wu :: forums - Print Page


    
      
        wu :: forums
        (http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~wwu/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        riddles >> medium >> Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
        
(Message started by: THUDandBLUNDER on Nov 12^th, 2004, 12:40pm)

Title: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by THUDandBLUNDER on Nov 12^th, 2004, 12:40pm

Construct a chess position with as many legal moves as possible.

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by John_Gaughan on Nov 12^th, 2004, 10:28pm

Is that total moves, for both sides, or for an arbitrary side whos turn is next?

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by THUDandBLUNDER on Nov 13^th, 2004, 12:02am

on 11/12/04 at 22:28:53, John_Gaughan wrote:

Is that total moves, for both sides, or for an arbitrary side whos turn is next?

The latter.

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by towr on Nov 14^th, 2004, 2:29am

Must it be a setup that is reachable from the starting position, or does anything go?

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by THUDandBLUNDER on Nov 14^th, 2004, 4:44am

on 11/14/04 at 02:29:54, towr wrote:

Must it be a setup that is reachable from the starting position, or does anything go?

Let's say the former, as otherwise it would be an illegal position.

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by THUDandBLUNDER on Dec 12^th, 2004, 8:09am

As there have been no bids, I may as well put this one to bed.
In the position below White has 144 possible moves.

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by Three Hands on Dec 13^th, 2004, 7:01am

I assume that you are ignoring reversible moves interspaced after every 49th with a pawn moving forwards (or some other unreversible move) (assuming I've remembered the rules correctly in terms of repeating the same set of moves 50 times results in a draw), since it would otherwise be trivial to outdo your current claim through reaching the same position by a slightly longer route ::)

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by THUDandBLUNDER on Dec 13^th, 2004, 8:21am

on 12/13/04 at 07:01:56, Three Hands wrote:

Three Hands, you seem to be misunderstanding the question.
You must be referring to the maximum possible length of a game, but seem to be confounding the 50-move rule with the draw-by-repetition rule.

Just as there are 20 possible opening moves to a game of chess, in the above position White has 144 possible moves. (Anyway, thanks for showing some interest.)

Title: Re: Maximum Possibe Number of Moves (Chess)
Post by Three Hands on Dec 15^th, 2004, 4:00am

Oh, right, my mistake :'(

Given I've got some free time coming up, I might see what I can do with the puzzle, now I've understood what the question is (I hope...)