The

chess Chess is a board game for two players, called White and Black, each controlling an army of chess pieces in their color, with the objective to checkmate the opponent's king. It is sometimes called international chess or Western chess to dist ...

endgame Endgame, Endgames, End Game, End Games, or similar variations may refer to: Film * ''The End of the Game'' (1919 film) * ''The End of the Game'' (1975 film), short documentary U.S. film * ''Endgame'' (1983 film), 1983 Italian post-apocalyptic f ...

of a queen versus pawn (with both sides having no other pieces except the kings) is usually an easy win for the side with the

queen Queen or QUEEN may refer to: Monarchy * Queen regnant, a female monarch of a Kingdom ** List of queens regnant * Queen consort, the wife of a reigning king * Queen dowager, the widow of a king * Queen mother, a queen dowager who is the mother ...

. However, if the

pawn Pawn most often refers to: * Pawn (chess), the weakest and most numerous piece in the game * Pawnbroker or pawnshop, a business that provides loans by taking personal property as collateral Pawn may also refer to: Places * Pawn, Oregon, an his ...

has advanced to its seventh

rank Rank is the relative position, value, worth, complexity, power, importance, authority, level, etc. of a person or object within a ranking, such as: Level or position in a hierarchical organization * Academic rank * Diplomatic rank * Hierarchy * ...

it has possibilities of reaching a

draw Draw, drawing, draws, or drawn may refer to: Common uses * Draw (terrain), a terrain feature formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in between them * Drawing (manufacturing), a process where metal, glass, or plastic or anything ...

, and there are some drawn positions with the pawn on the sixth rank. This endgame arises most often from a race of pawns to promote. The side with the queen is the ''attacker'' and the side with the pawn the ''defender''. Assume that the attacker has the move. If the pawn is not beyond its sixth rank, the attacker (to move) usually wins easily, but there are a few exceptions. The winning process is to either get the queen on a square in front of the pawn and getting the king over to help win the pawn or to check the defending king until it is forced in front of the pawn and using that

tempo In musical terminology, tempo ( Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (ofte ...

to bring the king closer, until it can assist in winning the pawn. After the pawn is won, the attacker has an elementary checkmate.

Queen versus a pawn on the sixth rank

The queen usually wins easily if the pawn is on the sixth rank. In the first position, Black is to move, but White wins. : 1... Kg2 : 2. Qg4+ Kf2 : 3. Kb7 Ke3 If Black plays 3...Ke2, White replies 4.Qe4+, forcing Black's king back in front of the pawn, and then advances his own king. : 4. Kc6 f2 : 5. Qd1 Kf4 : 6. Qf1 and White wins.

Exceptions

Exceptions can occur when the king blocks the queen on a

file File or filing may refer to: Mechanical tools and processes * File (tool), a tool used to ''remove'' fine amounts of material from a workpiece **Filing (metalworking), a material removal process in manufacturing ** Nail file, a tool used to gent ...

or diagonal, as in this position. : 1. Qh1+ Kb2! White needs to

pin A pin is a device used for fastening objects or material together. Pin or PIN may also refer to: Computers and technology * Personal identification number (PIN), to access a secured system ** PIN pad, a PIN entry device * PIN, a former Dutch ...

the pawn by 2. Qh8, but the king blocks the pin. :2. Qb7+ This was White's only check which prevents the pawn from advancing, and Black responds :2... Kc1! repeating the position. If the white king is anywhere else (other than h7 and h8), the queen can pin the pawn and allow for the queen and then the king to approach.

Example

The biggest problem for a queen versus a pawn on the sixth rank is when its own king gets in the way. In this position, the white king prevents the queen from getting on the a1 to h8 diagonal, to

the pawn to prevent it from advancing. White actually wins by: :1. Qh6!! Now if : 1... c2 then :2. Qc1+ wins. If Black does not advance the pawn then the white queen can maneuver to pin the pawn along the diagonal, and wins easily. If instead, White tries what may seem to be correct: :1. Qh1+? a draw results with correct play (but there are many chances for losing moves). :1... Kb2! (1...Ka2 loses quickly to Qc1.) :2. Qb7+ (otherwise 2...c2 draws.) :2... Kc1! :3. Kf6! (White tries his best chance.) :3... c2 :4. Ke5 Kd2 :5. Qd5+! Black has five replies. Four of them lose, but :5... Ke1! draws. :6. Qa5+ Kd1 (6...Ke2 loses to 7.Qa2.) :7. Qa4 Kd2 (7...Kc1 loses to 8.Qa2.) :8. Qa2 Kc3!! and White can make no progress.

Example from game

In this 1937 game between

Vladimir Alatortsev Vladimir Alexeyevich Alatortsev (russian: Влади́мир Алексе́евич Ала́торцев, pronounced "a LAH tart sev"; 14 May 1909 – 13 January 1987) was a Soviet chess player, author, and administrator. During his career ...

and

Vitaly Chekhover Vitaly Alexandrovich Chekhover (also spelled Tschechower or Czechower, pronounced "chekh a VYAIR") (russian: Вита́лий Алекса́ндрович Чехове́р) (December 22, 1908 – February 11, 1965) was a Soviet chess player and ch ...

