Queen vs Bishop Pawn: The Winning Exception
White to play and win
PlayThe same bishop pawn and your king again on d5, but his king stands on d2, on the wrong side of its pawn. To reach the stalemate corner on a1 it has to cross c1, in front of the pawn. That step blocks the pawn and gives you the free move: your king comes close enough to win.
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When the Bishop Pawn Loses Anyway
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.
Queen against a rook or bishop pawn on the seventh is drawn only when the defender reaches a stalemate haven before your king arrives. Shift the kings a little and the win comes back.
The haven, and the road to it. With a black pawn on c2, the saving square is a1: there, Qxc2 leaves Black with no legal move. From b1 or b2 the king is already next door. From d2 it has to cross c1 first, and that costs a move.
What that move buys. Your king starts on d5. Every tempo Black burns walking to the corner is a tempo you spend walking in. Once your king joins the hunt, stalemate no longer saves the defender: he gets mated instead.
The real rule. The queen beats a rook or bishop pawn on the seventh whenever your king is close enough to help deliver mate. Distance decides these positions, not the file.
In this drill check, follow the king toward the corner, and bring your own king closer with every free move.
Keep going
Let the Rook Pawn Queen, Then Mate
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The Pendulum Defense
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The King's Zigzag
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All 68 king & pawn positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)