reveisiting the K+N+B mate against K

In a couple postings, I have noticed some endings where one side entered an endgame having a Bishop and Knight against a lone King in which either they accepted a draw or stalemated if not getting a 50 move rule. For those who have not studied this ending, the task can sem daunting but like any part of chess, if an individual will take the process apart and look for certain specific and simple patterns, the ending can actually be played to a win for the superior side.

First, we need to understand the mechanics of how mate is accomplished to see how this process takes shape. When mating a lone King with pieces only, the normal course is to drive the King to the edge and/or the corner of the board to deliver mate. Howver, the Knight and Bishop, while able to work in concert very well, canot cover enough squares with even the King assisting them and if you try to do so, will achieve a stalemate. Minor piece endings whether 2 Bishops or Bishop/Knight MUST DELIVER CHECKMATE IN A CORNER. This will give you a indication of which pice delivers the checkmate on the move, which is the Bishop. The Knight covers the opposite colored square next to the corner that is on the opposite side of the King and the King controls the other escape square. All three pieces will each cover one square together, brinnging mate. The ending  will if done correctly, look like this:

Notice the King covers the square in fromt of the King in the corner, the Knight the square to his left and the Bishop is controlling the diagonal with check. This is the ending position we will attempt to obtain.

The following example shows the mate with the minor pieces on their starting squares as if they were in the beginning of the game and the Kings are also on their home squares. The essential patterns will appear in the text alongside the moves as well as in some cases, why a specific move is made. By the end of the position, White should have Black in checkmate in under the 50 move rule, escaping the draw.

This is a sequence that can be used to mate a lone King with the Knight and Bishop having the King act as a cover.

Thus, with some key concepts distilled into easy to remember paterns and knowing to get the King to the egde, then the "wrong" corner and finally to march him to the "right" corner, the mate is possible. I have faced this perhaps 4 times in 20+ years of chess so it is not common, Hence why many poeple will accept a draw. Hopefully, this will serve a s a springboard for you to know what to remember should you arrive with these pieces,possibly allowing a win.