Illegal Position Contest!

The target is the same in all tries: retract g7xf6. This frees up the kings and the other pieces stuck in the bottom right corner. To do this, bBd8 must retract to f8 (although there is a small try with having a promoted black DSB).

To do this, we need to retract bxc7, which first requires the black LSB and b-pawn to retract back home (this is what you have noted). The LSB can only get home by being un-pinned by a white knight/rook at e2; the b-pawn can get home once a black piece un-promotes on b1 and retracts all the way to b7. The various tries come from the many ways to try and obtain these "free" white and black pieces:

• White pieces can be obtained by un-pinning wNg4, or by retracting black's axb capture. (There is also wRg6, although it cannot get out to e2.)
• Black pieces can be obtained by un-capturing on g5 and f4 (with wPg5), or by un-pinning bNg2.

How do you guys do this lol I can barely follow through the proofs with the explanations lol, let alone think up these positions!

I think being hard to explain is what makes an illegal position a good one. daStrwbrry has made some of the best.

No I agree, but it's just so impressive. How do you guys make them so flawlessly despite needing 5 interacting aspects of the position that together make it impossible in the most subtle way..

Yeah, the composers on this thread are really really smart.

really just a map of everywhere the knight can go in three moves

 :wp :wp :wp :wp :wp :wp :wp :wp :wp bc there cant be 9 pawns

*But nobody came

lol

It's technically possible.

not sure about this one

The most illegal position in the history of illegal positions

Try beating that

I just beat myself