Body: <p>Define &quot;pure stalemate&quot; as a position where the player is not in check, and has no legal moves, even without considering whether a move would place them in check. (So every piece is blocked by pieces of the same colour).</p>
  <p>Define &quot;double pure stalemate&quot; as a position where regardless of which player's move it is, that player would be in pure stalemate.</p>
  <p><strong>Question:</strong> Is it possible to reach double pure stalemate in a normal game of chess? (And if so, prove it...)</p>
  <p>I can construct a position of single pure stalemate, which I think is probably reachable, although possibly not. (It's not obviously <em>not</em> achievable).</p>
  <p>However, mirroring that position does not quite work as it requires 4 pawn captures to achieve and there are only 3 pieces missing from the opposing side.</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-03-10T06:02:29.840Z
Comments.Text: Believe it or not, this question has already been asked and solved here: Is it possible to have a double self-smothered stalemate?
  
  Note: I prefer the term “smothered” because “pure” has another technical meaning for problem mates and stalemates.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Laska
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2024-03-10T06:11:40.740Z
Comments.Text: Amazing, yes, thank you.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Steve Bennett
Tags: <puzzles><stalemate>
Title: Is double "pure stalemate" reachable in a normal game?
ThreadText: # Is double "pure stalemate" reachable in a normal game?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2024-03-10)
  
  Define "pure stalemate" as a position where the player is not in check, and has no legal moves, even without considering whether a move would place them in check. (So every piece is blocked by pieces of the same colour).
  
  Define "double pure stalemate" as a position where regardless of which player's move it is, that player would be in pure stalemate.
  
  **Question:** Is it possible to reach double pure stalemate in a normal game of chess? (And if so, prove it...)
  
  I can construct a position of single pure stalemate, which I think is probably reachable, although possibly not. (It's not obviously *not* achievable).
  
  However, mirroring that position does not quite work as it requires 4 pawn captures to achieve and there are only 3 pieces missing from the opposing side.
  
  **Tags:** puzzles, stalemate
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Believe it or not, this question has already been asked and solved here: Is it possible to have a double self-smothered stalemate?  Note: I prefer the term “smothered” because “pure” has another technical meaning for problem mates and stalemates.  
  > **username_0**: Amazing, yes, thank you.  
  
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  ## 0 answers
  
  