I was wondering if it is possible to force checkmate with 2 bishops, 2 knights or a bishop/knight combo. Thanks!
Yes for 2 bishops (of course one of each color) and bishop and knight.
With 2 knights it is possible but can't be forced except in specfic configurations. That is, positions can be set up (and potentially occur over-the-board) where it happens but in general it isn't possible.
And the king has to assist.
2 bishops is fairly easy and is a great ending to practice to see how the pieces work together. And mastering it gives a far greater feeling of accomplishment than the queen or rook mate.
Bishop and knight I've only ever seen once over the board. I was playing an 1800, and he was the one who ended up with the B & N. I just smiled and said, "Go ahead." It was a casual game, but, try as he might, he got nowhere. It's really hard.
And 2 knights is only possible if the enemy king walks into it; it can't be forced.
Knight and bishop is difficult, but can be learned. I've practiced it against the computer and use to teach it to children (I decided it is not important enough for the time it takes). I can do it if I have enough time left on the clock. While I can do QK v K in 5-10 seconds, and two bishops in half a minute, I may need three or four minutes to finish NBK v. K without running aground of the fifty move rule.
Thanks everyone!
I can barely do two bishop checkmate, and in fact I've only succeeded once at that. The key is forcing the king into the corner and using your king. It's monotonous.
Hopefully by the time I'm a 2000 player, if I ever am, I can do it with a bishop and knight also like Ziryab.
I can barely do two bishop checkmate, and in fact I've only succeeded once at that. The key is forcing the king into the corner and using your king. It's monotonous.
Hopefully by the time I'm a 2000 player, if I ever am, I can do it with a bishop and knight also like Ziryab.
I was thinking about making a video showing how to do the two bishop checkmate, but decided this one was better than any I would make.
https://youtu.be/-itAaOHJ4yA
Check out " computer workout" under the Learn tab. I believe it covers what your looking for. It's a great resourse for working on your end games.
Personally, I don't know them perfectly but I have done it in some casual games but I believe that it's all about doing, again and again, most of these things need lot's of time but you will never ever really "master" even 2600+ grandmasters mess it up one good example of this is is Movsenian vs Vidit in the Czech League were Movesenian messed it up and did mate but only on one move before the 50 move rule would have declared it a draw.
I was wondering if it is possible to force checkmate with 2 bishops, 2 knights or a bishop/knight combo. Thanks!