Solutions to D K Hale’s Problems
7. Dennis K. Hale
“Prelates’ Partie”
Australian Chess Problem Magazine, Mar. 1997
(republished from The Sunday Mirror, 1968)
Black to move. The position preceding Black’s second last move contains three pieces which must have resulted from pawn promotions. It is possible to prove on which three squares the pieces stand. What is the position? There are two completely different solutions.
In both solution positions, the three bishops must have resulted from pawn promotions – none are original due to the pawn structure.
Commencing with Black’s second last move, 1…b5 2.Bxa6 d5 3.Bxd5 (reaches the problem position).
Commencing with Black’s second last move, 1…Bxe2 2.g4 Bxg4+ 3.Kxg4 (reaches the problem position).
8. Dennis K. Hale
“Penultimate”
Chess in Australia, Aug. 1977, 2nd Prize
Beginning with Black’s second last move, what were the moves that led to this position from a legally played game?
The only possible position two moves ago is shown below.
The moves that lead to the problem position are, starting with Black’s second last, 1…S(e4)xQ(g3)+ 2.K(f1)xS(f2) S(g3)-f1 disc.+ 3.K(f2)xS(f1) disc.+. These moves are precise and couldn’t be otherwise.