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Double Stalemate

Double Stalemate

Posers and Puzzles

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(Not sure if this problem has been posed elsewhere)

Find a position in which, if white is to move, white is stalemated, and if black is to move, black is stalemated. That is, find a position in which neither side has any legal moves. Your position must be reachable by legal play from the starting position.

It took me a while to find a solution to this one when I posed it to myself today. I imagine others will be quicker.

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Here is one:

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h

1 edit
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And here is my joke solution:

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h

"If white is to move, white is stalemated" is true, since "if A then B" is true if A is always false.

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Originally posted by GregM
(Not sure if this problem has been posed elsewhere)

Find a position in which, if white is to move, white is stalemated, and if black is to move, black is stalemated. That is, find a position in which neither side has any legal moves. Your position must be reachable by legal play from the starting position.

It took me a while to find a solution to this one when I posed it to myself today. I imagine others will be quicker.
Double stalemate is only a matter of locked pawns here and there. Here's one with only 7 units on the board:

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h

Either side could have moved last (obviously).

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Here are two related positions.
All 32 pieces in a legal position, and only one piece can move:

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h

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Originally posted by BigDoggProblem
Double stalemate is only a matter of locked pawns here and there. Here's one with only 7 units on the board:

[fen]k7/P1p5/K1p5/P1P5/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1[/fen]

Either side could have moved last (obviously).
I don't see how black could have moved last... can you point out a "legal" move for me. I may be just missing it.

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All 32 pieces in a legal position, and there are only 2 possible moves:

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h

1 edit
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Originally posted by strokem1
I don't see how black could have moved last... can you point out a "legal" move for me. I may be just missing it.
Black's last move was Kb8-a8 (after a capture by white pawn a7), or d7xc6.

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Originally posted by David113
Black's last move was Kb8-a8 (after a capture by white pawn a7), or d7xc6.
Ok. Thats what I thought black's last move but I couldn't see how that was possible to get the pawn there. I completely forgot about it could have captured to get there. thanks for pointing that out.

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  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h


Down to only 6 units, and still either side could have moved last. Can anyone do it with even less pieces?

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  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h


Another promising matrix, but still 6 pieces.

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  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h


There you go, 5 pieces. The position seems possible - could've arisen after such moves as 1. Ke1 exf 2. Kf1

1 edit
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Originally posted by kbaumen
[fen]8/8/8/8/8/5p2/5p1p/5K1k w - - 0 1[/fen]

There you go, 5 pieces. The position seems possible - could've arisen after such moves as 1. Ke1 exf 2. Kf1
That's not quite a double stalemate - White has 1.Kxf2.

You can correct it by adding bBg1, but then it only ties the record.

1 edit
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Ooops, sorry. But adding the bishop would be nice, because then the solution would include not only kings and pawns. Eh, got to think some little bit more.

2 edits
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Not an answer to the question, but..

  • 8
  • a
  • 7
  • b
  • 6
  • c
  • 5
  • d
  • 4
  • e
  • 3
  • f
  • 2
  • g
  • 1
  • h

I like the double pin.

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