Eight pawns against none

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JustinHorton
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Eight pawns against none

Post by JustinHorton » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:25 pm

Just something that popped into my head for no particular reason - are there recorded games where one player has been down to no pawns while the other has a full complement? And who would be the strongest players involved in such a game?
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Peter Shaw
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Peter Shaw » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:29 pm

https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess2/diary_16.htm

Item 314
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Ian Thompson
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Ian Thompson » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:34 pm




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Richard James
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Richard James » Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:40 pm

If you search for games with only pawns you get those two. If you allow pieces as well you get a lot more, but mostly low level junior games.

This is the most recent game, and also the game featuring the strongest players (2598 v 2312)

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:05 pm

Are there any where the player with eight pawns fails to win?
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Richard James
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Richard James » Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:13 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:05 pm
 Are there any where the player with eight pawns fails to win?
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David Sedgwick
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by David Sedgwick » Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:13 pm

In 1967 I had a game in which I was seven pawns up in the final position.

Ever since then I have wanted to have a game in which I was eight pawns up. It hasn't yet happened for me.

I wasn't sure whether it had ever happened for anyone. I am indebted to Ian and Richard for showing that it has. Ian's second example occurred at an event at which I was one of the arbiters.
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Kevin Thurlow
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Tue Jul 07, 2020 4:07 pm

Am I the only one hoping that Adamer-Kress will become the Muzychuk-Muzychuk draw in future?

I assume Matto was too lazy to go around the board collecting extra knights!
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Jul 07, 2020 5:26 pm

Richard James wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:13 pm
Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑
Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:05 pm
 Are there any where the player with eight pawns fails to win?
I mean, that last move - why????
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Nick Burrows
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Nick Burrows » Tue Jul 07, 2020 5:59 pm

Maybe a pre-arranged draw
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JustinHorton
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by JustinHorton » Tue Jul 07, 2020 6:35 pm

"Not being a terribly good player" is also a potential area for exploration here
"Do you play chess?"
"Yes, but I prefer a game with a better chance of cheating."
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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Tue Jul 07, 2020 10:13 pm

I think said conclusion is indeed a contender for the coveted WMOTB award?
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JustinHorton
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by JustinHorton » Tue Jul 07, 2020 11:42 pm

Oh good spot. (Maybe there should be a thread for that subject, thinking about it.)
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David Williams
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by David Williams » Wed Jul 08, 2020 12:48 am

I once drew a (reasonably sensible) game in which I had a bishop for seven pawns. Opponent sacrificed a bishop for two pawns, won another two, then went pawn-grabbing instead of developing, enabling me to exchange material till I had two rooks and a bishop and the run of the board, with his two rooks immobilised by all those pawns. I may even have been winning by the end.
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Hugh Murphy
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Re: Eight pawns against none

Post by Hugh Murphy » Wed Jul 08, 2020 3:39 pm

I do remember the Spassky-Short game London 1982 where Spassky had 8 pawns and Short 4 pawns at the adjournment. I watched the post-mortem where someone asked why Boris didn't play move and his response was "But then I would lose once of my beautiful pawns".

The game is worth looking at
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1123913
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