A queen endgame is one where each side has a queen and pawns, and nothing else besides the kings. Checks decide most of them.
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With so much open board, a queen can often check for a long time. The side pushing a pawn must first find shelter for its king, and the defender looks for perpetual check before anything else.
How to do it
- 1Find a square where your king is safe from checks before pushing the pawn.
- 2Advance the passed pawn with your queen guarding it.
- 3When defending, look for perpetual check first and count material second.
For your level
Before you push the pawn, find a square where your king is safe from checks. Otherwise the checks do not end.
Check you have it
Pitch it for:
Question 1 of 2
Play the moves through and count. How much material has the attacker won?
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Question 2 of 2
Which white pawn has no friendly pawn on either neighbouring file?
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Common mistakes
- Pushing the pawn while your king is in the open and walking into endless checks.
- Taking a second pawn when the first could have been escorted home.
Questions
- Is an extra pawn enough to win a queen endgame?
- Often not. It depends on how far the passed pawn has advanced and whether your king can hide from checks. A pawn far up the board wins much more often than one at home.