Checkmate with a King and 2 Knights
It seldom happens but it happens—we're left with nothing but a king and 2 knights. When we get to the last phases of the game and the enemy has only a king we have to think fast and come up with an effective checkmate strategy before it's too late.
The goal is to place the enemy king in a corner. Our king should be placed very close to our knights while the 2 position side by side, one of them checking the enemy king. Using board coordinates to locate where exactly they should be, we trace them thus: the enemy king is on A-8, our king is on C-7, and the 2 knights on B-6 and C-6. Positioned thus, the enemy king is under check by one of our knights. The other knight and our king trap the enemy king. But the problem is how to get to this position.
It's difficult to win through a checkmate with only 2 knights assisting the king. We may win when the technical values of the remaining pieces are considered. But through a strategy—especially when there's a 12-move limit—it's almost impossible. We have to hasten trapping the king to a corner—and there are only 4 corners on the chess board. To complicate things further, we need to force the king to a corner. How do we do that with just 2 knights and a king--all short distance pieces?
An effective checkmate strategy here is through a delimiting boundary. These boundaries should cover great lengths. Such boundaries are easy to establish with long-distance pieces like a rook, bishop, or a queen. But with knights, the task will be very hard—possible, but very hard. Even with 2 knights always checking the enemy king the latter will always find an easy escape route to take.
The hope here is that the opponent doesn't have any idea about escape routes and corners the enemy king through carelessness. Then probably we can get the enemy king to a corner sooner than expected. This shows us the strategy value of knights—they are great at the start and mid-play but weak in near-end plays.
Knights, during the last phase of a game, should be given enough time to work out a checkmate. Our king can help them get enough support and trapping assistance. But it's going to take a long play to come out with an effective checkmate strategy with a king and 2 knights.
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