The h-pawn promoted. The a8 rook was taken on a3 by the white b-pawn. This means that either a white knight or queen was taken on d6 before that. The bishop on b2 must have gotten there after bxa3 but before c3, unless it was the original c1 bishop. Likewise the bishop on h2 must have gotten there before g3 was played, probably before the f1 bishop got out, though that bishop could hypothetically have been captured without moving. The h8 rook could have been taken by nearly anything (obviously not a light-squared bishop or pawn), so far as I can tell right now. It also could have moved before returning to h8 to become captured. Also, the c1 bishop must have gone to b2 after bxa3.
Deductive Puzzle #17
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Jun 7, 2009
0
#3
Oh, also b6 must have been played before the c8 bishop escaped, and therefore also before the a8 rook escaped.
Jun 7, 2009
0
#4
Is this correctly posted? From this information I think it is impossible to tell which is which. There are no kinks to promotion, that can go over very smooth. Then white's knight can sacrifice itself on d6, black can play Ba6, Nc6-a5, Rc8-c3-a3 followed by axb3. From this position it is easy to see that both bishops have access to both squares.
I think that white should have two knights instead of one. This would require that the white queen being the one sacrificing on d6. This would require c3 being played first, in which case the promoted bishop would have to be on h2.
Here's a game with why in the current position it is indeterminate.
I've been so lazy about posting these lately, so here is a bonus one for tonight!
White has two Dark colored bishops this time. Which is the original!?
Know the following: The h8 rook was captured on its own square.
Neither king moved.
There are no promoted black pieces on the board.
* Fixed