Go for a "mutual stalemate" record anyone?

[rjgibert]

At Tim Krabbe's excellent site:

http://www.xs4all.nl/~timkr/chess2/diary.htm

#361 discusses constructed game compositions ending in "mutual stalemate." The record is 36 ply. However, a close 2nd of 37 ply resulted in a mutual stalemate that ended in a symmetrical position.

Gik, mutual stalemate in 37 ply
Shakhmatyi i Matematika, 1983

1.e4 d5 2.e5 d4 3.c3 f6 4.Qf3 Kf7 5.Qxb7 Qd5 6.Kd1 Qxg2 7.Kc2 Qxf1 8.Qxc8 Qxg1 9.Qxb8 Rxb8 10.Rxg1 Rb3 11.Rg6 Ra3 12.Rh6 gxh6 13.bxa3 Kg7 14.Kb2 d3 15.e6 a5 16.h4 a4 17.h5 c5 18.f4 c4 19.f5 stalemate

With the aid of a symmetry constraint, it may just barely be possible that a new record may be within reach by a computer program specifically written for the task. Especially if a minimal symmetrical solution exists that is significantly shorter.

Any takers?

[Michael Sherwin]

About your avatar.

I know the feeling.