Queen and Pawn versus Queen: The Reference Win

Queen and pawn against queen is the longest theoretical ending most players ever meet, and it is decided by two things: the file the pawn stands on, and whether the attacking king can find shelter from the checks.

The pawn file is the criterion. A knight pawn or a centre pawn on the seventh wins. A rook pawn or a bishop pawn usually draws, because the defending queen gets a perpetual from the short side.

Push first. g7 is the move that makes progress: it forces Black's queen to blockade g8 and stop doing anything else. But look before you leap, because eight queen moves in the starting position simply drop the queen.

Then shelter. Kh6, next to the pawn. The g7 pawn is not just a passer, it is a wall your king can hide behind while the queen goes to work.

Then grind. Qd7+ and a long sequence of checks, gaining a square at a time. This is the reference position: learn the shape, and the fifty-move rule will be your only real opponent.