White to move. Is this a win or draw for White?
6Q1/6K1/8/8/8/2p5/8/k7 w – – 0 1
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I think this is a draw since it would be a stalemate.
I think it can be a win.
I think this is a win also. White forces the black king in front of his pawn, then marches his own king up to aid in the checkmate. It’s probably the same strategy for any Q&K vs. K&P ending.
White’s queen keeps checking and everytime the black king goes to the C2 square white makes a king move approaching the black pawn.
Eventually white will be able to attack the black pawn with both his king and queen.
I think white can win it by not letting the pawn advance. Check first on a8, zigzag closer to the pawn, force the king in front of the pawn, move the whit king closer, repeat.
It’s a draw. a, c, f, and h are draws and b, d, e, and g r wins because of the zigzag technique 🙂
One key to understanding this position is that if the pawn ever gets to c2 with Black’s king having access to a1, it’s a draw because of stalemate. Therefore, a win, if it exists, must always prevent the pawn from advancing, checking whenever necessary. A possible line:
1. Qa8+ Kb2 2. Qb8+ (not 2. Qb7+ Kc1 3. Qh1+ Kb2 and White can’t make progress) Kc1 3. Qf4+ Kc2 (or if …Kb2 4. Qb4+ Kc2) and the king can start approaching. Haven’t worked it out to the end, but it looks like White may win with careful play.
Draw. White cannot get his king over in time before black queens or forces a draw by repetition.
That’s one wild guess for draw, one wild guess for win. Anybody actually know anything?
Let’s give a hint. The fact that the pawn is 2 squares away from queening is important.
It is a win.
White has to force the black king repeatedly to c2 in order to keep the black pawn from c2 (because of stalemate) and to advance the white king.
win Qc4
The impulse would the be play Qb3 but i think its losing because it leads to stalemate.
I would play
Qa8+ Kb2
Qb7+ Kc2
Qe4+ Kd2
Qd4+ Kc2
Kf6
the basic idea is to keep checking the king and bringing your king into the picture. then taking the pawn.
I think it is a clear win. White’s first task is to check his queen close to the pawn. Always if the black king goes directly in front of his pawn, then the white king does the same, but essentially, the queen must get closer and eventually either take the pawn or station the queen in front of it. Never must the white pawn be allowed to advanced, at least until the white king is very near, and since it would be an unnecessary risk, never in any case. So, Qa8+, then either Qb7+ or Qh1+ etc.
Qc4 loses to c2
1.Qc4? c2 is draw, but I think is winning, since black never will be able to get his c-pawn to c2!
White starts with 1.Qa8, approaches the pawn till Qb4, forcing black to play Kc2, then Kf6etc.
I think it´s a draw, since it doesn´t say “How should white proceed?” in the text… 😉
Win. Qa8+
easy win, with the pawn on c2 it’s dawn, so just qa8 qb7, etc.. wins.
Not Qc4? or qb3? due to c2.
You cannot win with only Q checks as cannot force K away. Idea is to get K over to help while keeping P off queening. Eventually wins P and then easy mate.
It is a draw. White only wins these positions with the pawn on c2 if the white king is close enough to reach d2 in one move or b3 in two moves.
1. Qc4 c2 and if 2. Qxc2 draw by stalemate. If white choses to move his king or play 2.Qc3 or 2.Qa4+ black plays 2…Kb1 and if 3. Qb3 Ka1! and repeats until draw or stalemate.
This a classic draw position that happens only when the weak side has is pawn in C or F columns, near promotion and with the king in proximity, and the strong side has his Queen and King more distant.
MSL Lisbon
Qa8+ is the only way to win. Black pawn must NOT arrive on c2 since it ‘s draw
It is a win for white. The key is to gain tempo by (1) pinning the pawn for one move, (2) driving the black king under c1 – in that move white king can advance. The presence of the white king is essential for white to win/checkmate.
It is a win for white. The key is to give checks and drive to a position where the K is at c2 and the Q is at b4/d4. Then the white king advances. This procedure is repeated till the white king is near enough to mate. Black cannot afford to let the pawn go, as Qxc3 is not stalemate.
