user703: I know that it is possible for a chess engine to evaluate a position as mate in X moves, when in fact there exist a mate in smaller number of moves. But can the reverse situation happen?
For example the engine evaluated a position as mate in 8 moves, but actually the best possible mate is in 9 moves (or 10 or 13).
To be more concrete the engine is stockfish.

user15570: No, it isn't possible because, before Stockfish says it is Mate in 8, it views the position from the aspect of the losing side, i.e, the evaluation is the best that can be obtained by the losing side. 
In other words, Mate in 8 is what happens if the losing side plays the possibly best defense. If the losing side plays sub-optimally, it could lose faster, but 8 moves is the longest possible postponement of Checkmate

703: <p>I know that it is possible for a chess engine to evaluate a position as mate in X moves, when in fact there exist a mate in smaller number of moves. But can the reverse situation happen?</p>

<p>For example the engine evaluated a position as mate in 8 moves, but actually the best possible mate is in 9 moves (or 10 or 13).</p>

<p>To be more concrete the engine is stockfish.</p>
 15570: <p>No, it isn't possible because, before Stockfish says it is Mate in 8, it views the position from the aspect of the losing side, i.e, the evaluation is the best that can be obtained by the losing side. </p>

<p>In other words, Mate in 8 is what happens if the losing side plays the possibly best defense. If the losing side plays sub-optimally, it could lose faster, but 8 moves is the longest possible postponement of Checkmate</p>
