How to draw with a pawn against a queen: the stalemate defence
Learn to save a rook's or bishop's pawn on the 7th rank against a queen: keep your king next to the pawn and run into the corner, where taking the pawn is stalemate.
The bishop's pawn: into the corner
Your pawn is on c2, one step from queening, and the white king is far away. A bishop's pawn can hold, but only with the right defence.
Play Ka1: into the corner. If the queen ever takes the pawn, it will be stalemate. Ka1 Qc3+
2. Qc3+ Qc3+: a check. Only one move keeps the draw.
Play Kb1: stay next to the pawn. Kb1 Qb3+
3. Qb3+ Qb3+: another check.
Play Ka1: back into the corner. Now Qxc2 would be stalemate. Ka1
In the corner the king can't be driven in front of its pawn. Taking the pawn is stalemate, and the queen alone can't make progress: the white king is too far away to help. A draw.
The rook's pawn: next to a1
A rook's pawn on a2 against a queen, the white king far away. Your king has to stay next to the queening square a1.
Play Kb1: next to the queening square a1, the only move that holds. Kb1 Qd1+
2. Qd1+ Qd1+: Kb2 is the only move.
Play Kb2. Kb2 Qd4+
3. Qd4+ Qd4+: another check.
Play Kb1: back next to a1, again the only move that holds. Kb1 Qb4+
4. Qb4+ Qb4+: now the corner is safe.
Play Ka1: into the corner, in front of your pawn. Qb3 would be stalemate now. Ka1
Next to the queening square, then into the corner: with a rook's pawn the queen can't get close without stalemate. With the white king far away, it is a draw.
Back to the pawn
Your king has wandered away from its pawn. It has to get back before the queen cuts it off.
Play Kc3: straight back next to the pawn, the only move that holds. Kc3 Qe1+
2. Qe1+ Qe1+: a check. Again only one move holds.
Play Kb2: next to the pawn, on the way to the corner. Kb2 Qb4+
3. Qb4+ Qb4+: and now into the corner.
Play Ka1: the corner. If the queen takes the pawn, it is stalemate. Ka1
Back next to the pawn, then into the corner: the same draw as before.
Key ideas
- A knight's or centre pawn loses against a queen. A rook's or bishop's pawn on its 7th rank holds, as long as the white king is far away.
- Keep your king next to the pawn. Walking away lets the queen win it.
- Bishop's pawn: never step in front of it (Kc1). Go into the corner (Ka1) instead: if the queen takes the pawn, it is stalemate.
- Rook's pawn: stay next to the queening square, and hide on a1, in front of the pawn, when you can. The queen can't come close without stalemate.
Common mistakes
- Stepping in front of a bishop's pawn: White gets a free move to bring the king, and the pawn falls.
- Walking away from the pawn: the queen wins it.
- Ka1 at the wrong moment with a rook's pawn: with the queen on d2, Qc1 is mate.