02 May 07
Originally posted by smw6869Greater than or equal to 3.
i don't know how to properly phrase this, but has anyone ever calculated how many combinations of moves can be made on a chess board.
But seriously, the old saw is more than the number of atoms in the known universe. (Someone was going to say this, so I thought I'd be first 😀)
02 May 07
Originally posted by smw6869Technically, there can be an unlimited number, if two players end up with kings moving back and forth...
i don't know how to properly phrase this, but has anyone ever calculated how many combinations of moves can be made on a chess board.
But some people have calulated how many possible combinations can be made within a certain move limit...what move number did you have in mind?
02 May 07
I think that in any position there are moves that if made will result in a forced loss or draw, so the human mind can recognize these and immediatley rule them out where as a computer tries to play out every possibility to the end in order to see if it works or not. So the reason it seems so mind boggling is because those numbers relate to the total number of possibilities, not the total # of winning possibilities which is much lower.
02 May 07
Originally posted by ChessJesterYes, it's total positions, regardless of good or bad lines. And another question...has someone actually calculated how many atoms are in the known universe? And I would like to know how.
I think that in any position there are moves that if made will result in a forced loss or draw, so the human mind can recognize these and immediatley rule them out where as a computer tries to play out every possibility to the end in order to see if it works or not. So the reason it seems so mind boggling is because those numbers relate to the total number of possibilities, not the total # of winning possibilities which is much lower.
02 May 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaNo, the numbr is not unlimited. It is limit amount of combinations of moves. The number is high, very high, but you can't move forever.
Technically, there can be an unlimited number, if two players end up with kings moving back and forth...
The reason to this is of course that every move you do is on move less from the end of the game.
You can't move kings back and forth unlimited number of times due to the 50-moves rule. It's a draw.
02 May 07
Originally posted by FabianFnasThe 50-move rule is not automatic. One of the players must claim the draw, and if none of the players claim the draw, the game continues. Likewise for draw by three-fold repetition.
You can't move kings back and forth unlimited number of times due to the 50-moves rule. It's a draw.
Having said that, I think the initial question assumes that this situation won't happen.