Bishop and knight checkmate
The method step by step, every move explained
You have your king, a bishop and a knight; your opponent only has his king. The mate is forced, but it takes a method: without one, the 50-move rule often saves the defender. The count starts with the very first move (there are no captures or pawns left): with the method, it takes about twenty moves once his king is on the edge, so do not dawdle in steps 1 to 3.
Choose the corner where you want to mate: the whole page adapts, boards and text alike. On the annotated boards, the green squares are the ones his king can still go to.
The three rules of the whole ending
- Mate can only be forced in a corner of your bishop’s colour. Light-squared bishop: corners a8 and h1 (green). In h8 and a1 (red) you cannot mate: drive him out.
- At the end of your move, every piece his king attacks must be defended. King and bishop, or king and knight, against king is a draw. His king may attack a piece: that is fine, you move it or protect it on your next move. Before moving a piece, check whether it defends a piece under attack: if it does, leave it where it is.
- Stalemate: when his king has only one or two squares left, check before every move that he keeps one or that you give check.
The plan
- Step 1: centralise your pieces in formation.
- Step 2: drive him into the h8 corner, with your king alone.
- Step 3: drive him out of that corner: knight to f7, then bishop to h7.
- Step 4: the W, three moves that are always the same, including Nd7!
- Step 5: boxing him in — build the target position.
- Step 6: the mate.
If his king escapes along the way, pick the method up again at the step that matches the position.
Step 1 — Centralise your pieces
Bring your three pieces into the sixteen central squares, in formation: your king on a dark square, your bishop and knight on light squares, no more than two squares from your king, with no piece his king could take. Your bishop covers light squares; your knight, standing on a light square, attacks dark squares: between them, they cover both colours.
Target positions to reach in this step
Two different final positions, each as good as the other: depending on the game, you reach one or the other.
The moves that get you there, step by step
Formation e3, c4, d5
From the corner: the knight comes out first (Nc3). His king attacks it: your king protects it (Kd2), then reaches the centre (Ke3). The bishop takes its place (Bc4), and the knight joins the formation on d5 (Nd5), protected by the bishop.
Formation c3, d3, e4
The knight leaves the a1 corner (Nb3), your king steps up to c3 (Kc3), the bishop drops back to d3 (Bd3), next to your king, then the knight reaches e4 via c5 (Nc5, Ne4).
- Rule 2 always comes first: if his king attacks an undefended piece, protect it or move it.
- Your king goes to the centre first; the bishop and knight then take up light squares no more than two squares from it.
- A piece’s route goes through a square his king attacks and nothing defends: take another route.
Training
12 positions from this step. Play White until you reach the target position of the step, against the toughest defence: the exercise stops as soon as you get there. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.
Step 2 — Drive him into the h8 corner
Why h8, when you mate on a8? Because that is where he will go of his own accord: a defending king runs away from the corners where he can be mated (a8, h1) and takes refuge in a corner where he cannot be (h8). No point fighting it: from h8, the method takes him back to a8 for sure (steps 3 to 6).
Your bishop and knight stay put: only your king moves, all the way to f6. His king is pushed back into the h8 corner: he ends up on h8, g8 or h7.
Target positions to reach in this step
Two different final positions, each as good as the other: depending on the game, you reach one or the other.
The moves that get you there, step by step
His king ends on g8
On every move, your king stands face to face with his, two squares away: Kd4, Ke4, Kf5, Kf6. Face to face, he cannot move towards you: he falls back or steps sideways, all the way to the corner.
His king ends on h8
Your king climbs diagonally towards f6: Kc4, Kd4, Ke5, Kf6. Your knight on e4 keeps him off d6 and f6.
- “Face to face” means on the same file or the same rank, with one empty square between you. Your king always stays below him or to his left: that is the side from which it pushes him towards h8.
- The square facing him is taken or too far: come one square closer, out of his king’s reach, while staying below him or to his left.
- The two kings are already face to face and it is your move: a bishop or knight move that gives him no square back and leaves nothing hanging.
- Rule 2 comes first: if his king attacks an undefended piece, protect it or move it, even during this step.
- If he shuttles between two squares, do not copy his movement with your king: play a bishop or knight move that takes one of the two away instead. If no piece can, a waiting move with the bishop that gives nothing up (your knight stays defended): it is then his turn, facing your king.
If he heads for a8 or h1 of his own accord, your bishop’s right corners, do not drive him back to h8: push him into that corner. Towards a8, build the target position (step 5) or go to step 6; towards h1, choose h1 as your mating corner: the whole page turns towards that corner.
Training
12 positions from this step. Play White until you reach the target position of the step, against the toughest defence: the exercise stops as soon as you get there. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.
Step 3 — Drive him out of the h8 corner
Two stages: the knight goes to f7, where it covers h8; then the bishop goes to h7, where it covers g8. His king is left with only e8: that is the start of the W.
