Author: Edward Seid
Date: 20:50:48 02/06/02
Question regarding the announcement of Mate in X when using tablebases. How is X determined? My guess is that it is the summation of the number of moves to conversion to the next lower tablebase. If true, then I have a scenario. Assume a 4-piece ending. Using tablebases, White announces Mate in 20. Using the above definition of Mate in X, White sees Mate in 20 because the nearest conversion to a 3-piece tablebase is 10 moves, from which there is forced mate in 10. Now let's assume that White chooses NOT to play for the nearest conversion, but instead plays for a 12-move conversion to a 3-piece ending in which mate is forced in 6. In the second case, even though White chooses a longer path to conversion, it actully results in a shorter Mate in 18. Is this possible?
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