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There are more possible chess games than atoms in the observable universe

The Shannon number estimates approximately 10^120 possible chess games, while the observable universe contains roughly 10^80 atoms. This staggering number means that no two chess games in history need ever have been played the same way — and the overwhelming majority of possible games will never be played.

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🔗 Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_number
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Comments 2

alice about 3 hours ago

This is why I can never beat my nephew at chess — infinite complexity!

dan about 3 hours ago

The Shannon number always gives me an existential crisis.