Chess Numbers

[John Foley]

I recently stayed in hotel room 204 which was a delight as it represents the number of geometric squares on a chessboard. I watched Hitchcock's Thirty Nine Steps classic but was more concerned for the total number of points in an army than whether Richard Hannay got away from his pursuers. This got me thinking that we lack a comprehensive chess number list. Perhaps with the assistance of the forum contributors we could construct an ad hoc list. Lets start.

1 = the number of kings in an army
2 = the number armies in a game
3 =
...
20 = the number of moves available at the start of a game
...
2872 = Magnus Carlsen ELO grading (Feb 2014)
...
etc

[IM Jack Rudd]

3 = the number of possible results

[John Upham]

I thought you would be in room 101 John!

[Ian Thompson]

3 = the number of possible results

of each player

6 = number of possible results of the game (1-0, 0-1, 0.5-0.5, 0-0, 0.5-0 and 0-0.5)

[IM Jack Rudd]

3 = the number of possible results

of each player

6 = number of possible results of the game (1-0, 0-1, 0.5-0.5, 0-0, 0.5-0 and 0-0.5)

I've seen games scored 0.5-1 before, so that's another two.

[John Upham]

I believe a game was scored 1-1 at a Mind Sport Olympiad since both players claimed they had won and neither could resconstruct the final position.

A game at Camberley Chess Club finished with a shake of hands and both players believed that they had each won (between Peter Hasson and Simon McCullouch): that one took a little untangling to resolve. It was eventually recorded as 1/2-1/2.

[Kevin Williamson]

My game at the last round of the 4NCL was effectively scored 1 - -1 when my opponent failed to turn up.

[David Williams]

5 Minimum number of moves to promote a pawn.
6 Maximum number of moves a pawn can make in a game.
7 Greatest number of squares a queen (or rook or bishop) can move.

[Tim Spanton]

Infinity - number of possible excuses for losing

[Neil Graham]

161 - my highest ECF/BCF grade - the only time I ever reached a figure starting 16*.

Unfortunately my opponents refused to show respect to my newly acquired 160+ status and I was promptly knocked back down to 142 the following season.

[John Foley]

6 = number of possible results of the game (1-0, 0-1, 0.5-0.5, 0-0, 0.5-0 and 0-0.5)
I've seen games scored 0.5-1 before, so that's another two.

Especially if we take into account different scoring point systems e.g. 3-2-1
O dear I can't even count all the permutations in this simplest of chess outcomes.

We are still looking for the number 3 in chess. Possibilities include the value of a knight, the number of players in kriegspiel, the number of times a position must arise with the same person to move for a draw to be claimable... The smaller numbers will have plenty of chess references. Perhaps of more interest is the Smallest Number That Cannot be Related to Chess. How about 65?

[David Sedgwick]

Perhaps of more interest is the Smallest Number That Cannot be Related to Chess. How about 65?

Nonsense. Under the new international age limits for Senior Chess, it's the minimum age for the older category.

[John Foley]

65?

Under the new international age limits for Senior Chess, it's the minimum age for the older category.

The European Seniors team competition in Croatia has a minimum age of 50. How old is a senior nowadays?

[Rob Thompson]

Aren't there 21 moves available at the start of a game (including resigns)?

[Ian Thompson]

Aren't there 21 moves available at the start of a game (including resigns)?

If resigns is a move, then so should be 'draw agreed' and maybe 'forfeited', so, whatever the number is, it's not 21.