, White wins: :71... Ke3 :72. Qd5 Kf2 If 72...Ke2 then 73.Qe4+ Kf2 forces the Black king in front of the pawn. :73. Kd7 Kg3 :74. Ke6 f2 :75. Qh1! 1–0

Queen versus a pawn on the seventh rank

In order for the defending side to have a chance at a draw (with the other side to move), the pawn must be on its seventh rank and the king must be nearby (plus a few drawing positions with the pawn on the sixth rank, as above). Except for unusual cases, the attacking side wins if the pawn is a

knight pawn This glossary of chess explains commonly used terms in chess, in alphabetical order. Some of these terms have their own pages, like ''fork'' and '' pin''. For a list of unorthodox chess pieces, see Fairy chess piece; for a list of terms specific ...

(b- or g- files) or a

central pawn This glossary of chess explains commonly used terms in chess, in alphabetical order. Some of these terms have their own pages, like ''#fork, fork'' and ''#pin, pin''. For a list of unorthodox chess pieces, see Fairy chess piece; for a list of ter ...

(d- or e-files). For

bishop pawn This glossary of chess explains commonly used terms in chess, in alphabetical order. Some of these terms have their own pages, like ''fork'' and '' pin''. For a list of unorthodox chess pieces, see Fairy chess piece; for a list of terms specific ...

s and rook pawns, the result also depends on the location of the attacking king. If the attacking king is close enough to the pawn, it wins; otherwise a draw results. First note that the attacker may win easily, depending on the location of the kings. In this position, White wins by 1. Qg5! followed by 2. Qc1, and then the white king is brought nearer to win the pawn. If the black king is on any other square around the pawn, the position is a draw, see below (position modified slightly).

Central pawn or knight pawn

If the pawn is a

(i.e. on the b, d, e, or g-file), the queen wins easily, except for a few unusual positions. In the position on the right, White wins. It takes several moves, but it is not difficult. : 1... Ke3 Black threatens to

the pawn. White prevents this by forcing the black king in front of the pawn. : 2. Qh4 Kd2 3. Qd4+ Kc2 4. Qe3 Kd1 5. Qd3+ Ke1 Without the immediate threat of promotion, White has gained a tempo that can be used to bring his king closer. This process is repeated. : 6. Kc6 Kf2 7. Qd2 Kf1 8. Qf4+ Kg1 9. Qe3+ Kf1 10. Qf3+ Ke1 And now White can again bring his king closer. : 11. Kd5 Kd2 12. Qf2 Kd1 13. Qd4+ Kc2 14. Qe3 Kd1 15. Qd3+ Ke1 16. Ke4! Kf2 17. Qf3+ Ke1 18. Kd3 and White wins the pawn and then checkmates. The winning process with a knight pawn is the same. In some cases, the attacking king can block its own queen, as in the second diagram. If the white king is on d5, d6 or d7, the queen cannot approach the pawn, and the result is a draw.

Rook pawn

The process above does not work against a rook pawn. The reason is that when the king was forced in front of his pawn in other locations, he could move out the other side on the next move. With a rook pawn, this file is not available, and there can be a stalemate. In the first position, if the procedure above is tried, : 1. Qd4+ Kb1 : 2. Qb4+ Kc2 : 3. Qa3 Kb1 : 4. Qb3+ Ka1! and now the position is a stalemate unless White lets the black king back to the b-file. White can make no progress. White can win similar positions if his king is close enough to the pawn. In the second position, White's king is close enough to win – by allowing the pawn to promote but then checkmating the king. White wins if the king is close enough to move to one of the squares marked with dots in two moves. : 1. Qf6+ Kb1 (if 1...Kc2 then 2.Qa1 wins) : 2. Qf1+ Kb2 : 3. Qe2+ Kb1 (3...Kb3 allows 4.Qe5 followed by 5.Qa1) : 4. Kc4! a1=Q : 5. Kb3 and White checkmates. If the white king was on e3, the win is simple: : 1. Qd2+ Kb1 : 2. Kd3 a1=Q : 3. Qc2#

Bishop pawn

A bishop pawn may also draw, but for a different reason (a different stalemate position). :1. Qb6+ Ka1! :2. Qd4+ Kb1 :3. Qb4+ Ka1 :4. Qc3+ Kb1 :5. Qb3+ Ka1! and White cannot capture the pawn because stalemate would result. The rule is that White wins if their king is close enough to reach b3 or d2 in one move, because it can assist in checkmate. If the defending king is not on the side of the pawn near the corner and the attacking king is close enough, the game can still be won – often by letting the pawn promote and then checkmating. The second position is a 1763

endgame study In the game of chess, an endgame study, or just study, is a composed position—that is, one that has been made up rather than played in an actual game—presented as a sort of puzzle, in which the aim of the solver is to find the essentially uniq ...

