Answers.Body: <p>Endgame where two knights against a lone king is a draw, you can't force a checkmate. However, with a pawn the side with the two knights can setup a mating net without running into stalemate. That's why it's always important to leave a pawn.</p>
  
  <p>Just a few days ago, Karjakin demonstrated the technique against a very strong US grandmaster. Please note in the final position, it's a stalemate without the black pawn. Please go through the game, note how Karjakin never attempted to win the final pawn.</p>
  
  <p>White is threatening Nh6, Nf7#. Again, this setup is impossible without the black pawn.</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937249" rel="noreferrer">http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937249</a></p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/dQtRT.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/dQtRT.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:19:45.143Z
Answers.Text: Yes, I mean this game. I didn't know that it was important to leave a pawn. Thanks for answer.
Answers.UserDisplayName: 69 420 1970
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:20:47.043Z
Answers.Text: Maybe you have any info about this?
Answers.UserDisplayName: 69 420 1970
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:21:47.710Z
Answers.Text: @Dillingerèmorto What else are you interested to know?
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:26:48.597Z
Answers.Text: Emmm, about blocking a pawn. Need to block before pawn crossed the center line? In this game Samuel's  do many mistakes...
Answers.UserDisplayName: 69 420 1970
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:27:43.900Z
Answers.Text: @Dillingerèmorto I'm not an endgame analysis expert. Someone else here might answer you better. Please wait a few more hours.
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:29:28.673Z
Answers.Text: @Dillingerèmorto I edited your question to reflect your new question. Sorry, I'm the best person for analyzing a GM game.
Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-29T20:48:16.867Z
Answers.Text: The pawn needs to be blockaded behind the troitsky line to guarantee a win. There are cases where the pawn advanced up farther it is still possible to win. The game with karjakin should have been a draw though.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Matthew Liu
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-03-14T18:31:45.070Z
Answers.Text: The Karjakin-Sevian endgame was a theoretical draw until around move 80.
Answers.UserDisplayName: user1583209
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Answers.CreationDate: 2018-10-27T13:13:45.167Z
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Answers.UserDisplayName: SmallChess
Body: <p>Why is it important to leave the opponent's pawn in this situation?</p>
  
  <p>From over 7kk games only 426 ends with KNN against KP, of which 286 games (67.1%) is draw. </p>
  
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/GPovb.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/GPovb.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>
  
  <hr>
  
  <p>In the two knights endgame, how should we block the pawn to force checkmate? In @SmallChess's answer, GM Samuel seem have made many mistakes... </p>
  
  <p><a href="http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937249" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937249</a></p>
  
Tags: <endgame><theory><knight-endgame>
Title: 2 Knights against 1 pawn (endgame)
ThreadText: # 2 Knights against 1 pawn (endgame)
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2018-10-27)
  
  Why is it important to leave the opponent's pawn in this situation?
  
  From over 7kk games only 426 ends with KNN against KP, of which 286 games (67.1%) is draw.
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/GPovb.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/GPovb.png)
  
  ---
  
  In the two knights endgame, how should we block the pawn to force checkmate? In @username_1's answer, GM Samuel seem have made many mistakes...
  
  <http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937249>
  
  **Tags:** endgame, theory, knight-endgame
  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2018-10-27. Score: 6
  
  Endgame where two knights against a lone king is a draw, you can't force a checkmate. However, with a pawn the side with the two knights can setup a mating net without running into stalemate. That's why it's always important to leave a pawn.
  
  Just a few days ago, Karjakin demonstrated the technique against a very strong US grandmaster. Please note in the final position, it's a stalemate without the black pawn. Please go through the game, note how Karjakin never attempted to win the final pawn.
  
  White is threatening Nh6, Nf7#. Again, this setup is impossible without the black pawn.
  
  > <http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1937249>
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/dQtRT.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/dQtRT.png)
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Yes, I mean this game. I didn't know that it was important to leave a pawn. Thanks for answer.  
  > **username_0**: Maybe you have any info about this?  
  > **username_1**: @Dillingerèmorto What else are you interested to know?  
  > **username_0**: Emmm, about blocking a pawn. Need to block before pawn crossed the center line? In this game Samuel's  do many mistakes...  
  > **username_1**: @Dillingerèmorto I'm not an endgame analysis expert. Someone else here might answer you better. Please wait a few more hours.  
  > **username_1**: @Dillingerèmorto I edited your question to reflect your new question. Sorry, I'm the best person for analyzing a GM game.  
  > **username_2**: The pawn needs to be blockaded behind the troitsky line to guarantee a win. There are cases where the pawn advanced up farther it is still possible to win. The game with karjakin should have been a draw though.  
  > **username_3**: The Karjakin-Sevian endgame was a theoretical draw until around move 80.  
  
  ---
  
  