No moves at all, not even to put yourself in check

Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP

up vote
4
down vote

favorite

Here, white is stalemated. The king is not in check, but white has no legal moves. Not because any move white makes would put the king in check -- which is how stalemates normally happen -- but because no white piece can move at all, even if we temporarily ignore the no-self-check rule.

(Black is not stalemated: king takes bishop.)

Now, this example is a bit wasteful, 62 white pieces plus the two kings. Also, it can't be reached from the starting position.

Come up with an example, using the fewest pieces (total both sides). Can it actually be reached from the starting position?

Small hint:

there is essentially only one answer

chess construction

share|improve this question

edited 49 mins ago

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If I'm black in the above example, I think I'm happy with the draw.
  – jafe
  19 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

favorite

Here, white is stalemated. The king is not in check, but white has no legal moves. Not because any move white makes would put the king in check -- which is how stalemates normally happen -- but because no white piece can move at all, even if we temporarily ignore the no-self-check rule.

(Black is not stalemated: king takes bishop.)

Now, this example is a bit wasteful, 62 white pieces plus the two kings. Also, it can't be reached from the starting position.

Come up with an example, using the fewest pieces (total both sides). Can it actually be reached from the starting position?

Small hint:

there is essentially only one answer

chess construction

share|improve this question

edited 49 mins ago

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If I'm black in the above example, I think I'm happy with the draw.
  – jafe
  19 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
4
down vote

favorite

up vote
4
down vote

favorite

Here, white is stalemated. The king is not in check, but white has no legal moves. Not because any move white makes would put the king in check -- which is how stalemates normally happen -- but because no white piece can move at all, even if we temporarily ignore the no-self-check rule.

(Black is not stalemated: king takes bishop.)

Now, this example is a bit wasteful, 62 white pieces plus the two kings. Also, it can't be reached from the starting position.

Come up with an example, using the fewest pieces (total both sides). Can it actually be reached from the starting position?

Small hint:

there is essentially only one answer

chess construction

share|improve this question

edited 49 mins ago

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

Here, white is stalemated. The king is not in check, but white has no legal moves. Not because any move white makes would put the king in check -- which is how stalemates normally happen -- but because no white piece can move at all, even if we temporarily ignore the no-self-check rule.

(Black is not stalemated: king takes bishop.)

Now, this example is a bit wasteful, 62 white pieces plus the two kings. Also, it can't be reached from the starting position.

Come up with an example, using the fewest pieces (total both sides). Can it actually be reached from the starting position?

Small hint:

there is essentially only one answer

chess construction

chess construction

share|improve this question

edited 49 mins ago

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

share|improve this question

edited 49 mins ago

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

share|improve this question

share|improve this question

edited 49 mins ago

edited 49 mins ago

edited 49 mins ago

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

asked 1 hour ago

deep thought

1,317217

1,317217

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If I'm black in the above example, I think I'm happy with the draw.
  – jafe
  19 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  If I'm black in the above example, I think I'm happy with the draw.
  – jafe
  19 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

2

2

If I'm black in the above example, I think I'm happy with the draw.
– jafe
19 mins ago

If I'm black in the above example, I think I'm happy with the draw.
– jafe
19 mins ago

add a comment | 

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

up vote
1
down vote



accepted

Here are my first idea (both sides are essentially the same answer, so the hint fits too):

Both positions seem to be independently reachable by a legal game. It might be possible to find a legal game leading to the whole position too, but that would take a bit of time.

Before that, I'm going to double check for any simpler solutions. :-)

Since OP commented that only one side needs to be stalemated in this rigorous fashion, this should do the trick:

share|improve this answer

edited 27 mins ago

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
  – jafe
  39 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Note only one side needs to be stalemated
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
  – Bass
  37 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 but still not minimal!
  – deep thought
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
  – deep thought
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

up vote
3
down vote

The general idea is

To fill the 8th rank with major pieces which block pawns from advancing, and fill the 7th rank with pawns which block the pieces from moving. We can't have knights on the 8th, though, because they would still have 6th rank squares available.

Here's a solution with 14 pieces total.

Promote three pawns to two rooks and a bishop.

share|improve this answer

edited 26 mins ago

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Correct +1, but not minimal!
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @deepthought got it down to 13 :)
  – jafe
  31 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  great! but keep going :-D
  – deep thought
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

active

oldest

votes

up vote
1
down vote



accepted

Here are my first idea (both sides are essentially the same answer, so the hint fits too):

Both positions seem to be independently reachable by a legal game. It might be possible to find a legal game leading to the whole position too, but that would take a bit of time.

Before that, I'm going to double check for any simpler solutions. :-)

Since OP commented that only one side needs to be stalemated in this rigorous fashion, this should do the trick:

share|improve this answer

edited 27 mins ago

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
  – jafe
  39 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Note only one side needs to be stalemated
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
  – Bass
  37 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 but still not minimal!
  – deep thought
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
  – deep thought
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

up vote
1
down vote



accepted

Here are my first idea (both sides are essentially the same answer, so the hint fits too):

Both positions seem to be independently reachable by a legal game. It might be possible to find a legal game leading to the whole position too, but that would take a bit of time.