Giambattista Lolli Giambattista Lolli (1698 – 4 June 1769) was an Italian chess player and one of the most important chess theoreticians of his time. He is most famous for his book ''Osservazioni teorico-pratiche sopra il giuoco degli scacchi'' ( en, Theoretical ...

. The black king must be prevented from getting to the other side of his pawn, otherwise he can employ the stalemate defense. : 1. Qb3! Kd2 : 2. Qb2 Kd1 : 3. Kf3! Kd2 (3...c1=Q 4.Qe2#, or 3...c1=N and White checkmates in three moves: 4.Ke3 Nb3 5.Qc3, and checkmate on the next move.) : 4. Kf2 Kd1 : 5. Qd4+ Kc1 : 6. Qb4! Black is in

zugzwang Zugzwang (German for "compulsion to move", ) is a situation found in chess and other turn-based games wherein one player is put at a disadvantage because of their obligation to make a move; a player is said to be "in zugzwang" when any legal move ...

: 6... Kd1 : 7. Qe1# The third position shows another win for the attacker, since their king is close and the defending king is not (yet) near the corner. : 1. Qc4+ Ke1 : 2. Qe4+ Kf1 : 3. Kf4 Kg1 (the black king gets to the corner, but White has moved their king close enough to checkmate.) : 4. Qd4 Kh1 : 5. Kg3 (of course not 5. Qxf2 stalemate) : 5... f1=Q : 6. Qh8+ and White checkmates in two more moves. Note that it is possible to win against a bishop pawn on the seventh rank and the king in the corner if the attacking king and queen are in the proper position. White wins if the king is close enough to move to one of the squares marked with dots in two moves.

Example from game

This position from a 1996 game between

Loek van Wely Loek van Wely (born 7 October 1972) is a Dutch chess player and politician. He was awarded the title Grandmaster by FIDE in 1993, and was rated among the world's top ten in 2001 with a rating of 2714. In March 2019, he was elected to the Dutch ...

and Peter Leko was drawn because of the bishop pawn.

Petrosian versus Fischer

The first position is from the end of a 1958 game between future World Champions

Tigran Petrosian Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian (, ; 17 June 1929 – 13 August 1984) was a Soviet-Armenian chess grandmaster, and World Chess Champion from 1963 to 1969. He was nicknamed "Iron Tigran" due to his almost-impenetrable defensive playing style ...

and

Bobby Fischer Robert James Fischer (March 9, 1943January 17, 2008) was an American chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he won his first of a record eight US Championships at the age of 14. In 1964, he won with an 1 ...

. The players agreed to a draw because of the stalemate defense (above). The game could continue 67...Rxg6+ 68.Kxg6 Kb1 69.f8=Q c2 to the second position, which is a draw.

Traps

There are some traps arising in the endgame with the bishop pawn when the attacking king is not quite close enough to force a win. In this position play could go: :1. Qb3+ Ka1! 2. Qe3 Kb1 3. Qe4 Kb2 3...Ka1 also draws. :4. Qe2 Setting the trap, and now :4... Ka1! is the only move to draw. The alternative move 4...Kb1?? is a typical mistake, allowing 5.Kc4!! c1=Q+ 6.Kb3, winning. If instead 4...Kc3??, then 5.Qe5+!, forcing the black king to the wrong side of the pawn and then the white king will be close enough to assist. The same trick can be tried with the king on the other side of the pawn. The white king is not close enough to force a win in this position, but the defense is difficult. :1. Qb2 Kd1 2. Qb3 Kd2 3. Qa2!? Setting the trap. :3... Kc3! The only move to draw. :4. Qa1+ Kd2, draw If instead 3...Kd1??, then 4.Kd4! c1=Q 5.Kd3 wins. If 3...Kd3??, then 4.Qb2 and Black has to allow a

to avoid 5.Qc1. After 4...Kd2 the white king gets close enough to win with 5.Ke4.

Extra pawn for the defense

An extra pawn for the defense may be a disadvantage because it deprives the defender of the stalemate defense. In this position, White wins: :1. Qg4+ Kh2 :2. Qf3! Kg1 :3. Qg3+! Kf1 3...Kh1 loses after 4.Qxf2. If black did not have the extra pawn, this would be stalemate instead. :4. Kc4 and White wins.

Notes

References

* * * * * * * * * * *

External links

On Youtube, video from "Chessnetwork", Explanation + Quiz, 48 min

On Youtube, video by Jonathan Schrantz from Saint Louis Chess Club's Channel, 52 min

On Youtube, video by "Hanging Pawns", 17 min
{{Chess Chess endgames Chess theory

Queen versus a pawn on the sixth rank

Exceptions

Example

Example from game

Queen versus a pawn on the seventh rank

Central pawn or knight pawn

Rook pawn

Bishop pawn

Example from game

Petrosian versus Fischer

Traps

Extra pawn for the defense

See also

Notes

References

External links