Miscellaneous Problems

Solution

N. Petrovic
Problem, 1954
1st/2nd Prize 4th Thematic Tourney

6+1. Last 6 single moves?

Solution: White just gave check with his Ba1. This can only have been a discovered check but apparently no White piece could have been shielding the bK from the wB. Here an en passant capture explains the check: the wPe6 did it!

Last move was -1. d5xe6ep+ ! so that the previous moves were -1 ... e7-e5 and -2. d4-d5+. Thus three moves ago, the position was:

Now what was Black's move just before? It must have been played by the bK, who was just escaping a double (or triple !) check. The only possible move leading to an explanable double check involves another en passant capture. Black just played -2 ... Ke6xPf6!!, so that it is possible to retract -3. e5xf6ep+ f7-f5.