Wow. 41.5!
I have a feeling it can be done in slightly less, though not easily. Either way, that's the only attempt I'm going to make, and if it gets topped, it gets topped.
What I want to know is, was my answer in post #80 correct? I said in the comment that I wasn't 100% sure, and have been waiting for some sort of confirmation (I'm asking you because you posted the puzzle).
I think it is best, but maybe the only way is to have doubled passed pawns. c4 and b5 probably don't count, but even doubled passed pawns will be hard to achieve.
The problem specifies that "each side had 8 undoubled passed pawns". Doesn't the book give the solution?
Side to move most definitely matters. So it's 91 moves, as per the blue-text variation. I'd prefer that it be the mainline, but whatever - 91 moves is pretty darned impressive, regardless :)
How come all of a sudden, for the last two or three puzzles, everyone is posting answers in half-moves?
^ Probably because the diagrams for rounds 5 and 7 had Black to move, which requires an extra half move since White moves first from the starting position.
Anyway, thanks for resurrecting the thread.
I'd completely forgotten about it, but now I'll have to consider rekindling this thing. It looks like I won the last round, meaning I would need to post the next position...
Do it. Seriously, I'd compete. I hadn't seen this 3 months ago, it looks like fun :)
Well, here goes nothing...
This one is trickier than it looks, and hopefully it will make for an interesting round and get things going again.
Okay, so more than a day has gone by now without any attempts. It has been a long time since this thread was active, though, so maybe I should remind everyone how this little contest works.
A position is given at the start of each round (the position for the current round is in post #97), which must be reached in as short a chess game (in # of moves) as possible. The moves used to get to the position do NOT need to be logical; they merely need to be legal. At the end of one week (from when the position was posted), whoever has posted the shortest legal sequence arriving at the position wins that round. That person then gets to post the position for the next round.
The positions posted can be anything you like, as long as they are reachable through legal play. Well-known positions (such as the one for round 4 in post #57) are somewhat discouraged, however. The only other rule worth mentioning is that you cannot participate in a round that you gave the position for (for obvious reasons).
Uh... well, that's pretty much it. Again, see the previous comment (#97) for the position you must reach to win round 8. Have fun! :)
Won't you post a board of previous winners to see who is the best?
This is by no means the shortest, but I think I'll post it anyway to give others something to beat.
37 moves.
This is by no means the shortest, but I think I'll post it anyway to give others something to beat.
37 moves.
I don't like to be picky, but that isn't quite the same position. You'll have to make a minor adjustment for it to count.
Queens and kings not in their right place but he only needs 3 moves more to do it.
Whoops, I missed that. Okay, 38 moves.
^ Nice. And you never know, that could be a winner...
Time has expired for round 8, which means joseph_ward wins (see post #103). Round 9 begins when the next position is posted - hopefully it will be more... "eventful" than the last one was. 
Here is the position for round 9.
I believe that this position is impossible.
White has 8 pieces, and black has 7.for the bottom four blacks to get there (and the top two), 8 pieces must be used. This includes white's a2, a3, and a4 pawns. To get them into position, black's a7 pawn must be used.
Think about it.
I think its possible, will try it later/tomorrow
I believe that this position is impossible.
White has 8 pieces, and black has 7.for the bottom four blacks to get there (and the top two), 8 pieces must be used. This includes white's a2, a3, and a4 pawns. To get them into position, black's a7 pawn must be used.
Think about it.
I'm not sure exactly what you are describing. If it turns out that the position is impossible, I can post another one. I think it's legal, though.
41.5 moves - This could probably be improved, but not by much.