When is convenient to trade queens?

OR exchange her for 2 rooks or 3 pieces of equivalent value (like it happened in the last Carlsen Shirov match). Do the multiple pieces tend to have the upper hand vs the queen in the endgame?

I know perfectly that we're talking about generalities here, but I'd dare to ask to the knowgeable forumnites if there are guidelines on the subject.

Thanks in advance

When you have a material advantage and you don't need the Queen for an attack?

Toward the endgame I would pick the two rooks over a queen. For the bishop pair and a knight, probably; for one bishop and two knights, probably not. I would feel much more comfortable if a pawn were thrown in as well.

If it is still in the early middlegame I would probably keep the queen. However, if it feels awkward to avoid the exchange I am not afraid to do so, as some people are. Sometimes you can use this to your advantage.

As the game goes on, the rooks become stronger.  Pieces' relative value is based on mobility, and with less pieces it makes sense that rooks become more valuable on an open board.  In the opening and in closed middlegames they may not be worth as much.  I think it's Estragon who likes to point out how two 180lbs guys will win against one 360 lbs person.  Two pieces (even though they're lesser) obviously can cover more squares.  The danger is only if they become uncoordinated.

The Q vs 3 pieces is more complicated, it just depends on the position.  In general, 3 coordinated pieces will at the very least = a queen, but depending on the specific position they would have good chances to win.  This is a more dynamic imbalance though, and things like initiative, weaknesses, and chances to attack have to be figured in.  If the 3 pieces are uncoordinated, then they're fighting for equality.

If we're thinking of the same recent game of Carlsen, when the Q vs 3 minors appeared the material was greatly reduced, and in that endgame it was very drawish.  With more pawns maybe the 3 pieces could have whipped something up.

I was looking at kingcrusher's channel and in two games Ivanchuck got the better end of the queen vs 3 pieces trade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EO00PIkqZfE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=906tAksui10&feature=watch_response_rev

Thanks, sometimes I forget kingcrusher has these videos covering top games.

I especially liked the 2nd Ivanchuck game, I posted it in game showcase forum a day or two ago, it was pretty amazing :)

What about the Q vs Q and the Q vs  R + minor piece + pawns   trades?

Regards

Q vs Q is otherwise equal.

Q vs  R + minor piece + pawns... first of all these are dynamic situations and you'll have to pay attention to the specific position.  It's not so much what's on the board, it's how hard the pieces are working for you... how valuable they are.  But again the Q just isn't as strong if everything else is equal. 

As in the Shirov game, if there is no pawn cover for the enemy king it can be a somewhat simple draw.  In a middlegame I certainly wouldn't want the side with the queen vs an opponent's rook, minor piece, and a few pawns.  Again assuming their pieces are as active as my queen, to start with, they would have no risk to lose because a fortress should be easy.  The side with the compensating material would likely be playing for a win.

But handling these positions isn't easy, and it's usually not so straightforward, you have to play with energy and work to get everything you can out of your side of the bargain.

I appreciate very much your contribution Sir . Last thing. Generally speaking when I have material advantage and I have no direct attack possibities the first thing I try to do is to exchange both queens to minimize my opponent counterplay.Given your experience  Is there more to be added or that's it?

I am awaiting to your response.

Lol.. ok, if your opponent's queen is well-positioned for an attack, then by all means exchange. But your queen can be useful in getting counterplay or for defense, so don't exchange unless it will trip up your opponent's attacking chances.

If you can force a trade of queens when up material, this is usually a very good idea.

It would be hard to find an example where this is bad, just be careful not to be so focused on trading the queens off that you don't look for other moves.  If your pieces are well positioned and your opponent can't pressure you somewhere, then spending a few moves to offer (or force) a queen trade is a good idea.

The only time I could think of where you would keep queens on when up material without any attack would be in an endgame.  Sometimes when material is reduced too much, it can become a draw.  Or obviously something like opposite bishops endgame + queens.  You may be winning because you're up some pawns, but trade the queens and the opposite bishops may offer drawing chances :)

But these cases wouldn't be common.  If you're up some material either in the middle game or endgame it's almost always good to trade queens.

Thank you of course. I proposed this as a video topic for chess.com but getting tips from the forum "elders" it's useful for sure.

Regards

As long as you have thoroughly analysed a position and you notice that your position is good and you have more pawns and active pieces,then exchange queens immediately.