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ClavierCavalier

What's wrong with this position:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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ClavierCavalier

It's an illegal position.

omnipaul
Looks fine to me.
 
 
ClavierCavalier

I suppose with the capture it's a legal position.  Legal, but 7... Nf8 looks like a better move.

StrategicPlay

Now, my friend, your illegalness has been refuted. 

ClavierCavalier

Yes it has.  In fact, it could have been any capture except for a pawn and the dark squared bishop.

piphilologist
ClavierCavalier

Most people already understand this, but it can't be a pawn since the white king would be in check.  It can't be the dark squared bishop since it'd have to move to e7 from f8, which would mean the white king can't be on d6.  No other piece can start on a square that checks the white king.

The queen has to start on e1 - e4 or e8, or she can be on f7-h7 (8 squares).  The rook can start on e1 - e5 or e8, or f7 - h7 (9 squares).  The knight can start on c6, d5, g7, or g8 (4 squares).  So we have 21 possible positions that could result in this mate.

Also, this is much simplier diagram.  :-p



ClavierCavalier

Oh, the cxd7+ brings in more possibilities, including the light squared bishop!  It looks like if we have a capture on the first turn, we have more possible positions than I care to consider.

ClavierCavalier

Alright, well, here's an easy one:  Is this a legal position?

I'm going to have to try to make a harder one soon.

piphilologist

Yes. A white pawn was underpromoted to a bishop. 

piphilologist

Here is the original legal/illegal thread-

http://www.chess.com/forum/view/general/legal-and-illegal-positions