A retro by Dr. Luigi Ceriani

What was black's first queen move?

Try solving without actually moving the pieces - just by studying the position.

Bonus question: without the e8 knight the problem is cooked. Why?

Originally posted by David113
[fen]1b2n2n/1pp2ppR/3p1ppr/7N/5P2/1P3bP1/1PPPPK1P/N1Bkq3[/fen]

What was black's first queen move?

Try solving without actually moving the pieces - just by studying the position.

Bonus question: without the e8 knight the problem is cooked. Why?

...Qa2

Bonus: e3xf4 is possible w/o Ne8 on the board.

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
[b]...Qa2

Bonus: e3xf4 is possible w/o Ne8 on the board.[/b]

Explain (just for experience);
how the Knight got to a1?
it must have been there before the Queened pawn,because it has to have moved from b3 or c2. Both are blocked now by pawns; one that must have been released from the a-file by a capture.
So before the a-pawn got to the end, the capture must have occured, meaning the Knight must have got there before this, becasue it is when the blocking of b3 occured and closed it's way in. How does it work?
EDIT: Does that make sense?

Originally posted by Alethia
Explain (just for experience);
how the Knight got to a1?
it must have been there before the Queened pawn,because it has to have moved from b3 or c2. Both are blocked now by pawns; one that must have been released from the a-file by a capture.
So before the a-pawn got to the end, the capture must have occured, meaning the Knight must have got there before ...[text shortened]... e blocking of b3 occured and closed it's way in. How does it work?
EDIT: Does that make sense?

White played Nb3, Rb1, Na1 and axb3 in that order.

BDP's solution is correct.