List of Insufficient Material Combinations

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maxson924

First of all, my apologies if this thread has already been made and/or this is the wrong subforum for it. I couldn't find a thread like this, and this is my best guess as to where to put it.

What are all the insufficient material scenarios? I know that K + B vs. K and K + N vs. K are draws, and I'm pretty sure that K + N + N vs. K is a draw too (please correct me if I'm wrong there). I also know that K + B + B vs. K is possible to win, even if very difficult. I have no clue about K + B + N vs. K though, or if I'm missing any other possibilities.

chessgdt

K+B+N vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.

Knightvanguard
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

browni3141
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


I think K+Q vs. K+R is much harder. K+B+N vs. K is difficult but I think I could figure it out with 10 minutes on the clock.

These are all the basic piece endgames you will encounter:

Q+K vs. K, very easy, common

R+K vs. R, easy, common

B+B+K vs. K, intermediate, fairly uncommon

B+N+K vs. K, difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. R+K, very difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. N or B+K, easyish, fairly uncommon

N+N+K vs. K, easy draw, fairly uncommon

R+N+K vs. R+K, draw, but hard to defend, uncommon

R+B+K vs. R+K, draw, not sure on difficulty, uncommon

Technically K+N+N vs. K is a draw, but not by insufficient material, because checkmate is possible.

chessgdt
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.

 


I think K+Q vs. K+R is much harder. K+B+N vs. K is difficult but I think I could figure it out with 10 minutes on the clock. I want to see you try without using the computer or any other resource besides your chess board.

These are all the basic piece endgames you will encounter:

Q+K vs. K, very easy, common

R+K vs. R, easy, common

B+B+K vs. K, intermediate, fairly uncommon

B+N+K vs. K, difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. R+K, very difficult, fairly uncommon

Q+K vs. N or B+K, easyish, fairly uncommon

N+N+K vs. K, easy draw, fairly uncommon

R+N+K vs. R+K, draw, but hard to defend, uncommon

R+B+K vs. R+K, draw, not sure on difficulty, uncommon

Technically K+N+N vs. K is a draw, but not by insufficient material, because checkmate is possible.


I've heard that only one position is a draw with K+Q vs. K+R. The others were a win.

chessgdt
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know how to win!!!

flashboy2222

browni3141
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.

chessgdt
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will

browni3141
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will


 

I did it in 5:14 without any outside assistance. The mate must occur in a corner the same color as the bishop, so the defender usually heads for the other corner. Then you force him to the corner needed to mate.
maxson924

All right, so K + B + N vs. K is possible; that's good to know. 

"Technically K+N+N vs. K is a draw, but not by insufficient material, because checkmate is possible."

Example please?

I basically want to know which material combinations are automatically draws, so I don't waste time in an offline game, where a computer does not tell me when checkmate is impossible.

Ben_Dubuque

here is why, it is impossible to force, it is however possible to do

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

those are two, I know there is one on the side but not sure how it works

maxson924

Ah, okay then. I guess the opponent would have to be really, really stupid to let that happen though. :p

browni3141

Here is a list of all endgames where checkmate is impossible:

K vs. K

K+N vs. K

K+B vs. K

K+B vs. K+B where the bishops are the same color

I don't list other endgames because although they are forcibly drawn, checkmate is possible in extroardinary circumstances, like if your opponent lets you mate him.

Consider K+B vs. K+B where the bishops are of opposite color, mate is possible but almost all positions are forcible drawn. I will show you one of the special cases so that you understand why checkmate is possible.

browni3141

Two Knights with the King on the side of the board.

chessgdt
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will


 

I did it in 5:14 without any outside assistance. The mate must occur in a corner the same color as the bishop, so the defender usually heads for the other corner. Then you force him to the corner needed to mate.

Now try K+Q vs. K+R and time it and do your best!

browni3141
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
browni3141 wrote:
chessgdt wrote:
Crosspinner wrote:
chessgdt wrote:

K+B+K vs. K is the hardest endgame (in my opinion) to win, but it is very possible and forced.


 How about a diagram of it. 

Sorry, I actually don't know it!!!


I could play a game against the computer and post it if I can succeed.


I doubt u will


 

I did it in 5:14 without any outside assistance. The mate must occur in a corner the same color as the bishop, so the defender usually heads for the other corner. Then you force him to the corner needed to mate.

Now try K+Q vs. K+R and time it and do your best!


 I might try tomorrow, if I can remember. I might need 30 min. to do that one right. I've tried it several times before and I can't quite figure it out.

chessgdt
[COMMENT DELETED]
chessgdt

I just noticed that I accidentally made "N" a "K." I just fixed it.

Justified08

WIN

             Q+K vs K

             R+K vs K

             B+B+K vs K

             B+N+K vs K

             R+B+K vs K+R

             R+N+K vs K+R

             Q+K vs K+R

             Q+K vs K+N

             Q+K vs K+B

             N+N+B+K vs K

            


N+N+K vs K+P

K+P vs K


DRAW

              K+N+N vs K

              K+B vs K

              K+N vs K

              K+R vs K+B

              K+R vs K+N