Rulebook Problems

[Grant_Perks]

The King was on a2. If the King was on a1 it was already a dead position by Bill’s definition.

[Smythe_Dakota]

Correct – and it is only slightly tricky to see how the king could have been on a2.

By the way, did everybody notice that black’s king has a clear path (via f3 and e2) to d1, where he can capture the white Bc1? But then it’s still a dead position (the deadest).

Bill Smythe

[jwiewel]

The king could have legally moved to b1 from the illegal position of double check on c2.

[Grant_Perks]

But then it wouldn’t be a dead position.

[jwiewel]

@Grant Perks

But then it wouldn’t be a dead position.

Once reaching b1 it is dead. When the game is over with a legal move, previous illegal moves become irrelevant.

[billbrock]

@Smythe Dakota

Hey – where are all the spoilers? The starting time has now passed – at least for 2 of the 3 problems.

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Problem 1: In the following position, which player made the last move, and how do you know?

Remember, you are to interpret USCF rule 14D very literally.

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In all three of these problems, the position shown is a dead position – a position where no checkmate (of either player) is possible, even if the players cooperate in trying to find a checkmating sequence.

Under rule 14D, as soon as a dead position arises, the game is immediately over, and is drawn. Therefore, the position which arose immediately prior to the diagrammed position must not have been a dead position, else the game would have been over already, and the diagrammed position would not have had an opportunity to arise.

The trick, then, is to find a non-dead position which leads, in one half move, to the diagrammed position.

Examples of dead positions are (1) K vs K, (2) K+N vs K, and (3) K+B vs K. However, much more complicated positions can be dead, too.

OK, everybody, lead the cheer:

"What do we do? Solve! When do we do it? Now!"
"What do we do? Solve! When do we do it? Now!"
"What do we do? Solve! When do we do it? Now!"

etc.

Bill Smythe

White’s last move could have been 1.Ka5xQb6 (the silly 1.Ka4 was a weak alternative), or alternatively 1.K(a5/a6/b5/c5/c6/c7) x Rb6 (alternatives available in all cases), or even 1.K(somewhere) x Pb6 (it’s possible for White to misplay the theoretically drawn positions).

If Black’s previous move was 0…(major piece x something on) b6, and you’re asking us to think about that (possible stalemate of BK), then I’m not sure where you’re going…

[billbrock]

Of course, it could not have been Black’s move: capture of Q or R would already be dead (no alternative) and B or N are dead by definition. Therefore, so too not-yet-promoted pawn