Questions tagged [records]
For questions related to (world) records in chess, e.g. the longest game (in moves or in duration), highest obtained rating, longest mate in n puzzle, etc.
150
questions
32
votes
3
answers
6k
views
What is the highest number of different mates in 1 you can have in one (legal) position?
A friend and I yesterday asked ourselves what the highest number of possible mates in a (legal) position is. We were able to come up with the following position which has a total of 76 unique mates in ...
- 525
28
votes
1
answer
6k
views
What is the fastest way to reach stalemate?
It is known that the minimum number of moves required for checkmate is 2 moves (4 half moves) resulting in a victory for Black. However, what is the minimum number of moves required for stalemate? ...
- 621
27
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Longest sequence of mutually forced moves
In this position, the black move 1. ... Qc3 results in two consecutive forced moves, Kxc3 and Ke7:
2rkr3/2p5/2q5/8/8/8/3KP3/3R4 b - - 0 1
1... Qc3 2. Kxc3 Ke7
What is the longest sequence of ...
user2659
27
votes
2
answers
3k
views
From the start of the game what is the longest possible series of consecutive white moves where white can do those moves no matter what black does?
From the start of the game what is the longest possible series of consecutive white moves where white can do those moves no matter what black does?
So I want the longest list of moves white can do ...
- 281
22
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the longest known sequence of forced moves leading to a checkmate for one side?
By forced move, it is meant that the player has only one legal move.
[fen "7k/q5Q1/p4PPK/6PP/8/5P2/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
1... Qxg7+ 2. fxg7+ Kg8 3. f4 a5 4. f5 a4 5. f6 a3 6. f7#
Above is an example with ...
- 3,359
21
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Shortest stalemate in serious tournament game
I am looking for the shortest stalemate that has occurred in a serious chess game (there were no agreements between the players). So far, I have found only compositions, but is there a real game where ...
user24344
20
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Fastest possible checkmate by en passant
En passant is somewhat of a rare move in chess. Checkmating by en passant, however, is an even rarer occurrence. But suppose both sides had the same goal to help cause a checkmate to their opponent ...
- 474
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Maximum possible movement in a turn
I've read that for any position, there are on average approximately 35 possible moves. But what's the maximum number of possible moves for a position?
- 1,749
15
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is the shortest possible game with 18 queens?
This question demonstrates a game in which all 16 pawns promote for a total of 18 queens on the board. It takes 80 moves...
What is the shortest sequence of moves that achieves this goal?
- 2,064
15
votes
3
answers
608
views
Fastest King vs King endgame
What is the fastest possible game that ends in a King vs King endgame? Please post a game and tell me the number of half-moves you've achieved. By some simple logic, I can prove that this number is ...
- 916
12
votes
8
answers
18k
views
Longest chess game possible (maximum moves)
What is the longest chess game possible in terms of chess moves? I read somewhere that there is a theoretical maximum of 5949 moves. But I don't see any proof and I don't think it is correct.
Can it ...
- 251
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, ...
- 2,092
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?...
- 572
12
votes
1
answer
665
views
Which chess position requires the most moves to reach?
For each legal chess position there exist a shortest sequence of moves from the starting position to that position.
Which position requires the most moves to reach?
- 560
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Maximum number of pieces on board in dead position
It is possible in a chess game to have a dead position in which both players have all eight pawns, one bishop, and a king--20 pieces total. If the two players' pawns are interlocked in "zig-zag" ...
- 1,154
11
votes
8
answers
2k
views
Both grandmaster and PhD/doctorate
Who have PhDs/doctorates that are also grandmasters?
Conditions:
standard GM only eg no WGM (see there for WGM version), no International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster
no honourary PhDs/...
- 1
11
votes
5
answers
23k
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 ...
- 759
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the most queens that have been on the board in a grandmaster game?
There are quite a few grandmaster games with 3 queens or 4 queens, but what is the highest number of queens on the board in a game between two GMs?
I'd be interested in both the most on the board ...
- 231
11
votes
4
answers
2k
views
What is the longest forced mate optimally played in documented competition?
There are tons of questions about the longest forced mate on here and other chess forums. Usually the answers are the 2 Knights forced mate and another one that evidently takes 549 optimal moves. ...
- 259
11
votes
3
answers
564
views
Who was the quickest from "unrated" to GM?
What player attained the GM title in the shortest amount of time, beginning from their entry into organized (rated) chess, to the award of the title (either via attaining norms, or by direct award)? ...
- 3,529
11
votes
1
answer
340
views
2 GM Norms in 24 hours - first time ever?
Chess.com reports that 17-year-old Frederik Svane has scored 2 GM Norms In 24 Hours and asks if this is a record:
17-year-old Svane, the youngest of the two brothers (Rasmus recently turned 25), ...
- 89.9k
10
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What is the longest known stalemate your opponent in x-moves problem?
What is the longest known stalemate your opponent in x-moves problem where the given stalemate is the fastest one from the initial position? A win is not possible, but stalemating your opponent so ...
user11382
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Youngest Player to beat a reigning World Champion?
In September 2022 19 year old Hans Niemann beat Magnus Carlsen in the Sinquefield Cup.
On the 19th January 2023 18 year old Nodirbek Abdusattorov beat Magnus Carlsen in the Tata Steel tournament.
Is ...
- 89.9k
10
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Mate in N. What is the largest N known?
What known position has one side with a forced mate in N moves, with N the largest? I came across one with 517 moves using only 7 pieces, so there should be much be larger. (Ignoring the 50-move rule)....
