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King/Knight Mate?

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:09 pm
by langelli
Is it possible to achieve checkmate wiuth just a king and knight?

Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:18 pm
by gmiller
Not unless your opponent also has other pieces on the board.

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:25 am
by redketchuplover
and they're really poorly placed 8)

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:52 pm
by langelli
No other pieces on the board. Just his king and knight, and my king.

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:17 pm
by gmiller
It's a draw in every situation then.

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:25 pm
by langelli
I thought so. Thanks Greg!

Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 8:34 pm
by mgoodrich
A single piece can only produce mate when it can cover at least two squares, the square the king is on, (obviously!) as well as the square the king was on the move before. With a knight, that means a pair of touching diagonal squares. Only a situation where those diagonals are the complemented by those denied to the mated king by the other king AND something else. Even when you somehow manage to get the king into a corner, the two diagonals will not be able to include the corner piece itself.

Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 8:44 pm
by eespiritu
I understand it takes 3 Knights to force mate. I've never set it up and tried, though. I'm sure one of the basic endings web pages can demonstrate it.