Queen Endings: General Principles
Queen endings are perhaps not the most
popular subject among chess players. Possibly
because the task of calculating all the checks
appears so daunting. Indeed, a queen is a
powerful piece in almost all positions let alone
on an almost empty board! Yet, things really
aren't all that bad, especially not in queen
endings with several pawns on both sides. In
this article we will investigate some of the
general
principles
behind
those
queen
endings.
I will not make any observations on Q+pawn vs
Q endings. I refer the interested reader to John
Nunn's Secrets of Practical Chess (Gambit
2007; pp 148-153) which contains a very
practical
explanation
of
the
differences
between rook, knight, bishop and central
pawns
with
the
drawing/winning
zones
involved − the bishop pawn is the most
favourable one by the way.
We will examine the most important principles
by means of several examples. I have tried to
come up with a mix of classical and fairly
unknown fragments, aiming to please both
readers who are unfamiliar with the subject
and those who have a fair command of the
classical queen endings from endgame theory.
We will end our journey with two more complex
examples where most of the principles will
return.
++++
+Q++
+++
+++
++++
++++
!+++"+#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
Let us start with an elementary position, merely
to demonstrate that material is not of the
utmost importance in queen endings.
Black is five pawns up but after 1.a6 he has to
reconcile himself with a draw by perpetual
check as White's passed pawn is too far
advanced.
This example is taken from Batsford Chess
Endings, Speelman, Tisdall and Wade,
Batsford 1993 (p.414).
We will see that passed pawns are of the
prime importance in queen endings (only the
safety of the king is more important). Passed
pawns can be pushed forward to promote, they
can enable the stronger side to transfer into a
pawn ending, they can assist in the attack on
the enemy king, they can be assisted by either
queen or king towards the promotion square,
and they can be very useful for the king as a
hiding place for checks. Naturally, it is often
that one or more factors are combined.
In our next example White creates a passed
pawn and wins the game.
++++
++++
+0Q++
+++
++
++++
!+++"#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
1.b5! Not 1.Qxc6? Qf4+ with a perpetual (a
common escape for the weaker side in queen
endings). 1...cxb5 2.c6 Qc2 3.Qd5 [3.c7;
3.Qd7] 3...Kh6 4.Qd6 Qc4 5.c7 Kh7 6.Qd7!
Black has no perpetual the king can hide on
the b−file behind the enemy pawn! 6...Qf4+
7.Kg1 Qc1+ 8.Kf2 Qc5+ 9.Ke2 Qc2+ 10.Ke3
Qc5+ 11.Ke4 Qc4+ 12.Ke5 Qc3+ 13.Kd5
Qc4+ 14.Kd6 Qb4+ 15.Kc6 Qc4+ 16.Kb7 and
Black resigned.
(Maroczy - Bogoljubow, Dresden 1936)
By the way, Maroczy was a great specialist in
queen endings and you will encounter his
name again (and again) when you study queen
endings.
Our next fragment is taken from Maroczy -
Betheder, Hamburg 1930.
Here Maroczy is a passed pawn to the good
and in the realization of his advantage he
demonstrates a useful technique. It is Black to
move:
++++
++
++++
+Q++
++
+"++
!++++#
$0+++%
&'()*+,-./
1...Qb1+ 2.Ka4 g6 3.a6 Qa1+ 4.Kb5 Qb2+
5.Kc6 Qf6+ 6.Kc7! Marching towards the
enemy king − a technique you should
remember. Maroczy can leave his pawn
unprotected as the pawn ending is winning −
often the prerogative of the stronger side.
6...Qc3+ [6...Qxa6 7.Qd7+ Kf8 8.Qd6+! Qxd6+
9.Kxd6 Kf7 10.Kd7 and the pawn ending is
winning easily!] 7.Qc6 Qe3 8.Kc8! and Black
resigned. Again after 8...Kf7 White has 9.a7
Qxa7 10.Qd7+ Qxd7+ 11.Kxd7 winning. 1-0
A final example with a far advanced passed
pawn.
