02 Sep 05
hi,
i'm really a beginner at retro puzzles, that's why im posting this one here. the question is: what was black's last move? the only information you get is, that in the last 4 moves (i think it's halfmoves, so 2 white moves and 2 black moves) no piece was taking.
i think there are some retro experts here, that will say this problem is easy. please PM me your solution then, so i can see if my answer was correct. (im pretty sure it is!) 🙂
02 Sep 05
Originally posted by crazyblueRecognized this from Chess Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes by Smullyan.
hi,
i'm really a beginner at retro puzzles, that's why im posting this one here. the question is: what was black's last move? the only information you get is, that in the last 4 moves (i think it's halfmoves, so 2 white moves and 2 black moves) no piece was taking.
i think there are some retro experts here, that will say this problem is easy. ple ...[text shortened]... correct. (im pretty sure it is!) 🙂
[fen]2B5/8/6P1/6Pk/3P2qb/3p4/3PB3/2NrNKQR w - - 0 1[/fen]
02 Sep 05
Originally posted by Coconutno, it couldn't have been the bishop, because what then would have been White's last move? certainly not a rook move resulting in check, since the rook would have had to have moved from a square from which it was already giving check.
just a random guess...
Bg3h4
No reasoning behind that other than it looks like the only piece that could have moved.
Edit: Although that move logically doesn't make any sense... whatever
However, similarly, Black's last move could not have been the queen moving to block check from White's bishop, for the same reason, unless the check was a discovered check by White by Nf3e1, but if that was the case, then how did Black's rook move to check the White king?
I'm afraid I'm stumped at this point. I do see that White must have promoted a pawn to a bishop at some point, but I fail to see how that enters into the solution...
So, I would say the last Black move was Qg4, but I don't have a clue of the from square, or how Black's rook moved to check the White king.
Bleh, I burned out enough brain cells on this... I'm ready for the answer 🙂
02 Sep 05
1 edit
Originally posted by SuzianneOh yeah. of course. I saw that with the queen being pinned by the bishop, but not that.
no, it couldn't have been the bishop, because what then would have been White's last move? certainly not a rook move resulting in check, since the rook would have had to have moved from a square from which it was already giving check.
Oh well.
Edit: One idea, I don't think we are told that it is white to move, so it could be black to move, in which case blacks last move could have been a rook or something else.
03 Sep 05
Originally posted by crazyblueoooooh, oooooh! I see the light! Hallelujah!
bigdogg pm'ed me and my solution was correct 🙄
suzianne you were on the right way, keep thinking it to the end 🙂
The Black rook came to check the White king because of another discovered check when Black played Be1h4 to counter the check on Black's king from White's rook, which gave another discovered check when White played Bh3c8!
Given the paths the pieces have taken, the only place Black's queen could have come from was e4... so the last 4 half-moves were:
1. White: Bh3c8+
2. Black: Be1h4+
3. White: Nf3e1+
4. Black: Qe4g4
Thanks to all who got the solution but let a newbie at this figure it out
03 Sep 05
Originally posted by Suziannecngrats suz.
oooooh, oooooh! I see the light! Hallelujah!
The Black rook came to check the White king because of another discovered check when Black played Be1h4 to counter the check on Black's king from White's rook, which gave another discovered check when White played Bh3c8!
Given the paths the pieces have taken, the only place Black's queen could have com ...[text shortened]... 1+
4. Black: Qe4g4
Thanks to all who got the solution but let a newbie at this figure it out
btw what are you? a new mikhail tal?