user24098: I can come up with 8 positions where the knight would deliver checkmate to a rook and king. However, on endgame tablebases, there are only 5 positions where a King knight wins against King rook. Why?

user21817: The positions are not unique if they are in some way symmetrical.
The five positions where KN wins vs. KR are:

White to play:  White Kc1 Nd2, Black Ka1 Ra2
White to play:  White Kc1 Nd4, Black Ka1 Ra2
White to play:  White Kc1 Nc5, Black Ka1 Ra2
White to play:  White Kc1 Na5, Black Ka1 Ra2
Finished game:  White Kc1 Nb3, Black Ka1 Ra2


24098: <p>I can come up with 8 positions where the knight would deliver checkmate to a rook and king. However, on endgame tablebases, there are only 5 positions where a King knight wins against King rook. Why?</p>
 21817: <p>The positions are not unique if they are in some way symmetrical.</p>
<p>The five positions where KN wins vs. KR are:</p>
<ol>
<li>White to play:  White Kc1 Nd2, Black Ka1 Ra2</li>
<li>White to play:  White Kc1 Nd4, Black Ka1 Ra2</li>
<li>White to play:  White Kc1 Nc5, Black Ka1 Ra2</li>
<li>White to play:  White Kc1 Na5, Black Ka1 Ra2</li>
<li>Finished game:  White Kc1 Nb3, Black Ka1 Ra2</li>
</ol>
