A little off-topic, but here's an interesting position. All 16 White men against a lone king, and neither side has a legal move. Let's see how quickly you can get here.
This'll set the bar:
Well done! I think your 53-move game will be hard to surpass.
Now back on topic. Explain why this position is illegal.
This is a common trick puzzle, because it appears in a semi-famous book, but is it possible for this position to be reached with white to move?
Just triangulate with the knights until its whites move
Hello, lawbreaking 8th-rank Pawn!
One could argue that the 8th-rank pawn is innocent between the time it arrives and the time it is replaced. But there's no excuse for the black king being checked by a 2nd-rank pawn, which is always illegal.
This is a common trick puzzle, because it appears in a semi-famous book, but is it possible for this position to be reached with white to move?
Just triangulate with the knights until its whites move
Knights can't triangulate, since they change color on every move. The proper timing has to be achieved with the correct initial pawn move.
Post #4595 There's not enough black pieces for white to capture. The queenside pawns take 3 captures while the h2 pawn needs at least one. However, black only has three missing pieces.
Black needs to capture all of white's remaining pieces and pawns, including the h2 one, to reach that pawn structure. However, the h2 pawn can't allow itself to be captured without capturing a black piece to reach the g-file. As stated above, this means black doesn't have enough leftover pieces.
Illegal if it's white to move
Post #4595 There's not enough black pieces for white to capture. The queenside pawns take 3 captures while the h2 pawn needs at least one. However, black only has three missing pieces.
Black needs to capture all of white's [remaining] missing pieces and pawns, including the h2 one, to reach that pawn structure. However, the h2 pawn can't allow itself to be captured without capturing a black piece to reach the g-file. As stated above, this means black doesn't have enough leftover pieces.
Close. The black pawns need nine captures, and White is missing nine men, so Black can reach that pawn structure by capturing the white h-pawn after it promotes. But it doesn't have the capture available needed to promote, so the position is illegal.
here ya go
Illegal if it's white to move [#4600]
Yes, since the black king would be in an illegal double-check on any square it could have just moved from.
here ya go [#4602]
That position looks too obviously legal to bother with. Do you claim it's an illegal position?
Slight teaser - white to move (I bet you all thought illegal for a second, it is legal)
Slight teaser - white to move (I bet you all thought illegal for a second, it is legal)
Obviously legal. 1. Nf3 e6 2. Ng1 e5
I would be surprised if anyone thought it was illegal for even a second.
Slight teaser - white to move (I bet you all thought illegal for a second, it is legal)
You lost the bet
Really think all of us are stupid lol
How has this thread lasted for five years?
This king just stalemated 16 white pieces
Lol