user9611: Are there any programs out there that take a completely won position and compute the minimum checkmate depth (say if it is around 50 moves)?

user9030: You need to use mate search function of a chess engine.
Some engines have this function, for example, Houdini 4: http://www.cruxis.com/chess/manual/index.html?game_play.htm
You can activate it using UCI parameters, or more easily, using a Fritz GUI on Windows as it has a mate search button, which makes life easier.

9611: <p>Are there any programs out there that take a completely won position and compute the minimum checkmate depth (say if it is around 50 moves)?</p>
 9030: <p>You need to use <em>mate search</em> function of a chess engine.</p>

<p>Some engines have this function, for example, Houdini 4: <a href="http://www.cruxis.com/chess/manual/index.html?game_play.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.cruxis.com/chess/manual/index.html?game_play.htm</a></p>

<p>You can activate it using UCI parameters, or more easily, using a Fritz GUI on Windows as it has a mate search button, which makes life easier.</p>
