What was the last move?
(Éric Angelini - Europe Echecs 433, Apr. 1995)
It is not immediately apparent how the white king could have moved, since every adjacent square puts White in a seemingly impossible double check; on further examination it becomes apparent that if the white king moved from f5, then Black could have delivered the double check by playing f4xg3, capturing a white pawn on g4 en passant. Therefore, on the previous move, white must have played pawn g2-g4. But what did Black move before that? The white king on f5 was under check by the bishop on h3 and there was a white pawn on g2. The only possibility is that Black moved a knight from g4 to e5 with discovered check. Therefore, White's last move was king on f5 takes knight on e5. (The entire sequence of moves is 1...Ng4-e5+ (possibly capturing something on e5) 2.g2-g4 f4xg3+ e.p. 3.Kf5xe5.)
Date added: 16/11/2021
(White takes back his last move and mates immediately instead)
The white pawn at g6, instead of capturing the the black bishop on h7 (no other piece could be at h7) must play g7 and mate
Date added: 13/12/2021
(Hieronymus Fischer - Deutsche Schachzeitung, Oct 1879 )
Illegal position with 9 black pawns. Removing one pawn allows mate in 1
1.Qb6 [-a7]#
1.Nc6 [-b7]#
1.Qb4 [-c4]#
1.Qe4 [-d3]#
1.B×f2 [-e3]#
1.B×e3 [-f2]#
1.Ne6 [-f7]#
1.Rg4 [-g6]#
1.Rh4 [-h3]#
Date added: 5/1/2023
(Samuel Loyd - The Chess Monthly, May 1858)
1. d4! [2. Qd2 [3. Qg5#]
2. ... Kg4/h5 3. Qg5#]
1. ... Kg4 2. e4+
2. ... Kh4 3. g3#
1. ... Kh5 2. Qd3 waiting
2. ... Kh4/g4 3. Qh3#
Date added: 5/1/2023
(Cyril Henry Stanley Kipping - Chess, 1943)
1. c3! [2. b3, Qb3#]
1. ... Ba6/c6/d7/e8, d4 2. Qb3#
1. ... Nd3+ 2. exd3#
1. ... Nf3+ 2. exf3#
1. ... Bxd2+ 2. Nxd2#
1. ... Rb4/a3 2. N(x)a3#
1. ... Rxa2 2. b3#
Date added: 5/1/2023
(Cyril Henry Stanley Kipping - Chess, 1943)
1. Rxf7! [2. Rxf8#]
1. ... Kxf7 2. N6g5+
2. ... Ke8 3. Bf7#
1. ... Nf6 2. Rxf8+
2. ... Rxf8 3. Nxg7#
1. ... Nh6 2. Rxf8+
2. ... Rxf8 3. Nxg7#
1. ... dxe6 2. Rxd8+
2. ... Kxd8 3. Rxf8#
2. ... Kxf7 3. Ng5#
Date added: 5/1/2023
(Composer)
Date added: 2/6/2021
(Composer)
Date added: 2/6/2021
(Composer)
Date added: 2/6/2021
(Composer)
Date added: 2/6/2021
(Composer)
Date added: 2/6/2021
(Composer)
Date added: 2/6/2021