The Retrograde Analysis Corner
No. 96, Oct. 1999 - SOLUTIONS
7871 - Henrik Juel
The last 8 captures in game order were: e6xPf7, d7xRe6, h5xBg6, g6xRh7, d2xBe3, a5xBb4, b3xQc2, c2xNd1=B.
7872 - Gianni Donati
The bishop on a2 is promoted. If black may still castle, the bishop
resulted from playing c7-c8=B, and the bishop left via d7, so black's
only possible last move is e7-e5.
1. .. de6ep 2. 00 e7 3. Kh7 ef8=N#
7883 - Paul Raican
a) 17.0 moves (Sam Loyd, N.Y.Clipper 1895). A possible game is: 1. e4 d5 2. ed5 Qd5 3. Bd3 Qa2 4. Bh7 Qb1 5. Ra7 Qc1 6. Rb7 Qc2 7. Rb8 Rb8 8. Qc2 Rb2 9. Bg8 Rh2 10. Qc7 Rg2 11. Bf7 Kf7 12. Qc8 Rg1 13. Rg1 Rd2 14. Qf8 Kf8 15. Rg7 Rf2 16. Re7 Re2 17. Ke2 Ke7
b) 17. 0 moves (strangely enough) A proof game is: 1. d4(=bP) d6(=wP) 2. Qd4 Qd6 3. Qa7 Qh2 4. Qb8 Qg2 5. Rh7 Ra2 6. Rh8 Rb2 7. Rg8 Rc2 8. Rg7 Rc1 9. Kd2 Rb1 10. Qb7 Bb7 11. Rb1 Qg1 12. Rf7 Qf1 13. Rf8 Kf8 14. Rb7 Qf2 15. Rc7 Qe2 16. Ke2 Ke8 17. Re7 Ke7
7884 - Jörg Varnholt
Add white bishops on e1, e3, e4, f1, f2, g1, g2, g3, h4 or on a7, a8, b6, b8, c7, e1, e3, f2, g3.
7885 - Gianni Donati
a) Add white queens on f7, f8, g8, h7, h8
b) Add white bishops on f2, g1, g3, h1, h2
c) Intention was to add the white pawns on d2, e3, f1, g3, h2,
but the position after removing wPe3 still seems illegal.
7889 - Stephen Emmerson
1. Kh2 Kb1! 2. Kh3 [+bPh2] Kc2 3. Kh4 [+bPh3] Kd3 [+wPc2] 4.Kh5 [+bPh4] Ke4 [+wPd3] 5. Kh6 [+bPh5] Kf5 [+wPe4] 6. Kh7 [+bPh6] Kg6 [+wPf5]#
(In the final position bK cannot move, even Kxg6 [+bPh7] is clearly illegal, and he is in check, since Kxh7 [+wPg6] is legal)