0Q+++
+++
++
+++
+++
++++
!++0"#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
The game went 1.Qc7+ Kh8 [1...Kh6
2.Qc1++−] 2.Qc8+ Kg7 3.Qc7+ Kh8 4.Qd8+
Kg7
and in time pressure Miles went for a draw with
5.Qc7+? Kh8 he later regretted his decision
when he discovered that after
5.Qe7+! Kh6 6.Qb4! White can still win as his
king is able to escape from the checks: 6...e4
7.b7 Qf4+ 8.Kg1 Qc1+ 9.Kf2 Qc2+ [9...Qf4+
10.Ke2 Qb8 11.Qe7+−] 10.Ke3 Qd3+
++++
++++
++
++++
0Q++
++"+
!++++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
11.Kf4 g5+ [11...Qg3+ 12.Kxe4 Qxg2+ 13.Kd4
Qf2+ 14.Kd5 Qf5+ 15.Kd6 Qe5+ 16.Kd7 Qd5+
17.Ke7 Qe5+ 18.Kf8 Qb8+ 19.Kf7 Qc7+
20.Qe7 Qc4+ 21.Kf8+−] 12.Kf5 e3+ 13.Ke6!
and the king escapes after 13...Qa6+ 14.Kf7
Qa2+ 15.Kf8
(Miles - Andersson, Amsterdam IBM 1978)
So far the stronger side has been able to
escape the enemy checks. In our next study
White cannot escape a perpetual even though
he is allowed to promote to queen!
+++"
+++
++++
++++
+++
+++0
!+Q+++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
1...Qh4+ 2.Qh7 [2.Kg8 Qd8+ 3.Kf7 Qd7+ 4.Kf6
Qd6+ 5.Kg5 Qg3+] 2...Qd8+! 3.g8Q Qf6+
4.Qhg7 Qh4+ 5.Q8h7 Qd8+ 6.Qgg8 Qf6+ and
draw by perpetual. ½-½
(Lolli 1763)
++++
+Q++
+++0
+++
++++
++
!+"++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
White to play can draw despite his deficit of
two pawns. 31.Qe8+ Kg7 32.Qe7+ Kg6
[32...Kg8 33.Qe8+] 33.Qxe6+ Kg5 34.Qh3!
[34.Qxe5+? Kh4-+; 34.Qe7+? Qf6-+] and now
the idea is that 34...h4? allows 35.Qf5 mate!
Therefore Black has to give up the g3−pawn
when the resulting position is a draw.
(analysis after − Bosch−Gustafsson, 2004)
Playing for mate is not an uncommon
occurrence in queen endings. Take a look at
the diagrammed position.
++++
++++Q
++++
++++
+++
++++
!+++"#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
Can you calculate the win for White?
1.Qe7+ Qg5 [1...g5 2.Qe1+] 2.Qe4+ Qg4
3.Qe3! and the mating net has closed, Black is
in a nasty Zugzwang. 1-0
(Cortlever 1941)
One more mate because it is so enjoyable.
How did Tiviakov force immediate resignation
here?
+++
++++
+"++
+0Q+
0++
++++
!++++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
64.a3! and Black resigned as he is mated after
64...Qxb3
65.Qc5+
Kg8
66.Qg5+
Kf8
67.Qg7+ Ke8 68.Qg8 mate!
(Tiviakov - Arbakov, Belgorod, 1989)
If you enjoy this type of exercise − there are
many more in Van Perlo's Endgame Tactics
(New In Chess 2006).
Where there is mate − there is also stalemate.
Again since the queen is so powerful there is
not only always the danger of mate but also of
stalemate. Always useful to remember when
you are the defender. Take a look at the next
position. Doesn't it look as if Black to move is
winning?
Q++"++
++++
+++
++++
++++
++++
!++++#
$++0+%
&'()*+,-./
How would you defend as White? 1...Qe5
2.Kd8! [2.Qc8+? Kf6+-+; 2.Qa2+ Kd6+! 3.Kf8
Qf6+ 4.Kg8 Qe6+-+] 2...Qh8+ 3.Kc7 Qxa8
stalemate!
(Kovalenko 1970)
Now can you work out the outcome of the next
diagram?
++++
+++
+++
+++0Q
++++
++"+
!++++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
White to play and?
1.Qa5+ [1.a8Q? Qc1+] 1...Kxa5 2.a8T+!
Cleverly avoiding 2.a8Q+? Kb4 3.Qb7+ Kc3
4.Qxb1 stalemate. 2...Kb4 3.Tb8+ Kc3 4.Txb1
1-0
(Grin 1976)
A technique well−worth remembering is giving
checks with the queen while approaching the
enemy king as if you are climbing a staircase.
The next game demonstrates how effective
this way of approaching can be.