BTW it would have been a draw with the black pawn at c2, as black king would shuttle between a1 and b2/b2 – Qxc2 is stalemate.
1. Qa8 Kb2
2. Qb8! Kc1
3. Qf4 wins
Simple win as there is the normal “zigzag technique” (thanks for this nice expression, ano 3:08) starting with 1. Qa8+.
The draw idea with the c pawn only works with the pawn on c2 already.
As soon as the queen appears on b4 (she gets there using the zigzag techniue) there is no stalemate idea (Ka2? Qxc3 and Kb1 is possible) so Kc2 is forced blocking the pawn. (Rest should be known.)
With the pawn on third rank (on a,c,f,h file) the question is: Can the queen get into position without letting the pawn proceed?
Put the c pawn to a3 instead. Win or draw?
Nice one, thanks for posting it, Susan.
Good night to everyone.
Jochen (one answer between many others…)
cordon off the black king with Qb8. Then take care of the black pawn with the white king? not sure, been out of the boards for the longest time=)
Susan, I do wish you would give us a definitive answer to these puzzles. Even if someone has posted the correct answer, how are people such as me (weak player), supposed to know which one is correct?
Draw!!! This is a basic endgame position. c and f pawns should be a dead draw with the King too far from the pawn.
(Answering my own question.)
“Put the c pawn to a3 instead. Win or draw?”
Black threats to get a drawn position playing a2 (this position is well known as draw), white does not have a check here (!).
But white can use the mating idea here (1. Qc4! (or 1. Qc8!)) to prevent a2 (1. Qc4, a2?? 2. Qc1#).
After that it is a simple win as the queen gets into play.
Both positions show that with the pawn only going down to c3/a3 (or f3/h3) white needs to get his queen in fast. Usual way to get the queen in action is by checking but there are other ways.
Now put the black king to c1 (w: Kg7, Qg8 b: Kc1, c2). White does not have a check or any other way to get his queen in action in time. If I am not totally incorrect this position is a draw though black’s pawn was too slow to reach the draw square c2.
What does this tell us about KQ vs KP end games where the white king is far away and the black king is supporting the pawn, else it is simple)?
* White queen always wins against black pawns only getting to the forth rank. (Simply play one move after which the queen can get in action with check. The black pawn mostly gets to the third rank. It’s won like in this example here than.)
* With the a,c,f,h pawn on the third rank she mostly wins. She needs to get in action without losing time. (Exceptions are given if she can’t get in there for some reasons, example given above.)
She always wins against a b,d,e,g pawn on the third rank. (Simply move the queen so that she can interact with the pawn that mostly gets to the second rank. The queen near the pawn wins against these types of pawns.)* As soon as the pawn reaches the second rank it is getting well analysed. The theory should be well known. You need the “zig zag technique” which does not help if the pawn is an a,c,f,h pawn (stalemate defense).
(I am not sure, does someone one the following? Is there an exception of a position where queen and king are positioned so bad that white does not win against b,d,e,g pawn on the second rank?)
These simple looking end games may not be that simple at all. For beginners it is most important to know the “zigzag technique” as it covers most cases appearing in real games…
Perhaps this long post helps someone. If not it helped me to remind me of things I knew earlier and have forgotten in long not playing time. 😉
Please correct me, if I am wrong here.
Best wishes
Jochen
Hi, there! White can win,cheking oponnent’s king, prevent pawn advancing,and bringing your own King to scene. Seeya,
Prof. Evans
white wins.
1. Qa8 Kb2
2. Qb8! Kc1
3. Qf4
key positions for white Q is f4 b4 d4 & c1. queen’s main aim is either to capture pawn or steel c1 position. black will defend by going to b2 c2 d2. if white’s king is in row 3 Q will go to f4 to take c1. queen will shadow black king if its in column b and d (rows 1 & 2) . everytime black passes thru c2 white king gets nearer.
—kiokups