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Usually, the (materially) stronger side stalemates the materially weaker side. Is there a position where the weaker side can forcibly stalemate the stronger side?

The only position I know where this happens is not forced, as White can choose to lose the pawn or go for the repetition instead.

[Title "White to move"]
[FEN "K7/P1k5/8/8/8/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"]
Hauptideal
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  • To clarify, you're asking for a position where a side that is down material (1 pawn or more) can force a stalemate? – SecretAgentMan Aug 24 '22 at 15:13
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    If the weaker side can force a draw, he's not really the weaker side, is he? That is, forced draws have an engine evaluation of 0.0. – Andrew Chin Aug 24 '22 at 15:13
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    updated the question. I indeed mean material, not engine evaluation or other positional factors. – Hauptideal Aug 24 '22 at 15:36
  • There are several examples in the answer to this question: https://chess.stackexchange.com/q/23671/9025 – Herb Aug 25 '22 at 15:15
  • @Herb thanks. I found this interesting. However in all examples the stalemating side is the stronger one (except in one case where both sides are equally strong) – Hauptideal Aug 25 '22 at 22:02

1 Answers1

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[FEN "8/8/8/3p4/1ppp4/prrp1K2/nqpp4/nbbk4 w - - 0 1"]

1. Kf2
Rewan Demontay
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Andrew Chin
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    I think an absurd solution is the only way to answer this question. – Andrew Chin Aug 24 '22 at 17:49
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    I like this solution. Black has plenty of extra material. Why do you think absurd solutions are the only answer? Do you think that there are no "normal" positions that could be from a real game resulting in a forced stalemate by the materially weaker side? – Hauptideal Aug 24 '22 at 19:00
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    I think it's the best way to illustrate that the question has an obvious answer (and the answer is yes, there does exist a position [...]). – Andrew Chin Aug 24 '22 at 19:01
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    Actually, there even exists a study where White gets a draw by either stalemating Black or getting stalemated, but don't nail me on it, I don't remember anything else... – Hauke Reddmann Aug 25 '22 at 06:44
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    @HaukeReddmann Oh no! Now you have triggered my interest!! – Hauptideal Aug 25 '22 at 13:09
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    @Hauptideal: https://en.chessbase.com/post/study-of-the-month-alexander-petrovich-kazantsev-a-life-between-science-fiction-and-science-fiction contains several studies; Nr. 2 is a double stalemate. THX to the article author for notifying me. – Hauke Reddmann Aug 27 '22 at 15:03
  • Can even arrange the black units in a 4x4 square! E.g. pppp/rrpp/nqpp/nbbk takes only 14 captures of white units – Laska Aug 27 '22 at 21:58