Queen vs Two Connected Passed Pawns
White to play and win
PlayYour queen against two connected pawns that have already reached c3 and d3, with their king beside them. The queen still wins. The method is to check the king and use the time each check gains to stop the pawns or take one. Before every move, ask: does a check also hit a pawn?
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Queen vs Two Connected Pawns
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
Two connected passed pawns are the queen's classic problem child: far enough advanced, with their own king behind them, they can hold or even beat the queen. Short of that, the queen wins.
The method. Blockade before you capture. A check that gains a tempo, then the queen planted directly in front of the pawns, stops both at once. With the runners frozen, walk your own king up to attack them, one at a time.
The danger zone. Connected pawns on the sixth rank defended by their king are the exception: the queen cannot both stop promotion and avoid stalemate or a fork. Assess advancement first: if you are in time, convert calmly.
In this drill the pawns are not yet lethal. Freeze them, bring the king, and take them home. The defender will push at the first loose queen move.
Keep going
Botvinnik's Method: Blocking the Check with the Queen
White to play and win
Queen and Pawn versus Queen: The Reference Win
White to play and win
One Square Decides: The Defending King's Only Move
Black to play and draw
All 18 queen endgames positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)