Bh7 only when your knight is on f7 and his king on f8: with his king on g8, he would take the bishop. And throughout the step, check that he still has a square: a king on h8 with no square and no check is stalemate.
Positions to reach in this step, in order
First an intermediate position, then the final target position of the step: you go through both.
The moves that get you there, step by step
The knight to f7
The knight zigzags to f7 while your king stays on f6: Nc7+ (as it leaves, it opens your bishop’s diagonal: a discovered check), Ne6, Nd8+ (another discovered check), Nf7.
The bishop to h7
The bishop moves onto the b1–h7 diagonal (Bd3 from c4; from b3, it would be Bc2); his king has to go to f8. Only then, Bh7.
- The knight’s route depends on where it starts: aim for f7. The discovered checks in the example only exist if your bishop is on the a2–g8 diagonal and his king on g8.
- His king on g8, your knight already on f7, your move: a waiting move with the bishop on the b1–h7 diagonal (it covers h7). He has to go to f8; then, Bh7.
- His king on h8, your bishop on the a2–g8 diagonal (on c4 or b3, where it covers g8): never bring your knight to g5 — with your king on f6, he would have no square left: stalemate.
Training
12 positions from this step. Play White until you reach the target position of the step, against the toughest defence: the exercise stops as soon as you get there. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.
Step 4 — The W
The W is the knight’s path: f7, e5, d7, then c5 (step 5). Three moves, always the same. After the third, his king has either come out towards b7 or stayed on the edge.
- Ne5: the knight sets off towards d7, which it will reach on the third move. His king only has d8 or f8.
- Ke6 (after …Kd8): your king follows; it takes d7, e7 and f7.
- Nd7! (after …Kc7) — the move never to forget. The knight on d7 covers b6, b8 and c5: the door to the centre is shut.
Target positions to reach in this step
Two different final positions, each as good as the other: depending on the game, you reach one or the other.
The moves that get you there, step by step
He comes out to b7
The three moves of the W; after Nd7, he comes out to b7.
He stays on the edge
The same three moves; after Nd7, he goes back to c8 instead of coming out.
- He goes back to f8 after Ne5: Nd7+ (check) Ke8, Ke6 Kd8 — see the last case.
- He goes back to e8 after Ke6: Nd7 Kd8 — see the last case.
- He goes to c8 after Ke6: Nd7.
- Knight on d7, bishop on h7, your king on e6, his king on d8, your move: Kd6 (the exception to rule 2 of step 5). To e8: Bg6+, he has to go back to d8, then Nc5. To c8: Nc5. You are then in the “From the edge” line; if he runs to b8, go to step 6.
Training
12 positions from this step. Play White until you reach the target position of the step, against the toughest defence: the exercise stops as soon as you get there. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.
Step 5 — Boxing him in
The target position: your king on d6, your knight on c5, your bishop on a4 or b5; his king on c8 or d8; your move. Your king takes c7, d7 and e7 away from him, your knight b7, your bishop e8. If you get lost later on, come back to this position.
Target positions to reach in this step
Two different final positions, each as good as the other: depending on the game, you reach one or the other.
The moves that get you there, step by step
From b7
He has come out to b7: the bishop closes the box (Bd3, Ba6, Bb5), the knight goes round via b6 and a4 (Nb6, Na4) on its way to c5, your king steps in to d6 (Kd6), then the knight arrives on c5 (Nc5).
From the edge
He has stayed on the edge: your king steps in to d6 (Kd6), the bishop covers e8 from g6 (Bg6), the knight goes to c5 (Nc5), then the bishop reaches a4 via f7 and b3 (Bf7, Bb3, Ba4), covering e8 every time his king is on d8.
- Your king goes to d6. It cannot get there while his king is on c7: drive him off c7 first.
- At the end of your move, if his king is on d8, your bishop covers e8: from the h5–e8 diagonal (g6, h5 or f7), or from the a4–e8 diagonal (a4 or b5) if it is open — a knight on d7 blocks it. One exception only: Kd6 with your knight on d7 (step 4); if he then goes to e8, a bishop move sends him back to d8 (last case below).
- Your knight goes to c5. There it covers b7: the b7 door is shut.
- The bishop switches from the h5–e8 diagonal to the a4–e8 diagonal in two moves. The first when his king is on c8: from there, he cannot reach e8. The second when he comes back to d8: the bishop lands on a4–e8 and covers e8 again. From g6: c2 then a4; from h5: d1 then a4; from f7: b3 then a4.
- If you have to wait (his king on d8, nothing useful to do): a bishop move that still covers e8 (g6 and h5, or a4 and b5, in turn). His king then has to go to c8.
- His king on b7 or c6 (your king on e6, knight on d7, bishop on h7): Bd3; the bishop keeps him off b5 and a6.
- His king on c6 (bishop on d3): Ba6; he can only go to c7. Your knight on d7, which he attacks, is defended by your king on e6: do not move it.
