Bishop and Knight Checkmate
Also known as: KBNK, B+N mate, W maneuver, مناورة W
Correct-corner final mate
The goal position: the king in the bishop-colored corner, the bishop (king-protected) delivering mate.
Attacker
Lesson steps
Technique
Core idea
The hardest basic mate, and rare (about 1 in 6,000 games). The lone king can only be mated in the corner the SAME color as your bishop. Three phases: drive the king to an edge, herd it from the wrong corner to the right one with the 'W maneuver' (the knight's path), then deliver mate. The king is essential — bishop and knight alone cannot wall the king in.
If you're attacking
Identify the correct corner (same color as your bishop): light bishop → a8/h1, dark bishop → a1/h8. Push the king out of the wrong corner with the W maneuver while the bishop cuts the long diagonal, use your king to take central escape squares, and make the last move a check.
Plans
- Aim for the bishop-colored corner only
- Lead with the knight, follow with the king
- Use the bishop to cut the long diagonal
- Take central escape squares with your king
- Make the final move a check
Avoid
- Driving toward the wrong-colored corner
- Leaving the knight loose
- Burning the 50-move clock with imprecise herding
If you're defending
Run for a corner of the WRONG color for the bishop and shuffle there, hoping the attacker burns the 50-move rule or slips.
Plans
- Head for the wrong-colored corner
- If forced out, head for the other wrong corner
- Make the attacker herd you across the whole board
Avoid
- Walking into the bishop-colored corner