BASIC ENDGAMES #1: Queen vs 1 Pawn

Hey everyone, this is my first lesson on endgame theory. ENDGAMES MUST BE MASTERED OR YOU WILL HAVE GREAT TROUBLE IN CHESS. THEY ARE GOING TO SAVE YOU FROM A LOT OF LOSSES.

Without much to say, we shall get started with queen vs 1 pawn endgame.

We have 4 scenarios to look at:

1. promoting pawn: d, b, e, g file

2. promoting pawn: c, f file

3. promoting pawn: a, h file

4. 2+ from promoting pawn

Let's start with case 1.

In this case, our job is to bring our king by the opponent's pawn so we can capture it. Then we shall checkmate the opponent.

However, since the pawn is one step from promotion, how shall we do it?

Look at this example.

1. Qc7+ Kb2 2. Qd6 Kc2 3. Qc5+ Kb2 4. Qd4+ Kc2 5. Qc4+ Kb2 6. Qd3 Kc1 7. Qc3+

Here, white's queen goes down the "ladder" and using pawn attacks and checks, brings itself closer to the promoting pawn. Now, at 7. Qc3+, she is attacking both the king and the pawn, forcing the king to go in front of the pawn, making it temporarily unable to promote. Therefore, white can move his/her king closer. This process of attacking king/pawn/king+pawn is repeated over and over again until white's king is by the pawn. Then, the queen shall capture the pawn and checkmate the king.

2. Promoting Pawn: c, f File

Same strategy, but this time, white is encountered with stalemate.

In this case, white's queen goes down the "ladder," yet at the final position, black's Ka1! leaves white with two choices: 1. capture the pawn and draw due to stalemate, 2. keep checking and end up also in a draw.

This sort of stalemate is common. An exception is when white's king is MUCH closer.

Here, white's king is much closer. 7. Kb3! lets the pawn promote, but checkmate follows. Therefore, white's king must be much closer.

3. promoting pawn: a, h file

Same sort of stalemate happens, like case 2.

Here, at the final move, white's queen forced black's king to occupy the square before the pawn. However, this is useless for there is stalemate.

Similarly, white's king must be MUCH closer for white to win.

Here, white's king lets the pawn promote, then creating an unavoidable mate. The final attempt for stalemate is crushed when white's king capture the queen. ALWAYS WATCH FOR STALEMATE.

4. 2+ steps from promoting pawn

In this case, the idea is very simple: use the queen to occupy the space before the pawn and bring your king closer to win. Use the same process as scenario 1, except that there is NO stalemate.

There are few exceptions, and one of them is here.

Here, white cannot stop black's pawn from advancing because his/her king occupies a square on the a1-h8 diagonal. Say that white's king is at f7, then white can go 2. Qh8! and win. The solution is displayed below. If black's king occupies c2, then white can just simply move his/her king forward.

AN EXCEPTION FOR CASES 1-3: IF THE QUEENHOLDER'S SIDE CANNOT START THE PATTERN WITH A CHECK/ATTACK ON UNSUPPORTED PAWN/PIN, THEN THE GAME WILL END IN A DRAW.

Isn't this easy? Good luck! As long as you are playing not very bad, you can win/draw this endgame. BUT YOU NEED TO STUDY TO WIN IF POSSIBLE.