If the side with the bishop and knight is to move, they can force checkmate except in some rare positions .

It is impossible to force checkmate with a king and two knights, although checkmate positions are possible (see the first diagram).

If Black did not have the pawn move available, White could not force checkmate.

The result of this game is a Black win with perfect play; the complete set of orthodox chessmen can force checkmate on a lone amazon.

Then White can force checkmate on the twenty-sixth move.

After forty-five moves, Browne agreed to a draw, being unable to force checkmate or win the rook within the next five moves.

Kxe8, when the two knights cannot force checkmate.

Four dabbabas (each covering a different quarter of the chessboard) and a king can easily force checkmate on a bare king.

At the end, Fischer's pieces coordinate to force checkmate, while Byrne's queen sits, useless, on the other side of the board.

Now Fischer "peels away" the white king from its last defender, and uses his pieces in concert to force checkmate.