Go back
A retro classic

A retro classic

Posers and Puzzles

BigDogg
Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
Clock
30 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down



Where is the white King?
(The only hint is that the position must be legal.)

t
I am MIGHTY!

The CITY

Joined
11 Mar 05
Moves
14245
Clock
30 Mar 05
2 edits
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
[fen]8/8/8/1r1b4/B7/8/8/3k4 w - - 0 1[/fen]

Where is the white King?
(The only hint is that the position must be legal.)
Since black is in check, white made the last move.

It wasn't a discovered check because the white king could not have been on either of the two squares seperating the black king and the white bishop.

Also the bishop couldn't have been on a4-d1 diagonal last turn since that would mean that either the black king was in-check last round and didn't move, the king moved into check, or black was able to move a piece and expose himself to check; all of which are illegal options.

Since it is impossible that the bishop was where he is the prior round, he must have moved there. But to do that he must have moved along the a4-e8 diagonal. Unfortunately the bishop moving along that diagonal last round is also impossible since there is a black rook sitting on b5.

So the answer is.... NO SOLUTION

BigDogg
Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by theangrystudent
Since black is in check, white made the last move.

It wasn't a discovered check because the white king could not have been on either of the two squares seperating the black king and the white bishop.

Also the bishop couldn't have been on a4-d1 diagonal last turn since that would mean that either the black king was in-check last round and didn ...[text shortened]... s also impossible since there is a black rook sitting on b5.

So the answer is.... NO SOLUTION
Wrong!

t
I am MIGHTY!

The CITY

Joined
11 Mar 05
Moves
14245
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
Wrong!
Do I have an error in logic, or am I not seeing an option?

BigDogg
Secret RHP coder

on the payroll

Joined
26 Nov 04
Moves
155080
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by theangrystudent
Do I have an error in logic, or am I not seeing an option?
An error in logic.

Sicilian Sausage

In your face

Joined
21 Aug 04
Moves
55993
Clock
31 Mar 05
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Maybe we are playing right to left and left to right. That is the only way the bishop could have got there. ie by a pawn being promoted.

And why didn't the black rook take it? becase the king was guarding it.

B
Non-Subscriber

RHP IQ

Joined
17 Mar 05
Moves
1345
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

c3.

P
Upward Spiral

Halfway

Joined
02 Aug 04
Moves
8702
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

From b3? How could black check the king with both bishop and rook?

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄

B
Non-Subscriber

RHP IQ

Joined
17 Mar 05
Moves
1345
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Palynka
From b3? How could black check the king with both bishop and rook?

🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
By capturing a pawn.

P
Upward Spiral

Halfway

Joined
02 Aug 04
Moves
8702
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Thanks, but i still can't see how... 🙄

B
Non-Subscriber

RHP IQ

Joined
17 Mar 05
Moves
1345
Clock
31 Mar 05
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Palynka
Thanks, but i still can't see how... 🙄
You will eventually. Or ask BigDog...nicely.

Sicilian Sausage

In your face

Joined
21 Aug 04
Moves
55993
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Can you go through that one more time bowie. I missed the first bit?

TP
Leak-Proof

under the sink

Joined
08 Aug 04
Moves
12493
Clock
31 Mar 05
1 edit
Vote Up
Vote Down

OK, I give. If there's an error in this logic please identify the step. (I assume that the King is the only missing piece - if there are other missing pieces, there are multiple correct answers).

1 - If it is white's move, the King must be at B3, or else Black ended his move in check, not a legal position.
2 - If the white King is at B3, there is no possible prior move for Black, since both hisi bishop and rook are checking white, and there is no way one of them could have move in such a way as for both of them to check white simultaneously.
3 - Therefore it is not white's move.
4 - If it is black's move, the white King must be somewhere other than G6 or F5, because in both of those locations he is in check and he cannot end his turn in check.
5 - Therefore Black is in check.
6 - The preceding move by white left Black in check. The only way possible for that is either the Bishop moved to where it is, or some other piece moved out of B3 or C2 to leave Black in check by the Bishop.
7 - The only places that the Bishop could have move from are B3 or C2, and in both cases, Black would have already have been in check. Therefore the white's last move was not the Bishop, and must have been the King vacating B3 (C2 not possible since it is adjacent to Black's King).
8 - If white's king just moved from B3, then we are left with the same conflict previously dicsussed in step 2.
9 - Hence, there is no solution.

B
Non-Subscriber

RHP IQ

Joined
17 Mar 05
Moves
1345
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by jimslyp69
Can you go through that one more time bowie. I missed the first bit?
Am I allowed to? It isn't my problem! (Don't take that the wrong way.)

B
Non-Subscriber

RHP IQ

Joined
17 Mar 05
Moves
1345
Clock
31 Mar 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by The Plumber
1 - If it is white's move, the King must be at G6...
You could start by putting your board the right way round.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.