White to move. Without checking the endgame tablebase, how fast can you checkmate Black?
8/7k/5K2/8/5N2/4B3/8/8 w – – 0 4
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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Under 50 moves.
IM Jeremy Silman declares in his book that he believes it is not necessary to master B+N mate because it almost never occurs in actual game.
Mark Dvoretsky, on the other hand, says it’s a must in order to learn how to use minor pieces.
What do you think? Should any beginner study this mate or should they spend their time on other areas?
Mate in 7.
1. Ne6 Kg8
2. Kg6 Kh8
3. Bc5 Kg8
4. Ng5 Kh8
5. Kf7+ Kg8
6. Kh6+ Kh8
7. Bd4++
I believe it’s necessary to learn it, it’s a basic technique and helps in understanding the coordination of minor pieces.
Mate in 7.
1. Ne6 Kg8
2. Kg6 Kh8
3. Bc5 Kg8
4. Ng5 Kh8
5. Kf7+ Kg8
6. Kh6+ Kh8
7. Bd4++
Actually, mate in 5 — 3.Kf7 Kh7 4.Nf8+ Kh8 5.Bd4#.
White plays 1. Ne6 and declares: Mate in three if Black responds with 1..Kg8 or mate in four if black responds with 1..Kh8.
Here I will elaborate:
1.. Kg8
2. Kg6 Kh8 only move
3. Bd4#
1….Kh8
2. Kg6 Kh7 only move
3. Nf8+ Kh8 only move
4. Bd4# delivered.
White plays 1. Ne6 and declares: Mate in three if Black responds with 1..Kg8 or mate in four if black responds with 1..Kh8.
Here I will elaborate:
1.. Kg8
2. Kg6 Kh8 only move
3. Bd4#
Look at your final position again, Ogion. That “#” is premature.
1….Kh8
2. Kg6 Kh7 only move
But it’s not legal!
Why, in heaven’s name, is it important to checkmate fast?
My first move would be King somewhere and wait to see how black reacts.
“Why, in heaven’s name, is it important to checkmate fast?
My first move would be King somewhere and wait to see how black reacts.”
It’s not only about mating quickly (but that may count in a real game as there is the 50 moves rule) but at least about mating. Putting the king _somewhere_ as you say doesn’t help to mate black so rethink that.
I found a mate in 8 in seconds as I new this mate in former days.
I started with 1. Ne6, Kg8 2. Bh6?!, Kh7 3. Kg5 losing a tempo against khairies 2. Kg6! which of course is possible here, too.
But that doesn’t matter as log as I am not on move 43 of the 50 moves rule. 🙂
Best regards
Jochen
I apologize for the mess I created.
Please forgive.
After checking myself I present a corrected version although my predecessors had already posted it so there is no novelties here.
This is the right solution:
1.. Kg8
2. Kg6 Kh8 only move
3. Kf7 Kh7
4. Nf8+ Kh8
5. Bd4#
1….Kh8
2. Kf7 Kh7 only move
3. Nf8+ Kh8 only move
4. Bd4# delivered.
Best wishes
A. Weiler
From a practical point of view, I can understand that some people find it unnecessary to master such endgames – but again how many of your opening preparations come into use? Actually I have found myself in a position where I had to win K+2N against K+P – and managed it because of my knowledge of the K+B+N against K endgame.
I believe that studying such endgames makes You a much stronger chessplayer, because You get a deeper understanding of the pieces and how they coorperate.
My first effort took 7 moves.
Then I realized two King moves made the difference.
The King is a weapon of chess in the endgame.
And I am usually very, very good at Knight and Bishop basic checkmates.
Good fun, thanks!
Peter / chesstoplay