Queen versus pawn
Queen versus pawn is an endgame in which a queen faces an enemy pawn that is about to promote, and the queen usually wins except against a bishop or rook pawn defended by a nearby king.
Also called: queen against a seventh rank pawn
The pawn has reached the seventh rank for its side, one step from promotion, and the queen must stop it. In general the queen wins. The method is a series of checks and forcing moves that drive the defending king onto the square in front of its own pawn, which blocks it. Then the queen's own king gets a free move toward the action, and the process repeats until the king is close enough to win the pawn or give mate. A central or knight pawn gives the defender no real chances, though the win may take many moves. The exceptions are the rook pawn and the bishop pawn. With a rook pawn the defending king hides on the promotion square itself, and every quiet queen move leaves it stalemated. With a bishop pawn the king steps into the corner instead of blocking, so taking the pawn gives stalemate. In those cases the draw holds unless the queen's king is already close. A common error is to give a check that lets the defender queen the pawn, or to ignore a stalemate trap. Before each check, ask where the enemy king must go and whether it will have a move afterward.
It sits close to 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 Rook versus pawn. Rook versus pawn is an ending in which a rook faces a single pawn, usually a win for the rook, although an advanced pawn supported by its king can save the game.
A neighboring idea is Theoretical win. 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.
If "Queen versus pawn" 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
Rook versus pawn is an ending in which a rook faces a single pawn, usually a win for the rook, although an advanced pawn supported by its king can save the game.
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.
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 wrong rook pawn is an a-pawn or h-pawn whose promotion square is the opposite color to its side's bishop, so king, bishop and pawn cannot win once the defending king reaches the corner in front of it.
King activity describes how freely a king can take part in the endgame, by centralizing, attacking enemy pawns and supporting its own, and the more active king frequently decides otherwise equal positions.
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.
A rook pawn is a pawn on the a-file or the h-file, the edge of the board, which has fewer capture options and gives the attacker less room to maneuver.
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.