- His king on c7 (bishop on a6 or d3): Bb5; the bishop takes c6. Never Bb5 while his king is on c6: he would take the bishop.
- Other escapes while your bishop is on d3: to a7 or a8, Bb5; to c8, Ba6+ (check) — if he goes back to c7, Bb5; if he goes to d8, Kd6, then the rules.
- Your king on e6, knight on d7, bishop on b5, his king on d8: Nb6. The knight takes c8 and d7, and opens the bishop’s diagonal, which guards e8 again; he is left with c7. Then, his king on c7: Na4 (the knight heads for c5; it was attacked, that is not a mistake).
- After Na4 (your king e6, knight a4, bishop b5), whichever square his king goes to (c8, d8, b8 or b7): Kd6 — never Nc5 while your king is on e6, the knight would let go of b6. Then, depending on where he goes:
- to c8, d8 or b8: Nc5. If he then goes to c8, it is the target position; to b8, a7 or a8, step 6;
- to a7: Kc7 Ka8, Nb6+ Ka7, Nc8+ Ka8, Bc6#;
- to a8: Kc7 Ka7, Bc4 (waiting) Ka8, Nb6+ Ka7, Nc8+ Ka8, Bd5#;
- to b7: Kd7. Then, to a7 or a8, the same lines as above (Kc7…); to b8, Nc5, and next to a7, Kc7 Ka8, Kb6 Kb8, Ba6 Ka8, Bb7+ Kb8, Na6#; to a8, Kc7 Ka7, Bd7 (the bishop takes c8) Ka8, Kb6 Kb8, Na6+ Ka8, Bc6#.
- Knight still on d7, his king anywhere but d8 (c8, b7, a7 or a8): Kd6. Then, depending on where he goes:
- to b7: Bc4 (the bishop covers a6 and b5; the knight on d7 covers b8). Next: to c8, Nc5 — then, to d8, Bb5 (target position), to b8, step 6; to a7, Kc7 Ka8, Nb6+ Ka7, Nc8+ Ka8, Bd5#; to a8, Kc7 Ka7, Bb5 (waiting) Ka8, Nb6+ Ka7, Nc8+ Ka8, Bc6#;
- to c8: Nc5 (the bishop’s diagonal opens, it guards e8);
- to d8: Nc5: target position;
- to a8: Nc5 (he goes to b8), then step 6;
- to a7: Kc7! (he is left with a8) Ka8, Nb6+ Ka7, Nc8+ Ka8, Bc6# — above all not Nc5, which would let go of b6.
- His king on e8 (your king on d6, knight on d7): Bg6+, or a bishop move that takes f7 away from him from the a2–g8 diagonal; he has to go back to d8.
Training
12 positions from this step. Play White until you reach the target position of the step, against the toughest defence: the exercise stops as soon as you get there. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.
Step 6 — The mate
From the target position: his king on d8, a waiting move with the bishop (a4 or b5); he has to go to c8. His king on c8: Bd7+, he goes to b8 (on d8, Nb7 would be mate). Then your king goes to b6, and mate follows in two moves.
Positions to reach in this step, in order
First an intermediate position, then one of the final positions, depending on his defence.
The moves that get you there, step by step
Up to b6
Ba4 (waiting move), Bd7+, then your king walks to b6 following the table below. Your bishop stays on the c8–h3 diagonal: it keeps him off c8.
| Your king | His king | Play |
|---|---|---|
| d6 | a7 | Kc7 |
| d6 | a8 or b8 | Kc6 |
| c6 | a7 | Kc7 |
| c6 | a8 or b8 | Kb6 |
| c7 | a8 | Kb6 |
| c7 | a7 | waiting bishop move |
| b6 | a8 | waiting bishop move |
| b6 | b8 | Na6+, then mate |
The bishop mate
Na6+: he has to go to a8. The bishop mates on the long h1–a8 diagonal, on the square it reaches in one move: from d7, Bc6#; from e6, Bd5#; from f5, Be4#; from g4, Bf3#.
The knight mate
From the target position with his king on c8 (step 5): Bd7+. If he goes to d8 instead of b8: Nb7#, the knight mates.
- His king runs to b8 (or a7, a8) before Bd7+: your knight must be on c5. Put your bishop on the c8–h3 diagonal, on the square it reaches in one move — from a4 or b5, d7; from c4, e6; from d3 or c2, f5; from e2, g4 — then follow the table.
- His king on a7, your bishop on the c8–h3 diagonal: your king first — from d6 or c6, Kc7 (table). A bishop move at that moment would let him escape via b6. Never Kc7 if your bishop covers a8 (on the long diagonal): it would be stalemate.
Training
12 positions from this step. Play White until mate, against the toughest defence. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.
Full exercises
12 starting positions, with the pieces scattered across the board. Play White until mate, linking the six steps, against the toughest defence. “Learn” plays the solution move by move.