++++
++++
++++
++++
+++
++++
!0++#
$+++Q+"%
&'()*+,-./
1...Qb7+ 2.Kh2 Qc7+ 3.Kh1 [3.Kg2 Qg3+
4.Kh1 Qf3+] 3...Qc6+ 4.Kh2 Qd6+ 5.Kh1
Qd5+ 6.Kh2 Qe5+ 7.Kh1 Qe4+ 8.Kh2 Qf4+
9.Kh1 Qf3+ Black has reached his optimum
position whilst climbing his 'staircase'. 10.Kh2
and now the coup de grace is delivered by
means of Zugzwang: 10...Ke7! 11.Qg2
11.Qe1+ fails to an underpromotion to knight
or bishop. 11...Qf4+! [11...f1Q?? 12.Qxf1] 0-1
(Ragozin - Visnevskij, Soviet Union, 1940)
++++
++++
+++0Q
++
++++
++++
!+"++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
Take a look at the diagrammed position from
Sokolov - Yusupov, Montpellier 1985.
Black has an obvious positional advantage. He
has a passed pawn and both his queen and
king are far more active than those of his
opponent.
In this example we will encounter a few
techniques we have already seen: hiding
behind the enemy pawns, a king march,
supporting your passed pawn, threatening to
transpose into a pawn ending, threatening the
enemy king.
Still, there is even one more new element to be
added: snatching the weak enemy pawns.
1...Qf6! 2.Qh7 Kf4! 3.Kd3? [3.Qd3 is met by
the centralizing 3...Qe5] 3...Qa6+ [3...Qe6 is
also strong.] 4.Kd2 Qa2+ 5.Ke1 Qa1+ 6.Ke2
Qb2+ 7.Kf1 Qc1+ 8.Ke2 If 8.Kg2 then
8...Qd2+ 9.Kg1 (9.Kf1 Kg3 10.Qc7+ Qf4+-+)
9...Kg3!? (9...d4; 9...Qd4+) 10.Qc7+ Kxh3
11.Qh7+ Kg3 12.Qc7+ Qf4 13.Qc3+ Kxg4
winning. 8...Qe3+ 9.Kd1 [9.Kf1 Kg3] 9...Kg3
and now White is helpless, for when his queen
moves from the h−file he will lose both his
pawns. The remaining moves were 10.Qh6 d4
11.Qh7 d3 12.Qc7+ Kg2 0-1
It is interesting that in Yusupov−Gerusel,
Moscow 1981, a fairly similar queen ending
arose (with colours reversed) which was also
won by Yusupov. See p.186 of Beliavsky and
Mikhalchishin's Winning Endgame Strategy
(Batsford 2000).
For the interested trainer/reader this book
contains many more practical examples of
queen endings (and all other endings).
To recapitulate what we have seen so far:
-
Passed
pawns
are
often
more
important than material. (In queen
endings a queen can support a passed
pawn all by herself − as opposed to
say a rook)
-
Safety or vulnerability of the king can
be decisive (think of mate, stalemate
and perpetual check)
-
The stronger side can often transfer
into a pawn ending.
-
A king march is a useful technique (to
threaten mate, to support a passed
pawn, to win pawns or even to hide
behind enemy pawns)
-
Activity and piece cooperation are
vital.
I will end this article by two longer examples
where many of these issues return. First a
deservedly famous example with Maroczy
behind the white pieces.
+++
++
++
++++
++++
+++
!"+0Q#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
1.Qh4! Note that White's king is a lot safer
than Black's and that White's queen is more
active. Material is equal though and there are
no passed pawns yet. 1...Kg7 2.Qg4+ Kf7
3.Qh5+ Kg7 4.Qe8 Qe2! Marshall defends
well aiming for activity. 5.Qe7+ Kg6 6.Qf8!
[6.Qxc7 Qxg2 7.Qxb7 Qxh2 and Black has a
passed pawn.] 6...e5 [6...Qxg2? 7.Qg8+; 6...f5
7.h4! e5 8.h5+ Kg5 9.h6!+−] 7.Qg8+ Kh6
8.Qf8+ Kg6 9.Qg8+ Kh6 10.h4! Qf2 [10...d5
11.g4 Qxf3 12.g5+ Kh5 13.Qxh7+ Kg4 14.g6
d4 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Qxc7+−] 11.Qf8+ Kg6
12.h5+ Kxh5 13.Qg7! With the exchange of
the h−pawns Maroczy stresses the safety of
his own king as opposed to Marshall's.
13...Qd2 13...f5 14.Qxh7+ Kg5 when both
15.Qxc7 (Nunn) and 15.Qg7+ Kf4 16.Qh6+
Kg3 17.Qg5+ Kh2 18.g4 (Euwe) favour White.
