2

Going by rules strictly about the board state, how long can a player theoretically hold off a draw by the 50-move rule? White will play as long as possible, and not want to lose. Black will claim a draw as soon as possible, if not win, so threefold repetition and dead position apply.

Here is my starting offer of 703 moves

[FEN "5bkq/p1p1p1pR/P1P1P1P1/8/4K3/8/P1P1P2P/7n w - - 0 1"]

1. Rxh8+ Kxh8 2. Kf3 Nf2 3. Kxf2

After taking 1 move to capture the queen and 2 for the Black knight, White starts the 50-move reset counter. White shuffles around their king to avoid repetition while Black's king is entombed. Every 50 moves thereafter, White plays a pawn move, with 12 total (playing h6 loses). After the 12th one, it will be another 50 moves until Black may rest: 1+2+50+(12*50)+50=704. (White's h-pawn position prevents dead position.)

4
  • Only 2 moves to capture the knight, otherwise it will escape. Oct 12, 2020 at 13:08
  • What does "not able to win earlier" mean? In your example, White can win if Black cooperates: push up the h pawn, and let the following happen: 1. h6 gxh6 2. g7+ Kg8 3. gxf8=Q+ Kh7 and then easily mate with the newly acquired queen. So I assume "not able to win earlier" means "not able to win earlier if Black plays perfectly"?
    – wimi
    Oct 12, 2020 at 17:50
  • What is the "50-move rule"? Never heard of it. Oct 13, 2020 at 12:55
  • The halfmove count increments by one for every move that is not a pawn move or capture. A pawn move or capture resets the halfmove count to 0. The halfmove count is 0 at the beginning of the game. When the halfmove count reaches 100, either player may claim draw. Jul 26, 2023 at 22:28

2 Answers 2

4

I interpret the following

White will play as long as possible, and not want to lose. Black will claim a draw as soon as possible, if not win

as meaning that Black does not help (i.e., Black tries to either win or draw as fast as possible, while White tries to make the game as long as possible and then draw or win). I suggest the following position with 1865 moves.

[FEN "7k/8/4N3/6N1/8/8/PPPPPPPP/4K3 w - - 0 1"]

It seems to me that White can do 6 moves with each of the 4 left-side pawns (each one promotes to a bishop on its last move), then (3, 4, 2, 4) moves with the remaining four pawns. Before the first pawn move, White can play 13 waiting moves with the king while avoiding threefold repetition. Between each subsequent pawn move, White can play 49 waiting moves with their king. This gives 13 + 36 x 50 = 1813 moves. As moves 1814 and 1815, White does the following

[FEN "BBBB2k1/8/4NP1P/4P1N1/6P1/8/8/4K3 w - - 0 1"]

1. f7+ Kh8 2. f8=N Kg8

and then White makes 50 more waiting moves before drawing at move 1865.

0
6

The answer is trivially the starting position -

[fen ""]

This exact question hasn't been asked before (I think) but it has been answered here. Here is the relevant part of that answer -

The maximum number of moves in a chess game is not infinite, it's 11797 plies = 5898 moves and a half. This is due to the fifty-move rule.

As an interim possibility here is an obvious extension of the OP's original position (before he made dozens of edits):

[FEN "5b1k/p1p1p1p1/P1P1P1P1/8/8/8/P1P1P2P/RNBQKBNR w - - 0 1"]

White makes the same starting pawn and king moves as in the OP's post minus allowing any captures and then brings a piece out to capture the a pawn, taking 49 moves to do that, then queens one of the a pawns taking 49 moves per pawn move, then takes 49 moves to sacrifice that queen next to the king, then same again with white's other a pawn, ditto taking the c pawn, etc., etc.

2
  • 2
    No, he is asking the maximum if only one side is trying to prolong the game. This answer is for when both sides are trying. Oct 12, 2020 at 13:08
  • 3
    @RewanDemontay: Assuming perfect play by both sides, the answer is probably the starting position, because a perfectly played game of chess is probably drawn. If you want to allow helpmates as well, then you need to be a lot more specific: Which side is allowed to helpmate, if not both, and are they allowed to do a help-draw as well, or not?
    – Kevin
    Oct 12, 2020 at 21:45

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.