All Questions
11
questions
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What is the longest possible forced checkmate sequence?
As title says. My question is about legal positions (positions which could be reached in actual games), but if there is a known solution with an illegal position to start the sequence, I'd be ...
- 161
4
votes
1
answer
417
views
Number of distinct checkmate positions
What is the number of distinct checkmate positions in each of the following categories given the following conditions?
We are not interested in whether the position can be forced or not or even what ...
0
votes
1
answer
681
views
Checkmate without check beforehand
[Title "fucccommies-Diam0ndJake, chess.com, 7/8/2020"]
[FEN ""]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nc6 4. d5 Nd4 5. c3 Nxf3+ 6. Qxf3 Be7 7. Bb5 O-O 8. O-O c6 9. dxc6 bxc6 10. Bc4 d5 11. ...
- 19
1
vote
0
answers
40
views
What is the longest amount of moves before an inevitable checkmate? [duplicate]
When most pieces are gone, inevitable checkmates often occur and are usually presented in the form x moves until checkmate. However, what is the biggest valid possibility of x. (By valid I mean that ...
- 111
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? (...
4
votes
3
answers
686
views
Is an Arabian mate possible without the king’s help?
Can an Arabian mate be enforced without the king's help in this position?
[FEN "r6k/8/8/8/8/8/8/K6n w - - 0 1"]
- 17.7k
2
votes
3
answers
750
views
What are the quckest helpmates delivered by the rook, knight, bishop, and pawn?
What are the quickest helpmates, which is where both sides help administer checkmate to one side, delivered by the rook, knight, bishop, and pawn? The said piece has to deliver the checkmate on the ...
- 17.7k
12
votes
1
answer
4k
views
What is the longest proven forced win (including 50 & 75 move rules)?
What is the longest (currently discovered) number of moves for a forced mate position where players will use both the 50-move draw rule and the 3-fold repetition rule if it will help them avoid losing?...
- 582
11
votes
5
answers
25k
views
What is the longest forced win with 3 to 6 pieces (ignoring 50 & 75 move rules)?
I am wondering, what endgame, with 3 to 6 pieces, has the longest checkmate with optimal play? Right now, the longest I'm aware of is the two knights versus one pawn endgame, which in certain ...
- 749
4
votes
4
answers
488
views
Theoretically, is the analysis of the moves more complex if the objective is to be the first to be checkmated?
I have seen variations of other board games or strategy games where the aim is to actually 'lose' the game by forcing your opponents to make moves. Applying this concept to the rules of chess, would ...
- 165
25
votes
5
answers
8k
views
Is it a draw by insufficient material if the board is K vs K, N & N?
It isn't possible to force checkmate with King vs. King, Knight & Knight. A checkmate position, however, is still possible to achieve, so does that mean the 50 move rule applies, or does ...
- 645