14.Qxh7+ Qh6
++++
++Q
+0
+++
++++
+++
!"+++#
$++++%
&'()*+,-./
15.g4+! Black has counterplay after 15.Qxc7
Kh4. 15...Kg5 16.Qxc7 White is winning by
now, but Maroczy still demonstrates some
more impressive technique. 16...Kf4 17.Qxb7
Qh1 18.Qb4+! Kxf3 19.Qxd6 Kxg4 20.c4!
White wins due to this passed pawn. Less
clear is 20.Qxf6 Qd5. 20...e4 21.c5 f5 [21...e3?
22.Qd4+] 22.c6 Qh8+ [22...e3 23.Qd4+ Qe4
24.Qxe4+ fxe4 25.c7 e2 26.c8Q++−] 23.c3 e3
24.Qg6+! White wins after 24.c7 e2 25.Qg6+!
(but 25.Qe6? e1Q 26.Qxe1 Qh2+ is only a
draw.) 24...Kf4 25.c7 e2 26.Qe6 Kf3 The only
move as 26...Qh2 fails to 27.Qd6+. 27.Qxf5+
By now the win becomes simple. 27...Kg2
28.Qg4+ Kf2 29.Qf4+ Kg2 30.Qe3 Kf1
31.Qf3+ Ke1 32.Qf4 [Or 32.Qf5 Kd2 33.Qd7+
(33.c8Q+−) 33...Ke3 34.c8Q Qxc8 35.Qxc8
e1Q 36.Qe8+ Kf2 37.Qxe1++−] 32...Qc8
33.Qd6 Kf2 34.Qd8 e1Q 35.Qxc8 Qd2+
36.Ka3 Qc1+ 37.Ka4 Qf4+ 38.c4 1-0
(Maroczy - Marshall, Carlsbad, 1907)
++++
++0Q+
+++
++++
+++
+++
!++#
$++++"%
&'()*+,-./
White's passed pawn is only two steps away
from promotion. The first question is whether
Black has a perpetual:
1...Qf3+ 2.Kg1 Qg4+ 3.Kf2 Qf4+ 4.Ke2 Qg4+!
The greedy 4...Qxh2+? allows the king to
escape, for example 5.Kf3 Qh3+ 6.Kf4 Qh2+
7.Kf5 Qh3+ 8.Ke5 Qg3+ 9.Ke6 and wins.
5.Ke3 Qg5+ The only move to draw. So as not
to allow the king to escape the corresponding
squares for the white king and the black queen
are: e3−g5, e2−g4 and e1-h4. Piket now
repeats moves before deciding (after the time
control at move 60) whether to make a final
winning attempt by giving up the d4−pawn.
6.Kf3 Qf5+ 7.Kg3 Qg5+ 8.Kh3 Qh5+ 9.Kg3
Qg5+ 10.Kh3 Qh5+ 11.Kg2 Qg4+ 12.Kf2
Qf4+ 13.Ke1 Qh4+ 14.Ke2 Qg4+ 15.Kd2!
This is worth a try. Black can still go wrong.
15...Qxd4+ 16.Kc1
++++
++0Q+
+++
++++
+0++
+++
!++#
$+"++%
&'()*+,-./
16...Qf4+ Black can also draw by means of
16...c3 17.bxc3 Qxc3+ 18.Kd1 but he has to
display some accuracy: 18...Qd4+ 19.Ke2
Qg4+ 20.Ke3 d4+! 21.Kd3 Qf5+ 22.Kxd4 Qd5+
23.Ke3 Qg5+! and now White cannot use the
king march because of mate: 24.Ke4 Qg4+
25.Ke5 Qg5+ 26.Ke4= (26.Kd6?? Qd5#;
26.Ke6?? Qd5#). So interestingly after White
has given up pawn d4 Black can give up pawn
d5 to guarantee the draw. 17.Kc2 Qf5+
17...Qxh2+ 18.Kc3 d4+ 19.Kxc4 Qxb2 also
draws.(as does 19...Qc2+). 18.Kc3 Qd3+
19.Kb4 Qd4 More risky, but still sufficient is
19...c3 20.Kc5! cxb2 (20...c2? 21.Kd6+−)
21.Qe8+ Kc7 22.Qxc6+ Kd8 23.Qb6+ Ke8!
24.Qxb2 Qe3+!. 20.Ka5 [20.f7?? Qxb2+
21.Kc5 Qxa3+-+] 20...Qxb2 and finally White
can do nothing more than repeat moves:
21.Qf8+ Kc7 [21...Kb7?? 22.Qb4++−] 22.Qe7+
Kc8 23.Qf8+ ½-½
(Piket - Bosch, Amsterdam, 1996)