Stalemate: Only Way to Lose
Part of the Playing Real Games section of Coddy's Chess journey. Lesson 28 of 40.
With a queen and a rook, or a queen and a pawn, you cannot lose - you can only fail to win. The more pieces you have, the fewer squares their king has, and the easier it is to take the last one without check. Before every move when far ahead: does he still have a move?
Try it yourselfBeginner
Position 1 of 8
WatchA queen and a pawn against a king. A tidy move, and its price.
The starting position.
0 / 1
All 8 positions
All lessons in Playing Real Games
1Think Before You Move
What Did That Move Change?Checks, Captures, ThreatsThe Landing SquareThe Blunder CheckTwo Candidates, Not OneRecap: Think Before You Move2Opening Principles
Centre, Pieces, KingDon't Move It TwiceThe Early QueenConnect the RooksSomething StrangeRecap: Opening Principles5Trading and Converting
When to TradeSimplify Into a Won EndingNo HurryStalemate: Only Way to LosePromote the Extra PawnRecap: Trading and Converting