31 Mar '05 01:54>
Originally posted by BowmannSo what's this equal to in laymans terms then Bow?
Very approximately as:
321^6300 = 10^15,790
Originally posted by SiebrenI agree, except that:
On a chessboard we've got a total of 16 pawns good for 7 moves each.
We've got a total of 30 pieces wich can be captured (capture the pawns after they've been promoted.) good for 1 move each.
Knowing this you should say the longest ...[text shortened]... ngest possible game by your means is 7.100 - 350 = 6.750 moves.
Originally posted by jimslyp69No way. Its massively bigger than that. Think about it. Players can make 49 knight hops around the centre of the board in between each pawn move/capture.
Ooops. Slight revision
Kings can't be taken so that's - 49 * 2
Also we need minimum piece for check mate. ie one rook so that - 49
so its 5773 moves folks.
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERI agree with your analysis, except that since the draw can be claimed after 100 consecutive half-moves, shouldn't it be:
I agree, except that:
1) Pawns are good only for 6 moves, including promotion.
2) I believe 8 captures are necessary in order to create 16 passed pawns.
Thus we get [(16 x 6) + 30 - 8] x 50 = 5900
3) Your method assumes that only Black is doing the capturing and pawn-pushing.
Originally posted by davegageBut if every capture/pawn move is made on the 100th turn then each cycle is exactly 50 moves long, right?
I think it must be 49.5 instead of 50 because only 99 half-moves can be made before one of the [16*6 +30 - 8] pawn/capture moves are made.
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERah...yes, you're right -- 100 moves per cycle if they don't switch, at most 99 if they do.
But if every capture/pawn move is made on the 100th turn then each cycle is exactly 50 moves long, right?
It is only 49.5 when the capturing side changes from Black to White, or vice versa.
I think it can be proved that this must happen at least four times during the game, shaving at least 2 moves off the maximum length.
Originally posted by THUDandBLUNDERYes...I agree that the capturing/pawn-moving sides must switch a minimum of 4 times. I think there are many ways to do it, but in the longest game, the capturing/pawn-moving moves would go something along these lines:
I think it can be proved that this must happen at least four times during the game, shaving at least 2 moves off the maximum length