Before that, I'm going to double check for any simpler solutions. :-)

Since OP commented that only one side needs to be stalemated in this rigorous fashion, this should do the trick:

share|improve this answer

edited 27 mins ago

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
  – jafe
  39 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Note only one side needs to be stalemated
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
  – Bass
  37 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 but still not minimal!
  – deep thought
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
  – deep thought
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

up vote
1
down vote



accepted

up vote
1
down vote



accepted

Here are my first idea (both sides are essentially the same answer, so the hint fits too):

Both positions seem to be independently reachable by a legal game. It might be possible to find a legal game leading to the whole position too, but that would take a bit of time.

Before that, I'm going to double check for any simpler solutions. :-)

Since OP commented that only one side needs to be stalemated in this rigorous fashion, this should do the trick:

share|improve this answer

edited 27 mins ago

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

Here are my first idea (both sides are essentially the same answer, so the hint fits too):

Both positions seem to be independently reachable by a legal game. It might be possible to find a legal game leading to the whole position too, but that would take a bit of time.

Before that, I'm going to double check for any simpler solutions. :-)

Since OP commented that only one side needs to be stalemated in this rigorous fashion, this should do the trick:

share|improve this answer

edited 27 mins ago

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 27 mins ago

edited 27 mins ago

edited 27 mins ago

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

answered 40 mins ago

Bass

23.6k458153

23.6k458153

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
  – jafe
  39 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Note only one side needs to be stalemated
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
  – Bass
  37 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 but still not minimal!
  – deep thought
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
  – deep thought
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 3 more comments

• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
  – jafe
  39 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Note only one side needs to be stalemated
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
  – Bass
  37 mins ago
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  +1 but still not minimal!
  – deep thought
  32 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
  – deep thought
  28 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

1

1

White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
– jafe
39 mins ago

White needs to have promoted 4 pawns, no? There are only 3 white pawns missing.
– jafe
39 mins ago

Note only one side needs to be stalemated
– deep thought
38 mins ago

Note only one side needs to be stalemated
– deep thought
38 mins ago

1

1

oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
– Bass
37 mins ago

oops, there are too many same coloured bishops. Imagine the G and H files swapped for a more reachable position please :-)
– Bass
37 mins ago

+1 but still not minimal!
– deep thought
32 mins ago

+1 but still not minimal!
– deep thought
32 mins ago

Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
– deep thought
28 mins ago

Now you got it. The only other option is .. the other corner.
– deep thought
28 mins ago

 | 
show 3 more comments

up vote
3
down vote

The general idea is

To fill the 8th rank with major pieces which block pawns from advancing, and fill the 7th rank with pawns which block the pieces from moving. We can't have knights on the 8th, though, because they would still have 6th rank squares available.

Here's a solution with 14 pieces total.

Promote three pawns to two rooks and a bishop.

share|improve this answer

edited 26 mins ago

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Correct +1, but not minimal!
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @deepthought got it down to 13 :)
  – jafe
  31 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  great! but keep going :-D
  – deep thought
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
3
down vote

The general idea is

To fill the 8th rank with major pieces which block pawns from advancing, and fill the 7th rank with pawns which block the pieces from moving. We can't have knights on the 8th, though, because they would still have 6th rank squares available.

Here's a solution with 14 pieces total.

Promote three pawns to two rooks and a bishop.

share|improve this answer

edited 26 mins ago

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Correct +1, but not minimal!
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @deepthought got it down to 13 :)
  – jafe
  31 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  great! but keep going :-D
  – deep thought
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

up vote
3
down vote

up vote
3
down vote

The general idea is

To fill the 8th rank with major pieces which block pawns from advancing, and fill the 7th rank with pawns which block the pieces from moving. We can't have knights on the 8th, though, because they would still have 6th rank squares available.

Here's a solution with 14 pieces total.

Promote three pawns to two rooks and a bishop.

share|improve this answer

edited 26 mins ago

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

The general idea is

To fill the 8th rank with major pieces which block pawns from advancing, and fill the 7th rank with pawns which block the pieces from moving. We can't have knights on the 8th, though, because they would still have 6th rank squares available.

Here's a solution with 14 pieces total.

Promote three pawns to two rooks and a bishop.

share|improve this answer

edited 26 mins ago

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

share|improve this answer

share|improve this answer

edited 26 mins ago

edited 26 mins ago

edited 26 mins ago

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

answered 42 mins ago

jafe

8,83919100

8,83919100

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Correct +1, but not minimal!
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @deepthought got it down to 13 :)
  – jafe
  31 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  great! but keep going :-D
  – deep thought
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  Correct +1, but not minimal!
  – deep thought
  38 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  @deepthought got it down to 13 :)
  – jafe
  31 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  great! but keep going :-D
  – deep thought
  30 mins ago
  

  
  
  
  

Correct +1, but not minimal!
– deep thought
38 mins ago

Correct +1, but not minimal!
– deep thought
38 mins ago

@deepthought got it down to 13 :)
– jafe
31 mins ago

@deepthought got it down to 13 :)
– jafe
31 mins ago

great! but keep going :-D
– deep thought
30 mins ago

great! but keep going :-D
– deep thought
30 mins ago

add a comment | 

 

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