Can you Checkmate with Knight and King?

OnlyOneWay

Only Chess

26 Apr 05

OnlyOneWay

Atlanta, Ga

Joined: 17 Dec 04
Moves: 60776

26 Apr 05

If my opponent has a King left and I have a Knight and King can I win?

schakuhr

Joined: 12 Feb 05
Moves: 47202

26 Apr 05

1 edit

Originally posted by OnlyOneWay
If my opponent has a King left and I have a Knight and King can I win?

No. That's impossible. You have insufficient material to checkmate your opponent. It's a draw.

Bowmann

Non-Subscriber

RHP IQ

Joined: 17 Mar 05
Moves: 1345

26 Apr 05

Originally posted by OnlyOneWay
If my opponent has a King left and I have a Knight and King can I win?

You could win a fight with him. You have more material to throw.

RookRAK

Out of drinks

On Clique Beach

Joined: 06 Feb 05
Moves: 64036

26 Apr 05

Originally posted by schakuhr
No. That's impossible. You have insufficient material to checkmate your opponent. It's a draw.

True, but I discovered a few days back that RHP lets you play on

Weadley

NONE

WORK

Joined: 07 Jan 05
Moves: 38272

26 Apr 05

Sometimes if Im playing really really good and Ive had just the right amount of drink and smoke I can checkmate a king with my knight and King but strangely enough I can never remember it the next day.

~~Arrakis~~

D_U_N_E

Arrakis

Joined: 01 May 04
Moves: 64653

26 Apr 05

Originally posted by OnlyOneWay
If my opponent has a King left and I have a Knight and King can I win?

What's even more amazing is that you can't checkmate a king with TWO knights and a king unless:

- the opposing king is already in a checkmate position
- the opposing king HAS A PAWN!

Yeah, if the opposing king has a pawn and you have two knights, then the technique is to use one knight to stop the pawn from moving, then use the king and knight to drive the opposing king into the corner... Then you have to release the pawn and use the 2nd knight to mate the king - usually done as he queens. 😵

I didn't say it was easy.

TheBloop

Joined: 27 Mar 05
Moves: 88

26 Apr 05

Capablanca's "A Primer of Chess" gives the following example:

White, from this position, wins with or without the move...thus:

1. Ng6 h4
2. Ne5 h3
3. Nc6 h2
4. Nb5 h1=Q
5. Nc7 mate

"The reason for this peculiarity in chess is evident: White with the two Knights can only stalemate the King, unless Black has a pawn that can be moved".... J.R. Capablanca