Minimum sets of pieces required for checkmate?

Question

What are the minimum sets of pieces required for checkmate when the opponent has no other piece that the king?

Have a look at this question: chess.stackexchange.com/questions/5028/… — Dag Oskar Madsen, Commented Dec 16, 2015 at 12:25

Tony Ennis · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-17 23:41:23Z

6

Assuming the lone King is attempting to avoid checkmate.

answered Dec 16, 2015 at 12:16

Tony Ennis

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1

King + Knight + Knight + Knight?
– bof
Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 10:13
@bof I doinked around with Nalimov endgame tables and could not find a case where three knights wasn't enough. Editing.
– Tony Ennis
Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 23:40
I never studied K+3N vs. K (and never saw it in a game!) bit I dimly recall that it was a win according to Fine's Basic Chess Endings.
– bof
Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 23:51

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Arun J · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-16 19:26:01Z

2

As simple as a Knight or even a pawn, if you consider the fact that your opponent's pieces can block the escape squares too.

Example:

W: Kf1, Nf2

B: Kh1, h2.

The Assume that white played Nf2# in the last move. So, white has just used one knight to checkmate black king.

answered Dec 16, 2015 at 19:26

Arun J

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The question specifies that the opponent has only the king left.
– BlindKungFuMaster
Commented Dec 18, 2015 at 9:23

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Raja · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-16 14:17:03Z

1

There are many answers to your question, 

1) A rook 
2) Any 2 minor pieces (Minor pieces:  Bishop, Night)
3) A Queen
4) 1 pawn :)

answered Dec 16, 2015 at 14:17

Raja

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All of those answer should include king. Also you cannot checkmate with only two knights and a king. (your 2nd case fails in that condition).
– Saeed Amiri
Commented Dec 16, 2015 at 15:28
1

@SaeedAmiri No, you can checkmate with two knights, it's possible just not forced. Your statement is therefore false.
– SmallChess
Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 0:58
@StudentT, According to the question : "What are the minimum sets of pieces required", it means we are talking in the context of force mate. Also if you want interpret it like this (somehow funny), I should inform you it's even impossible to checkmate with two knights (as you wrote), they cannot cover required squares. You need at least one another piece to checkmate your opponent (e.g king).
– Saeed Amiri
Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 10:46
1

If the 2 minor pieces are bishops, they must be on opposite color squares.
– bof
Commented Dec 17, 2015 at 23:57

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3 Answers 3