List of Insufficient Material Combinations

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Avatar of maxson924

First of all, my apologies if this thread has already been made and/or this is the wrong subforum for it. I couldn't find a thread like this, and this is my best guess as to where to put it.

What are all the insufficient material scenarios? I know that K + B vs. K and K + N vs. K are draws, and I'm pretty sure that K + N + N vs. K is a draw too (please correct me if I'm wrong there). I also know that K + B + B vs. K is possible to win, even if very difficult. I have no clue about K + B + N vs. K though, or if I'm missing any other possibilities.

Avatar of chessgdt

K+B+N vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.

Avatar of Knightvanguard
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Avatar of browni3141
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


I think K+Q vs. K+R is much harder. K+B+N vs. K is difficult but I think I could figure it out with 10 minutes on the clock.

These are all the basic piece endgames you will encounter:

Q+K vs. K, very easy, common

R+K vs. R, easy, common

B+B+K vs. K, intermediate, fairly uncommon

B+N+K vs. K, difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. R+K, very difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. N or B+K, easyish, fairly uncommon

N+N+K vs. K, easy draw, fairly uncommon

R+N+K vs. R+K, draw, but hard to defend, uncommon

R+B+K vs. R+K, draw, not sure on difficulty, uncommon

Technically K+N+N vs. K is a draw, but not by insufficient material, because checkmate is possible.

Avatar of chessgdt
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.

 


I think K+Q vs. K+R is much harder. K+B+N vs. K is difficult but I think I could figure it out with 10 minutes on the clock. I want to see you try without using the computer or any other resource besides your chess board.

These are all the basic piece endgames you will encounter:

Q+K vs. K, very easy, common

R+K vs. R, easy, common

B+B+K vs. K, intermediate, fairly uncommon

B+N+K vs. K, difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. R+K, very difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. N or B+K, easyish, fairly uncommon

N+N+K vs. K, easy draw, fairly uncommon

R+N+K vs. R+K, draw, but hard to defend, uncommon

R+B+K vs. R+K, draw, not sure on difficulty, uncommon

Technically K+N+N vs. K is a draw, but not by insufficient material, because checkmate is possible.


I've heard that only one position is a draw with K+Q vs. K+R. The others were a win.

Avatar of chessgdt
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know how to win!!!

Avatar of flashboy2222

Avatar of browni3141
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.

Avatar of chessgdt
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will

Avatar of browni3141
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will


 

I did it in 5:14 without any outside assistance. The mate must occur in a corner the same color as the bishop, so the defender usually heads for the other corner. Then you force him to the corner needed to mate.
Avatar of maxson924

All right, so K + B + N vs. K is possible; that's good to know. 

"Technically K+N+N vs. K is a draw, but not by insufficient material, because checkmate is possible."

Example please?

I basically want to know which material combinations are automatically draws, so I don't waste time in an offline game, where a computer does not tell me when checkmate is impossible.

Avatar of Ben_Dubuque

here is why, it is impossible to force, it is however possible to do

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

those are two, I know there is one on the side but not sure how it works

Avatar of maxson924

Ah, okay then. I guess the opponent would have to be really, really stupid to let that happen though. :p

Avatar of browni3141

Here is a list of all endgames where checkmate is impossible:

K vs. K

K+N vs. K

K+B vs. K

K+B vs. K+B where the bishops are the same color

I don't list other endgames because although they are forcibly drawn, checkmate is possible in extroardinary circumstances, like if your opponent lets you mate him.

Consider K+B vs. K+B where the bishops are of opposite color, mate is possible but almost all positions are forcible drawn. I will show you one of the special cases so that you understand why checkmate is possible.

Avatar of browni3141

Two Knights with the King on the side of the board.

Avatar of chessgdt
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will


 

I did it in 5:14 without any outside assistance. The mate must occur in a corner the same color as the bishop, so the defender usually heads for the other corner. Then you force him to the corner needed to mate.

Now try K+Q vs. K+R and time it and do your best!

Avatar of browni3141
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will


 

I did it in 5:14 without any outside assistance. The mate must occur in a corner the same color as the bishop, so the defender usually heads for the other corner. Then you force him to the corner needed to mate.

Now try K+Q vs. K+R and time it and do your best!


 I might try tomorrow, if I can remember. I might need 30 min. to do that one right. I've tried it several times before and I can't quite figure it out.

Avatar of chessgdt
[COMMENT DELETED]
Avatar of chessgdt

I just noticed that I accidentally made "N" a "K." I just fixed it.

Avatar of Justified08

WIN

             Q+K vs K

             R+K vs K

             B+B+K vs K

             B+N+K vs K

             R+B+K vs K+R

             R+N+K vs K+R

             Q+K vs K+R

             Q+K vs K+N

             Q+K vs K+B

             N+N+B+K vs K

            


N+N+K vs K+P

K+P vs K


DRAW

              K+N+N vs K

              K+B vs K

              K+N vs K

              K+R vs K+B

              K+R vs K+N