Queen vs. Advanced Pawn

White played an excellent game to reach a simple win and then made two consecutive moves that made it appear that everything prior to that was a fluke. Time was not a factor with 4:19 remaining in a 10-minute game.

White to move

53.b4??=

53.g6 wins quickly.

53...Kxg5 54.Kb5??

Now, Black is winning. Perhaps White saw that both players would promote and failed to anticipate who would have the first check for if Black did, the check would lead to a skewer. Otherwise, this move looks like an effort to lose.

54...h4 55.Ka6 h3 56.b5 h2 57.b6 h1Q 58.b7

Black to move

The technique here is simple, but Black's execution was a bit clumsy. The simple idea that every student should learn is to drive the White king in front of its pawn, then step the king closer. Eventually, there will be an opportunity for checkmate.

With the advanced pawn on the b-file (or g-file), checkmate opportunities come sooner. Black was oblivious to this fact.

58...Qa1+ 59.Kb6 Qb2+

59...Qe5 is better, controlling the promotion square, another element of the basic technique of battling a pawn one square from promotion. To prevent Black from occupying b8 with the queen, 60.Ka7 is forced. Now, 60...Qa5 61.Kb8 Kf6 brings checkmate closer.

60.Kc7 Qg7+ 61.Kb8 Kf6

61.Kf5 was better, stepping closer without restricting the queen's mobility.

62.Ka7 Qg1+

62...Qc7 lead to a more rapid checkmate. Pinning the pawn is a third element of the basic technique.

63.Ka8

Black to move

63...Qg2

Although this move works towards eventual checkmate, less clumsy would have been the simple checkmate in five. 63...Qa1 64.Kb8 Qc3 65.Ka7 Qa5+ 66.Kb8 Ke7 67.Kc8 Qd8#

64.Ka7 Qa2+ 65.Kb6 Qb3+ 66.Kc7 Qc4+ 67.Kd7 Qb5+ 68.Kc7 Qc5+ 69Kd7 Qb6 70.Kc8 Qc6+ 71.Kb8

Black to move

71...Ke7

Black, who has spent many hours teaching the elementary checking technique to young students, could show more finesse and attention to opportunities in the position.

Here, for example, 71...Qc5! forces 72.Ka8 and a mate in three identical to that found in the mate in five above at move 63.

72.Ka7 Qa4+

Better was 72...Qc5+ 73.Ka6 Qb4 (controlling the promotion square via X-Ray) 74.Ka7 and again mate in three.

73.Kb6 Qb4+ 74.Kc7 Qc5+ 75.Kb8

Black to move

75...Kd7

Black knows this checkmate well, but should know also the pattern of mate in two that has presented itself several times earlier in the game. 75...Qa5 76.Kc8 Qd8#

76.Ka8 Qa5+ 77.Kb8 Kc6 78.Kc8 Qc7#

Black was relieved that his opponent threw the game through two consecutive blunders, converting a win to a draw, and then a draw to a loss.

Black showed a simple winning technique, but missed opportunities to end matters more quickly offer some learning opportunities and some positions that might be beneficial teaching young students this fall.

The basic element of this endgame is simple: check until there is an opportunity to move the king closer without allowing the advanced pawn to promote. Prevention includes checks, pins, and controlling the promotion square. Be alert to possible checkmates to show better technique.