# Is it possible to have 18 queens on the board in a legal game of chess? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 13, 2013, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801 "2013-09-13T22:04:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801/21 "2013-09-16T16:18:45Z")
> [@glee](#): > > Decades ago I saw a last-round game in the British Championship where the position was repeated six times before they agreed a draw. > Both players needed a win to get a lot more prize money (and probably a shot at the title.) And here is that game - very entertaining! > **[Ward vs Hodgson (1993) BCF-ch](https://www.365chess.com/game.php?gid=1782065)** > > Ward, Chris G vs Hodgson, Julian M BCF-ch Round 11 1993. Review and analyze the game, move by move, with computer analysis and opening explorer. ---
**Author:** ![AppallingGael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9bd4f/32.png) [@AppallingGael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AppallingGael)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801/22 "2013-09-23T05:35:09Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > Like anyone’s going to argue with that username :- ) I will. Threefold occurrence, twofold repetition. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801/23 "2013-09-23T16:43:08Z")
I appreciate the logic of your position, but the phrase that’s used is “[threefold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Threefold_repetition) repetition” and you need to get the authorities to change their tune before you win internet arguments on the strength of your point. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801/24 "2013-09-23T17:10:30Z")
It was my understanding that threefold repetition required a claim, but that 50 uneventful moves did not. Also, studies of tablebases have revealed that there exist situations where one side could force a checkmate, but requiring more than 50 uneventful moves, which have prompted some to call for a change to that rule. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801/25 "2013-09-23T17:19:27Z")
For that reason it was changed to a 100-move rule for a while, but it’s since been changed back. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801/26 "2013-09-23T22:13:40Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It was my understanding that threefold repetition required a claim, but that 50 uneventful moves did not. > > Also, studies of tablebases have revealed that there exist situations where one side could force a checkmate, but requiring more than 50 uneventful moves, which have prompted some to call for a change to that rule. Has anyone determined the maximum number of moves ahead a human can see in a winnable game? Even for a grandmaster and with just a few pieces on the board, 50 seems awfully high. I’m not saying it should make any difference in the rule, but I’m curious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-have-18-queens-on-the-board-in-a-legal-game-of-chess/668801.md?page=1)