No, it isn't. One thing you may have heard in the past is that "knights can't lose a move". Try as hard as you can by moving the knights, but you'll only reach the starting position with White to move.
Is it possible to achieve the starting chess position with black to move?
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2Ke21-0 wrote:
No, it isn't. One thing you may have heard in the past is that "knights can't lose the move". Try as hard as you can by moving the knights, but you'll only reach the starting position with White to move.
Thank you for your response!
It is a pity that it is not possible.
I have never heard of that expression before. If I had, I probably would not have created this forum.
Aug 23, 2020
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#4
If hypothetically, a bishop, rook, or queen could jump over pawns, then it would be possible. 
2Ke21-0 wrote:
If hypothetically, a bishop, rook, or queen could jump over pawns, then it would be possible.
In an earlier form of chess, bishops (called elephants) could jump over pieces. They could move exactly two squares diagonally.
However, elephants also cannot lose a tempo.
Aug 23, 2020
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#6
If you're trying to artificially reach a position where Black moves first, you can do something along these lines:
2Ke21-0 wrote:
If you're trying to artificially reach a position where Black moves first, you can do something along these lines:
I know
I have actually played that a few times
Crazyhouse: Starting position with black to move
Aug 23, 2020
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#9
KnightAttack1567 wrote:
Obviously, the only pieces that can move are knights
Not true. The Rooks can also move, after the Knights vacate b1/b8/g1/g8.
Still impossible, though.
Aug 23, 2020
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#10
Knights can't lose a tempo. It's one of the first things you learn when you study the endgame.
Aug 23, 2020
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#11
blueemu wrote:
KnightAttack1567 wrote:
Obviously, the only pieces that can move are knights
Not true. The Rooks can also move, after the Knights vacate b1/b8/g1/g8.
Still impossible, though.
Good point.
blueemu wrote:
KnightAttack1567 wrote:
Obviously, the only pieces that can move are knights
Not true. The Rooks can also move, after the Knights vacate b1/b8/g1/g8.
Still impossible, though.
Good point
I didn't realize that
You can do it in the 10x8 chess variant known here as Gothic Chess. The Archbishop piece can move like a bishop or a knight.
1. Af3 Nh6 2. Ad5 Ni8 3. Ae4 Nh6 4. Af3 Ni8 5. Ag1 now it’s black to move at the start.
Is it possible to achieve the starting position with black to move in a hypothetical chess game?
Obviously, the only pieces that can move are knights
If a knight moves from b1 to c3 to b1, that will take 2 moves. Is it possible for the knight to move from b1 to b1 in an odd number of moves? That would make it black's turn to move.
The knight can also move from b1 to g1 (the position of the other knight). The problem is that the other knight needs to move from g1 to b1. Is there a way to make this happen in an odd number of moves? That would make it black's turn to move.
Question: In a hypothetical chess game, is it possible to achieve the starting position with black to move?