retro for beginners

A simple proof game puzzle for the non-experienced solvers. This is the position after white's 5th move. How did the game go?

1. e3 d5
2. Ne2 Bf5
3. Nec3 Bxc2
4. e4 Bxd1
5. Nxd1

This is white's first time playing, I assume?

... and black's too (Bxc2).

I wonder why Proof Games are lumped in with Retros. Does anyone actually solve Proof Games by retraction? Most of the time, I find it much easier to play forward to the diagram, although for some tough Proof Games, a bit of retraction from the diagram position can prove invaluable in sorting out the proper final moves.

Actually for this one I wrote down the moves that would have to be made, then put them in order so it would work. I'm discovering that strategy doesn't work quite so well on longer problems though. 😕

It is not clear to me either. It has a bit of both. Sometimes even from a middle position.

Originally posted by perihelion
Actually for this one I wrote down the moves that would have to be made, then put them in order so it would work. I'm discovering that strategy doesn't work quite so well on longer problems though. 😕

Originally posted by Mephisto2
A simple proof game puzzle for the non-experienced solvers. This is the position after white's 5th move. How did the game go?

[fen]rn1qkbnr/ppp1pppp/8/3p4/4P3/8/PP1P1PPP/RNBNKB1R b KQkq - 0 5[/fen]