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Checkmating Rook vs knight

Checkmating Rook vs knight

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What is the technique to mate with king and rook vs king and knight?

Game 3250635

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I'm fairly confident that K+R vs. K+Kn should be a draw, it's tricky but I've had it happen several times. However, the position is a bit more complicated than that, since it's really K+R+Kn against K+R. I would have probably continued playing.

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I was under the impression that it depended on the position on the board. If the knight can be separated from the king the side with the rook can win. Further, this can be eventually forced if the king is driven to the side of the board.

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Originally posted by Ramned
What is the technique to mate with king and rook vs king and knight?

Game 3250635
This is usually drawn because the side with the rook can't really force the side with the knight backwards, mostly because then the king will be subject to an avalanche of knight checks.
There are a few situations where the side with the rook can win though:

1) when the side with the knight has its king in a corner / back row (mate threats)
2) when the side with the knight has its knight in a corner (the knight should be deprived of any escape squares, after which you can pick it up)

However, if black simply keeps his knight close to his king, these situations will never occur.

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So that game was indeed drawn - zebano's knight and king were in good play.

Thanks

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