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3 votes
1 answer
122 views

Most delaying moves before checkmate

Consider a position where if was player A's turn, they could make a series of moves ("the mating sequence") with forced mate. However, it is player B's turn, and they can make a series of &...
Steve Bennett's user avatar
7 votes
4 answers
3k views

Most mate options after 6 moves

Found this construction problem from '83 and liked it. I don't know the best solution (yet), and maybe you can top it anyway. Consider the (help) "game" 1.e4 a6 2.Bc4 a5 3.Qh5 a4. Now White ...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
12 votes
2 answers
3k views

What is the fastest loss by a GM in a FIDE classical game?

What is the shortest FIDE classical game a grandmaster lost? It can be either resigning or checkmate. The opponent doesn't necessarily need to be GM. Forfeits don't count. Only serious games count, ...
cmgchess's user avatar
  • 2,770
4 votes
1 answer
257 views

Longest sequence of unique legal moves for one player, always in check and ending in checkmate

I recently played a bullet game, in which I thought I was in checkmate, but then realized I had one legal move, this then repeated again and again 6 times until ultimately I was in checkmate. I share ...
Mur's user avatar
  • 51
3 votes
1 answer
156 views

Most "heavy" model mate in a game

A model mate, to recall, is a mate where a) any flight (including the standing place) of the enemy king is attacked exactly once; b) no friendly piece (except king and pawns) idles around. c) (...
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
139 views

The fastest dualed mates in n

Hauke Reddmann asked a cool question about the quickest dual-free mates in n's from the starting position. But this is a rather limited scope. I wish to attack this idea from a different angle. What ...
Rewan Demontay's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
3k views

Can there be a checkmate with maximum points of material (103) while covering 64 squares?

Is it possible to compose a game where these three conditions are simultaneously satisfied? No White piece is gone but every Black piece except the king is. All the white pawns are promoted to a ...
Vivaan's user avatar
  • 87
3 votes
1 answer
241 views

Longest forced win after 3 moves

It is possible to reach (exactly) #8 after just 3 moves: [Title "#8 after 3 moves"] [FEN ""] 1. e3 f6 2. Qf3 Kf7 3. Nh3 Qe8! 4. Ng5+ Kg6 5. Bd3+ Kxg5 6. Qf4+ Kh5 7. g4+ Kh4 8. Qg3+...
user21820's user avatar
  • 2,826
4 votes
2 answers
995 views

Longest *shortest available* fixed sequence of moves leading to checkmate?

What is the longest fixed sequence of consecutive moves you can find in any legal position that guarantees checkmating the opponent regardless of their responses (whether by forcing particular ...
Mobeus Zoom's user avatar
  • 2,289
6 votes
3 answers
612 views

The quickest mate in n

Obviously inspired by the analogous selfmate question. (Helpmate would also be possible in principle, but looks a bit silly.) Thus, 1.f3 e5 2.g4 allows Black a #1, and 1.f3 e5 2.h3 a #2. 1.f4 e5 2....
Hauke Reddmann's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
221 views

What is the fastest way to reach a position in which one side is forced to choose between checkmate and stalemate?

I had an interesting idea recently. While there are many proof games ending in checkmate or stalemate, why not both, I thought. So, thus I wondered, what is the fastest way to reach a position in ...
Rewan Demontay's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Most pieces involved in checkmate in actual game?

I recall seeing a number of chess games where a lot of pieces are involved in the final checkmate, and was curious to know what is the maximum number of pieces of one player A that have been involved ...
user21820's user avatar
  • 2,826
5 votes
1 answer
1k views

What is the longest tablebase win that includes draw rules?

It has been asked the longest mate that includes draw rules is, and it is known what the longest tablebase mate is. However, what is the longest tablebase mate, i.e. 7 pieces or less, that accounts ...
Rewan Demontay's user avatar
6 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is the farthest away a game can be from a guaranteed checkmate?

What is the maximum number of moves away from checkmate that a player can be where checkmate is guaranteed? There are many positions that are a guaranteed win for a player if played perfectly, right? (...
Cotton Headed Ninnymuggins's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
382 views

What is the fastest horizontal checkmate for both castlings?

I wish to know the fastest possible castling checkmate, both queenside and kingside, that is horizontal. See my question about vertical checkmates..
Rewan Demontay's user avatar

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