

Now you've changed it! There was a pawn on h4 before- it's in your FEN instructons!

Tell me kbaumen then... the full answer and all your logic.

Originally posted by kbaumen
It has already been posted. 1. Qa1 anything 2. Qh8#. As Fat lady said, castling is impossible. Last one was a king or a rook move.

No- the Pawn on g3 could have played hxg3 last move, so it might not happen! I'm so confused!

Originally posted by Alethia
Now you've changed it! There was a pawn on h4 before- it's in your FEN instructons!

No, I haven't, you have a problem with quoting. Look at the original post, the pawn is there. And it doesn't matter anyway.

Originally posted by kbaumen
No, I haven't, you have a problem with quoting. Look at the original post, the pawn is there. And it doesn't matter anyway.

But it does matter! Correct me, but couldn't Black have played just now, hxg3? Then he may be able to castle.

Originally posted by Alethia
But it does matter! Correct me, but couldn't Black have played just now, hxg3? Then he may be able to castle.

Yes, it does matter. Perhaps this was edited in the diagram?

Originally posted by Alethia
But it does matter! Correct me, but couldn't Black have played just now, hxg3? Then he may be able to castle.

Ok, ok, it matters, but there is a white pawn on h4, so that does it. Black can't castle. Period.

Originally posted by Mephisto2
Yes, it does matter. Perhaps this was edited in the diagram?

Weird. In the original post, there is a pawn on h4. In Alethia's post, where he quoted me, the pawn is somehow missing.