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Subject: How Many Positions Are There?

Author: Michael Neish

Date: 20:15:51 10/29/00



Hello,

I don't really want to post another naive "How many possible Chess positions are
there?" comment, but I believe that of the huge number of possible positions
only a relatively small fraction are actually interesting.  What I mean is, if
you could count all possible piece/square permutations I suppose most of them
will be materially unbalanced, with the outcome generally in favour of the side
with greater material.  These positions could be considered "solved".  Then a
small fraction of these will be materially balanced or almost-balanced
positions, with an unclear outcome, and could be considered "unsolved".

Does anyone know whether any estimate has been made on the proportion of
unsolved to solved positions in Chess?  I guess it would represent a substantial
trimming of the overall game tree.

Cheers,

Mike.




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