Answers.Body: <p><strong>No, it is not possible.</strong></p>
  
  <p>The knight simply does not cover enough space to checkmate the black king.
  When a position with insufficient material to checkmate occurs, <strong>a draw by insufficient material</strong> is declared.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Draw by insufficient material is declared when, and only when:</strong></p>
  
  <p>K vs K</p>
  
  <p>K + N vs K</p>
  
  <p>K + B vs K</p>
  
  <p>Technically, a king and 2 knights versus a lone king can still result in checkmate. However, here the black king has to be dumb enough to cooperate and go into a corner and be checkmated. And so it is usually declared a draw by insufficient material.</p>
  
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Answers.Text: I think in the OP's scenario, a helpmate would be possible.  If White has a king at h8 and knight at f5, and Black has a king at f7, and knight at h4 (a position the players could easily cooperate to achieve), that would allow 1. Nh7 Ng6++
Answers.UserDisplayName: supercat
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Answers.CreationDate: 2018-12-11T18:02:54.460Z
Answers.Text: Ooops.. I misread the question as both players having a king and knight each, which is an interesting scenario.
Answers.UserDisplayName: supercat
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Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-26T11:32:19.893Z
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Answers.LastEditDate: 2015-12-27T00:39:53.397Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Mildwood
Answers.Body: <p>No, it is not possible to checkmate with a lone knight (K+N vs K). 
  However, Add another Bishop and you'll be able to Checkmate (K+N+B vs K)</p>
  
  <p>There is a rule in Chess which goes like this <strong><em>"No Mating material = Draw"</em></strong></p>
  
  <p>So: </p>
  
  <p>K vs K = <strong>Draw</strong></p>
  
  <p>K+N Vs K = <strong>Draw</strong></p>
  
  <p>K+B Vs K = <strong>Draw</strong></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2015-12-26T09:29:09.377Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2015-12-26T09:29:09.377Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Arun J
Body: <p>If the only pieces left on the board are the two kings and a knight, is it ever possible to force check mate? I mean, if the bare king avoids the edges and stays close to the opponent's knight, I don't see how the game can ever end. I was in this situation for more than half an hour yesterday and we were forced to draw. </p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2015-12-26T09:06:45.437Z
Comments.Text: http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/1239/is-it-possible-to-checkmate-with-knight-and-king-against-king
Comments.UserDisplayName: GloriaVictis
Tags: <checkmate>
Title: Is it ever posible to win if the only pieces left are two kings and a knight?
ThreadText: # Is it ever posible to win if the only pieces left are two kings and a knight?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2015-12-26)
  
  If the only pieces left on the board are the two kings and a knight, is it ever possible to force check mate? I mean, if the bare king avoids the edges and stays close to the opponent's knight, I don't see how the game can ever end. I was in this situation for more than half an hour yesterday and we were forced to draw.
  
  **Tags:** checkmate
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: http://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/1239/is-it-possible-to-checkmate-with-knight-and-king-against-king  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2015-12-26. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  **No, it is not possible.**
  
  The knight simply does not cover enough space to checkmate the black king.
  When a position with insufficient material to checkmate occurs, **a draw by insufficient material** is declared.
  
  **Draw by insufficient material is declared when, and only when:**
  
  K vs K
  
  K + N vs K
  
  K + B vs K
  
  Technically, a king and 2 knights versus a lone king can still result in checkmate. However, here the black king has to be dumb enough to cooperate and go into a corner and be checkmated. And so it is usually declared a draw by insufficient material.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_3**: I think in the OP's scenario, a helpmate would be possible.  If White has a king at h8 and knight at f5, and Black has a king at f7, and knight at h4 (a position the players could easily cooperate to achieve), that would allow 1. Nh7 Ng6++  
  > **username_3**: Ooops.. I misread the question as both players having a king and knight each, which is an interesting scenario.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2015-12-26. Score: 2
  
  No, it is not possible to checkmate with a lone knight (K+N vs K).
  However, Add another Bishop and you'll be able to Checkmate (K+N+B vs K)
  
  There is a rule in Chess which goes like this ***"No Mating material = Draw"***
  
  So:
  
  K vs K = **Draw**
  
  K+N Vs K = **Draw**
  
  K+B Vs K = **Draw**
  
  
  ---
  
  