Programmer Puzzle: Encoding a chess board state throughout a game

Question

Not strictly a question, more of a puzzle...

Over the years, I\'ve been involved in a few technical interviews of new employees. Other than asking the standard \"do you

Answer 1

The position on a board can be defined in 7 bits (0-63 , and 1 value specifying it is not on the board anymore). So for every piece on the board specify where it is located.

32 pieces * 7 bits = 224 bits

EDIT: as Cadrian pointed out... we also have the 'promoted pawn to queen' case. I suggest we add extra bits at the end to indicate which pawn have been promoted.

So for every pawn which has been promoted we follow the 224 bits with 5 bits which indicate the index of the pawn which has been promoted, and 11111 if it is the end of the list.

So minimal case (no promotions) is 224 bits + 5 (no promotions). For every promoted pawn add 5 bits.

EDIT: As shaggy frog points out, we need yet another bit at the end to indicate whose turn it is ;^)