Queen vs Bishop and Knight: The Karstedt Exception
White to play and draw
PlayA queen normally beats a bishop and a knight. This is one of the very few setups where it does not. It is worth memorizing exactly because it is the exception, not the rule.
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Queen Against Bishop and Knight: The Rare Exception
White to play and draw · Hold the draw against perfect play
Waking the engine…
The theory
A bishop and a knight normally lose against a queen. A handful of exceptions exist, and this one, from Karstedt in 1903, is the one to remember.
Why it holds. The knight on e5 and the bishop on g7 screen the black king from every approach square, and they defend one another. The setup cannot be broken up: the bishop simply steps between g7 and h8 forever.
What it is not. This is not a general balance of material. Queen against bishop and knight is a win in the overwhelming majority of positions, so do not draw the wrong conclusion from this diagram.
In this drill you hold the queen and the honest result is a draw. Recognize the wall, avoid pointless risk, and bank the half point.
Keep going
Bishop Pawn: Winning With the Defender by the Corner
Black to play and win
Bishop Pawn: The King on the Wrong Side
Black to play and win
The Corner Trick: Invite the Promotion
Black to play and draw
All 18 queen endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)