- 141
10
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Highest depth ever achieved
I saw a guy that went into depth 70 with no search moves at 41, 192, 897, 168, and 184 nodes from the starting position on Stockfish a few years ago.
I would like to know if this is still a record or ...
- 193
9
votes
7
answers
515
views
Position with the most (or many) distinct refutations?
I'm looking for a chess position, hopefully not too contrived, in which it's Black's turn, he has several moves, but each one is refuted by a mate by White.
I know I could take any mate-in-two ...
- 281
9
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What is the maximum number of passed pawns in a position?
Something I have wondered about recently is the maximum number of passed pawns that is theoretically possible. What is the answer, and the fastest way to achieve that result?
- 16.8k
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Longest forced sequence that ends with checkmate and every move is a check
What is the longest move sequence that ends with checkmate and every move is a check by both players?
- 367
9
votes
4
answers
532
views
Maximum number of ways to get out of check
What is the maximum number of legal moves in a legal position, given that the player is in check?
It's easy to see that 43 is an upper bound. Let's suppose the white K is in check along a diagonal by ...
- 3,650
9
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Longest possible FEN
What is the longest possible FEN? The reason for that question is, that I am designing a PGN viewer (again), and I have noticed that the FEN is dependent on the width of the board (the FEN test area ...
- 477
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is there a record for threefold repetition for when the claimed positions are the farthest apart, in terms of moves?
That’s one long question, so let’s break it down. Threefold repetition, as many know, is when a draw occurs, after the same position, with all piece types on the same square, all possible moves and ...
- 16.8k
8
votes
3
answers
670
views
Problems: record for most mates-in-2
Does anyone know what the record for most mates-in-2 is for a composed problem?
Example: this one has 58 different moves that mate in 2.
[FEN "6R1/8/8/8/3Q3B/5K2/7k/1R6 w - - 0 1"]
- 103
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Longest sequence of unique series moves
Clearly a spawnoff of the preceding question, but far easier to analyze, and maybe helping a bit to solve that one too.
Take the starting position, remove all black pieces to simplify and now make ...
- 14.3k
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 ...
- 2,725
8
votes
2
answers
461
views
From a full board to a pawn endgame in the shortest possible number of half-moves
Is any game known where all the pieces (except the pawns) are still on the board, and where a piece (not a pawn!) is captured at each half-move, leading to a pawn endgame?
In other words, is there a ...
- 3,359
7
votes
2
answers
2k
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 ...
- 87
7
votes
2
answers
550
views
Challenge: Create the longest set of moves where the game is able to be perfectly reproduced from only the current board state and move number
The challenge is to create the longest list of half moves whereby an AI could re-create that list of moves perfectly, only given the ending board state and the number of moves.
As example I will first ...
- 73
7
votes
2
answers
705
views
What is the longest possible sequence of double checks?
The record for the most mutual checks in a legal position is known. But what is the record for double checks? There is one rule-threefold repetition applies. Four criteria exist-promoted pieces ...
- 16.8k
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? (...
6
votes
3
answers
860
views
What is the highest number of pieces from one side that can be involved in a checkmate?
What is the highest number of pieces from one side that can be involved in a checkmate? "Involved in a checkmate" is defined below.
A non-king piece is involved in a checkmate 'if removing ...
user11382
6
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What was the biggest chess tournament held in the world?
Which chess tournament and venue has brought in the most people in the world?
- 379
6
votes
4
answers
602
views
Longest sequence of moves where white's number of available moves decreases
An easier version of this
White has 20 available moves at the start of the game (from the standard position). After 1.h3 h5, white has 19 available moves. (The h pawn has lost the ability to move two ...
- 2,907
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What professional game has the quickest sequence, starting from move one, to quadrupled pawns?
In the blog "AJEDREZ, SIN DUDA", I came across a page that gives a game featuring quadrupled pawns.
[Title "Zheliandinov-T. Sereteli, 35th Championship of the USSR, Kharkov, 1967"]
...
- 16.8k
6
votes
3
answers
585
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....
- 14.3k
6
votes
3
answers
424
views
Maximum number of non-pawn pieces on the board
In a reachable game, what is the maximum sum of queens, rooks, bishops, knights, and kings on the board?
For queens only, see Maximum number of queens possible
- 181
6
votes
1
answer
448
views
What is the record for the most stalemates in one?
Is there a known record for the most possible stalemates in one in a legal position, for with and without promoted pieces? I did some constructing myself for a start.
For without promoted pieces, I ...
- 16.8k
6
votes
1
answer
474
views
What is the longest professional chess game that ended in a checkmate?
Quite simply, what is the longest professional chess game that ended in a checkmate?
- 16.8k
6
votes
3
answers
217
views
Longest sequence of moves where number of available moves increases
White has 20 available moves at the start of the game. After 1.a4 e5, white has 21 available moves. (The rook has gained 2 moves, while the pawn has lost 1).
What is the longest sequence of moves ...
- 2,907
6
votes
1
answer
168
views
Who is the oldest player ever to beat a reigning world champion?
Per title. I'm interested in all time controls. This record isn't in the Wikipedia list of Chess records.
Related: Youngest Player to beat a reigning World Champion? which asks for the youngest player....
- 24.9k
6
votes
3
answers
172
views
32 pieces protected once: How many moves?
From the orthodox starting position, how many moves will you need to have the 32 pieces protected exactly once? (The answer is astonishingly low.)
- 375