Computer Chess Club Archives


Search

Terms

Messages

Subject: Re: Approximate # of Unique chess positions = (current estimated #)/4

Author: Les Fernandez

Date: 21:27:39 01/18/02

Go up one level in this thread


On January 18, 2002 at 12:50:43, Chris Hull wrote:

>On January 18, 2002 at 01:52:23, Les Fernandez wrote:
>
>>On January 18, 2002 at 01:39:45, Chris Hull wrote:
>>
>>>On January 18, 2002 at 01:25:18, Les Fernandez wrote:
>>>
>>>>Every so often this subject gets brought up and I have a thought.  Lets say that
>>>>the current estimated number of unique positions is designated by N.  When we
>>>>say number of positions we need also to take into account some symmetries that
>>>>exist.  If symmetry is found in more then 1 position then we actually do not
>>>>have N number of unique positions.  With this is mind examine the following 4
>>>>diagrams which were generated by my Permutator application:
>>>>
>>>>[D]k1K4R/8/8/8/8/8/8/8 w - -
>>>>acd 4; acn 91; acs 1; ce 32762; pv Rg8; id "-XTDa.1-";
>>>>
>>>>[D]R4K1k/8/8/8/8/8/8/8 w - -
>>>>acd 4; acn 91; acs 1; ce 32762; pv Rb8; id "-XTDb.1-";
>>>>
>>>>[D]8/8/8/8/8/8/8/K1k4r b - -
>>>>acd 4; acn 91; acs 1; ce 32762; pv Rg1; id "-XTDc.1-";
>>>>
>>>>[D]8/8/8/8/8/8/8/r4k1K b - -
>>>>acd 4; acn 91; acs 1; ce 32762; pv Rb1; id "-XTDd.1-";
>>>>
>>>>These 4 diagrams, although symmetrically different, are in fact the identical
>>>>position and contain the identical solution.  This being true implies that when
>>>>estimates for N are performed we need to apply the following 2 rules for
>>>>arriving at a much closer estimate.  #1 N/2 applies for positions that have any
>>>>type of castling rights and #2 N/4 for positions that have no castling rights.
>>>>
>>>>Although N remains still fairly large we are much closer to the right number
>>>>then how it has been estimated in the past.  Whether dividing N by 2 or 4 will
>>>>atleast cut the estimate by 1/2 and I suspect there are many more positions with
>>>>no castling rights then with.  Perhaps other symmetries exist that we have not
>>>>found yet,  and yes I do have some in mind <s>.
>>>>
>>>>Les
>>>
>>>
>>>Actually there is 8-fold symmetry in this positions (can you find the other 4?).
>>
>>I think I can but do those other 4 symmetries exist for all chess positions
>>including pawns?? <S>.  I was not aware that the estimates took symmetries into
>>account.  Thanks for the info.  BTW what is the current estimate out of
>>curiosity?
>>
>
>For positions with pawns, you only have 2-fold symmetry.

Cant we say there is actually 4-fold symmetry?? Take a look, the positions are
exactly the same:  You can rotate top to bottom with pawns on the board and
still get 4-fold symmetry legally you just have to follow a few rules.  Rotating
top to bottom requires you invert the color of all the pieces, reverse the row
number and you must invert the side to move.


[D]k7/8/8/8/8/8/1P6/K7 w - -
acd 4; acn 7; acs 1; ce 32720; pv Ka2; id "-XTDa.1-";

[D]7k/8/8/8/8/8/6P1/7K w - -
acd 4; acn 7; acs 1; ce 32720; pv Kh2; id "-XTDb.1-";

[D]k7/1p6/8/8/8/8/8/K7 b - -
acd 4; acn 7; acs 1; ce 32720; pv Ka7; id "-XTDc.1-";

[D]7k/6p1/8/8/8/8/8/7K b - -
acd 4; acn 7; acs 1; ce 32720; pv Kh7; id "-XTDd.1-";

FWIW

>I haven't looked at the estimates in a while but the last ones I recall were on
>th order of 10^65 unique positions. Basically, a very large number.
>
>Chris
>
>>
>>
>>>Also, the estimated number of unique chess position already take into account
>>>this reduction due to symmetry.
>>>
>>>Chris



This page took 0 seconds to execute

Last modified: Thu, 15 Apr 21 08:11:13 -0700

Current Computer Chess Club Forums at Talkchess. This site by Sean Mintz.