Quickest ever game

[WhiteEagle22]

I wonder if some of our tournament games (if you include waiting time between moves) could be considered some of the longest games ever?

 

[Narz]

In the olden days of correspondence/postal games often single matches would go on over a year.

 

[col]

I played a few postal games. Nothing worse than dropping a letter to be posted then realising you've blundered.

 

[WhiteEagle22]

I've had that experience online.

 

[Millman]

It depends on the game. Maybe if they moved one space at a time or really really goofed off. I don't think a normal game by two GM's would go that long but 200 moves seems more normal in some really long game.

 

[DaveShack]

That rough guess on theoretical max game duration doesn't take into account repetitions, zugzwang leading to a premature capture or pawn move (earlier than the 49 max allowed moves), and accidental mates. I'd say the actual max is probably a bit less.

The calculation could be approximated by changing the evaluation function of an engine to give medium negative scores for mates captures and pawn moves, and large negative scores for anything that draws. Might make a good algorithm theory question too.

In practical games, I guess the realistic max is around 150 or so. That would be 75 moves to reach the point where one of the 75 move endgame limits kicks in.

 

[PiMan]

Repetitions can always be avoided, and you are only going to get anywhere near the maximum if both players are planning, so they will avoid premature pawn move and captures. Accidental mates would be even less likely than 3 fold repetition.
The actual maximum is presuming none of the accidents you have suggested.

75 move endgame? What's that?
Are you confusing it with the 50 moves no progress or something?

 

[DaveShack]

I think they upped the "win in N" limit from 50 to 75 for one of the rare endgames. Don't remember which one.

 

[PiMan]

I hadn't previously heard of this, but I looked it up and you were right. But 50 moves was reinstated as the limit for all piece combinations in 1992.

 

[Dreadnought]

My longest game was 92 moves. It simplified into a 3 minor piece endgame move ~30, but then we had a long game of maneuvering. I had 2 knights and a Bishop, which made me a little nervous, but I had a good black bishop and managed to get a blockade going, combining my good bishop with good knight positions. My Knights surprisingly were keeping his bishops at bay.

To go for the win he traded his black bishop for my Knight (around move ~50), and he got a passed d-pawn. However, I got a blockade going on the second rank (phew!) and held that back. With that pawn stopped I managed to win the a-pawn, and around move 60-ish I won his d-pawn as well. It was 4v4 on the kingside, but I had a passed a-pawn. Unfortunately, it was the wrong rook's pawn, and he got to the corner in time. I then ravaged his kingside and promoted, and won.

Marathon of a game; it was crazy.

 

[Panzar75]

My last over the board game was pretty long. I gave up on move 84 but had I played until mate it could have gone 15 moves or so longer. That after missing a few wins and a forced draw. Sometimes I don't like this game.

 

[Narz]

I feel you brother! This game had me feeling that way. I feel like I went from basically equal to totally dead in the course of 3-moves (playing automatically & not paying attention to the bigger picture).

It's so hard to resist not playing many games but I'm going to try & resist new challenges for at least a few months (current tournaments I'm in & team games will keep me busy 'till at least mid-summer anyway).

 

[peter grimes]

Had my shortest game yet a little while ago... I was pretty pleased with it. 10 moves!

Game is here

1. e4 c6
2. Bc4 Nf6
3. d3 d5
4. exd5 Nxd5
5. Bxd5 Qxd5
6. f3 e5
7. c4 Qd8
8. g4 Qh4+
9. Kf1 Bc5
10. a3 Qf2#

 

[WhiteEagle22]

Nice work, Peter!

 

[Bridog7]

shortest game is 2 moves lol. Thats if your opponent is stupid. 1. f4 e6 2. g4 Qh4#. Shortest game ive had was actually 2 moves. But shortest game that was a real game was 18 moves. So many swishenzugs.