Puzzles XXV

Queen versus Pawn

If possible, the queen should be placed in front of pawn, and then lead the king to help.

There is a rule: If the queen blocks the pawn, then the position is always winning

It is more difficult to win if the king of the weaker side controls the promotion field.

Winning method:
1) The queen zigzags with the help of checks and approaches the pawn.

2) The queen by threatening to take the pawn (and this is achieved with the help of checks) drives, from time to time, the the weakest side king on the pawn promotion square. This allows to gain important momentum in order to the king of the stronger side so it could move closer to the pawn.

But if the pawn is on the 7th or 2nd horizontal of bishop`s vertical, then such positions are not won. They are drawn since the weaker side is saved by stalemate

The exception is when the king of the stronger side is not far from the pawn, or he manages to get closer to the pawn by covering the file, which is controlled by the queen.

Let's look at an example.

TRY:

1. White to move and win

2. Black to move. Draw

3. White to move and win

4. White to move and win

5. White to move and win

6. White to move. Draw

7. Black to move and win

8. White to move and win