Take the KNB vs. K checkmate challenge..!

@NeverBeenTimid You can force mate only in the corner of the bishop colour. Here you could move Kc8 and avoid being mated so soon.

@ColostomyBag First of all, from the practical point of view this ending is quite useless. It is very rare and I, for instance, never met this in real game and never avoided when it could appear on the board. Also mating ideas don't help in any other ending. The reason to learn it is only your general chess culture, because it is "not cool" to be a good chess player without knowing how to checkmate with a bishop and a knight. This is why you shouldn't worry much that you can't do it now.

Also note that it is really important to know some ideas here, even a GM can't checkmate with a knight and a bishop using just his tactical abilities and common sense. You'd better read a guide somewhere before you try to actually checkmate.

I got it several times, over the board and especially in blitz. It is sometimes a useful way to save a lost ending by sacrificing pieces for pawns to reach this ending. If opponent does not know this, it is a draw. I heard Tigran Petrosian checkmated in a blitzgame with a few seconds left. I once saw a master reach a draw in an over the board game against an opponent less well versed.

Apart from the practical use it also teaches how to coordinate pieces, which is useful on its own.

Finally.....



@seanysean very efficient.

@ColostomyBag Thanks! I have practiced in the past against SF 8 :)

A shameless plug for those struggling with the mate: youtu.be/HR6_bXQ8Hq8

I was so close

Yes finally