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Subject: Re: Maximum possible move choices

Author: fca

Date: 13:25:51 08/16/98

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>What is the maximum possible count for legal moves from any position
>in a chess game?  Has anyone ever calculated this?
>Can it be greater than 256?

blass's calculation about maxima is correct.  Of course, there is no guarantee
such a position actually can exist.  Actual numbers are much lower, and I
believe there is a good chance all the below are correct.

I have looked closely at all the following, and challenge anyone to better any
of them.  No fairy chess stuff.  I guess the 219 quoted in this thread is
possible.

Per Maerchenschach ...  A.Dickins:

1. no promoted pieces, without promotion moves: 109 white moves (W.Cross 1967)
5k2/2K5/3N1B2/P1NB4/6Q1/4R3/P1PP1P1P/1R6 w - - 0 1

2. no promoted pieces                         : 144 white moves (J.Ban 1960)
n1r1r1b1/1P1P1P1P/1Q6/3NBNK1/R7/4p1p1/3PBPkP/2R5 w - - 0 1

3. with promoted pieces                       : 218 white moves (A.Dickins 1968)
3Q4/1Q4Q1/4Q3/2Q4R/Q4Q2/3Q4/1Q4Rp/1K1BBNNk w - - 0 1

4. with all 32 pieces                         :  99 white moves (H.H.Cross 1946)
q2Q3r/n6R/kpB1N1K1/p1p1Bppp/1PN3P1/1n1pp1b1/P1PPPP1P/r5Rb w - - 0 1


Mate comes quickly in these!

Records where there is no mate in 1.2 would be interesting.

Kind regards

fca




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