King and queen checkmate
King and queen checkmate is the basic ending in which a king and queen force mate against a lone king, using the queen to confine it and the king to help deliver the final check.
Also called: queen mate
With a king and a queen against a bare king, the stronger side always wins, and the method is short. The queen alone cannot mate, so the aim is to use it to take squares away, push the defending king toward an edge, and then bring your own king close enough to support the final check.
A reliable way to proceed is to place the queen a knight's move away from the enemy king. That cuts the king off from a large part of the board without giving it a chance to approach the queen. Each time the defender steps, restrict it again with the queen, shrinking its territory until it sits on the edge. Then bring your king up until it covers the escape squares the queen cannot reach, and finish with a queen check along the edge or a queen move next to the enemy king that your own king protects.
The one real danger is stalemate. If the lone king has no legal move and is not in check, the game is a draw. This often happens when the queen is placed too close and takes away the last escape square. Before every queen move, count the squares left to the opponent's king and make sure at least one stays available unless the move is mate.
This ending is worth practicing until it is automatic, because every longer endgame with an extra queen eventually reduces to it. A common error is to chase the king with checks without improving the position, which only lets it run back to the middle.
Also worth reading is Queen endgame. A queen endgame is an ending in which each side still has a queen, usually with a few pawns, where checks, perpetual check and passed pawns tend to decide the result.
A neighboring idea is Queen versus rook. Queen versus rook is an endgame in which one side has a queen and the other a rook, with no other pieces, and the queen wins in general but only after patient, precise technique.
Compare it with Two bishops checkmate. Two bishops checkmate is the ending in which a king and two bishops, one on light squares and one on dark squares, force mate against a lone king, usually in a corner, with the king helping.
If "King and queen checkmate" has cost you half a point, a first lesson is a good place to find the pattern behind it: George Li goes through your games and builds a plan.
Related terms
King and rook checkmate is the basic ending in which a king and rook force mate against a lone king, by pushing it to an edge with the help of the opposition.
Stalemate is a draw that occurs when the side on move has no legal move at all while its king is not attacked, so the game ends on the spot with half a point to each player.
Opposition is a standoff between the two kings on one file or rank with a single empty square between them; whoever does not have to move holds it, because the other king must give up ground.
A queen endgame is an ending in which each side still has a queen, usually with a few pawns, where checks, perpetual check and passed pawns tend to decide the result.
A theoretical win is a position in which one side can force victory against any defense, so the result is settled and only correct technique is needed to convert it.
Guides that go further
What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid.
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A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li.
Want to spot this in your own games?
A first lesson starts with your games: George reviews them and builds a study plan around what he finds.