Learn the Ending

As tine was running low on the clocks, I was watching the last two games finish in the second round of a youth tournament. As the tournament director, watching the clocks during a time scramble can be important. In the penultimate game, White offered a draw because he was certain that should be the result. Black wanted to play it out. A few moves later the queens were exchanged and the game was drawn. However, the result could have been different if the player with Black had studied a position that can be found in most endgame books.

White to move

White played 1.a8Q and offered a draw. Play continued 1...Qc6+ and after a few moves the kings were on b5 and b8 and the queens were on b6 and b7. Queens were exchanged.

Mark Dvoretsky, Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual has a similar position.

White to move

1.Qb3+ Ka1 2.Qd1+ Kb2 3.Qd2+

This square is where the queen needs to go. In the game from my tournament, 1...Qd7 was the equivalent move with the same idea.

3...Kb1

3...Ka1 allows 4.Qc1#

4.Kb4

Black's king already occupied the mirror of this square in the youth game.

4...a1Q 5.Kb3

Black to move

Black is in zugzwang with no safe square to move the queen without losing it or allowing checkmate.

The youth game could have continued 1...Qd7+ 2.Kb8 Kb6 and White would be in zugzwang.