Queen vs Bishop Pawn: The Winning Exception
White to play and win
PlayBishop pawns draw against a queen only when the defending king reaches its stalemate haven in time. From d2 the road to that haven runs through c1. And the tempo it costs is exactly what your king needs.
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When the Bishop Pawn Loses Anyway
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
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The theory
Watch the method: press play to see the winning idea run, or step through it move by move.
Black's drawing idea lives on a1: with his king there and the pawn on c2, Qxc2 would be stalemate. But his king is on d2. And the road to a1 has to pass through c1.
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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