One of my favorite endgame composers is R.K. Guy, who created some magnificent work in the 1930s and 1940s. Now we all know that a king and two knights cannot force a mate against a lone king.You can only stalemate him at best. However, if that lone king has just one pawn, he can be in trouble as long as that pawn can move because White can trap the king and then find a mate while the pawn moves. The pawn in the diagram is pretty close to promoting, so you really have to have your wits about you.

Solution:

The quickest way was to mate by 1.Ne1 d3 [Obviously, White should not take the pawn.] 2.Nf3 d2 3.Kg3 d1=N [That underpromotion idea again. If Black promotes to a queen, Nf2 is mate right away.] 4.Kh3 Ne3 5.Nf2# And sometimes you wander around a bit, which takes longer: 1.Kg3 d3 2.Nd4 Kg1 3.Ne3 d2 4.Nf3+ Kh1 5.Ng4 d1N 6.Kh3 Ne3 7.Nf2# Still, this is a useful exercise and a good reminder: leave that pawn on the board!

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