I'd rather have a Pawn than a finger.
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[Event "rated untimed match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "White player"]
[Black "Black player"]
[Result "*"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[FEN "5Q2/8/1K6/8/8/8/3kp3/8 w - - 0 1"]
[SetUp "1"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
{ Endgame Lesson: Queen versus Pawn|Black has played for this
position incorrectly believing that the advanced black pawn will be
sufficient to draw even against far superior force. White, having just
promoted a pawn to a queen, knows a secret that black is about to learn the
hard way.|The queen's power blossoms fully in the endgame where it can
attack seemingly everything at once.|The side with a queen can force his
opponent's king to assume a post directly in front of his own pawn. Then,
when the pawn cannot be advanced, the queen's king will approach to
eventually pick off the pawn. This forcing maneuver is performed as often as
necessary.|The queen may also blockade her opponent's pawn directly, if
permitted the opportunity. } 1. Qf4+ { There are several moves that win for
white, 1. Qb4+, 1. Qf2, or even 1. Qd6+ for example. The secret is that this
position is won for white. The method is simple. White aims to force the
black king to assume a post directly in front of the pawn. Then, when the
pawn cannot be advanced, the white king will approach to eventually pick off
the pawn. } 1... Kd1 { Black plays for the freedom to promote his pawn on the next
move. } ( { This line is no better: } 1... Kc2 2. Qe3 Kd1 3. Qd3+ Ke1 4. Kc5 { Just like the mainline. } 4... Kf2 5. Qd2 Kf1 ( { Abandoning the promotion square is
not an option: } 5... Kf3 6. Qe1 { The queen permanently ends any hope of
promotion. } 6... Ke3 7. Kc4 Kf3 8. Kd3 Kf4 9. Qxe2 Kf5 10. Qe7 Kf4 11. Ke2 Kf5 12. Kf3 Kg6 13. Kg4 Kh6 14. Kf5 Kh5 15. Qg5# ) 6. Qf4+ Kg2 7. Qe3 Kf1 8. Qf3+ Ke1 9. Kd4 Kd2 10. Qd3+ Ke1 11. Ke3 Kf1 12. Qxe2+ Kg1 13. Kf3 Kh1 14. Qg2# ) 2. Qd4+ { White gives black no rest while staying near black's pawn. } 2... Kc2 { Black
avoids blocking his pawn, and maintains its promotion potential. } 3. Qe3 { Attacking the pawn. } 3... Kd1 { Black is forced to protect his pawn.|If black
loses his pawn, then all is lost. White's king and queen are more than enough
material to checkmate black's lone king. } 4. Qd3+ { Black has few choices. If
black abandons the pawn, then the queen captures it and all is lost. } 4... Ke1 { Black is forced under his pawn allowing the white king to advance. } 5. Kc5 { The white king approaches the black pawn. } 5... Kf2 { Black keeps his promotion
hopes alive. } 6. Qd2 { White begins a series of moves designed to drive the
black king back under his pawn. } 6... Kf1 7. Qf4+ Kg1 8. Qe3+ Kf1 9. Qf3+ Ke1 10. Kd4 Kd2 { Black keeps his promotion hope alive a little longer. } 11. Qd3+ { Again driving black's king under his pawn. } 11... Ke1 12. Ke3 { The pawn falls
next. } 12... Kf1 13. Qxe2+ Kg1 14. Kf3 Kh1 15. Qg2# *