Queen vs Rook Pawn: Stalemate Trick
EndgameCheckmate TechniqueGoal: draw
The position
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Black to move and hold the draw. A draw is a good result here, and knowing the defensive method saves half points.
The idea
A queen against a pawn on the seventh rank on the a-file or h-file (a rook pawn) is usually a draw, if the attacking king is far away. The defender uses a stalemate trick, so every time the queen goes to win the pawn, the king has no move.
How to do it
- As the defender, put your king in the corner in front of the pawn, next to the promotion square.
- When the queen wins the pawn or blocks it, check that your king is stalemated, not checkmated.
- Keep your king in the corner area; move only when you must.
- As the attacker, you only win if your king is close enough to chase the king away from the corner.
Common mistakes
- Leaving the corner and getting checkmated.
- As the attacker, stalemating the king by accident.
- Counting on a win when your king is too far.
Remember
A rook pawn on the seventh against a queen is a draw if the defender's king is in the corner.