White to Play and Win

Pete Tamburro on Aug 6, 2008

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Do you know how to force a checkmate with a king, bishop and knight against a lone king? Just this past year I saw an international tournament game have this occur where the fellow with the bishop and knight couldn't remember how to do it! You can also force a mate with two bishops, but not two knights. These are basic skills in chess, so a decent suggestion is for you to find a book on basic chess and learn it. Ironically, after the game, the master who had problems happened to pick up a kids' chess magazine with my article on how to do it, and he laughed and said, "I guess I should have read this before the game!" Today's problem has a little twist to it: Black has a knight in the ointment. You have to figure out how to overcome that.

Solution:

1.Nc8 Kb8 [1...Nc3 2.Nb6+ Kb8 3.Bf6 Kc7 (3...Nd5 4.Nxd5; 3...Ne4 4.Be5+) 4.Bxc3 and will force mate with bishop and knight.; 1...Na3 2.Bc7 Nc4 3.Bg3 Nd6 4.Nb6+ Kb8 5.Bxd6#] 2.Nb6 Na3 3.Be7 and mates next move or captures the knight with the bishop and knight to mate at a later date! A study by A. W. Daniel.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.