Checkmating With the Queen 1
To do this you need the help of your king. The aim is to drive the king to the edge of the board and end up with the position shown in one of the diagrams.
In the diagram on the right the queen delivers check and the white King prevents the black king from escaping to d7, or e7
In the diagram on the right the white queen is on the next square to the black king but she cannot be captured because she is guarded by the white king.
The diagram on the left shows another position where black is checkmated.
The black king cannot capture the queen because he would be in check from the white king.
He cannot move to a7 or b8 because he would still be in check from the queen.
When you are trying to drive the king into a checkmate position it is important not to produce stalemate.
Be very careful because the queen alone can deliver stalemate as in the diagram on the left. The diagram on the right shows another stalemate position.
When you are trying to checkmate with the queen it is important to remember that you must drive your opponent's king away from the centre of the board and towards the edges.
This does not mean that you should keep on putting him in check. It does mean that you should stop him from moving towards the centre of the board.
Look at the diagram on the left.and consider 2 possible moves Qh6+ and Qf5
Qh6+ may seem stronger but it is not.
Let us look at these 2 separately
If white playsQh6+ black can move out of check and come nearer the centre of the board eg. Ke5
But if white plays Qf5 the king is cut off from many of the squares on the board. He can move to c6, c7, d7 or e7 but any of these moves will bring him closer to the left hand edge or the back edge of the board.
The diagram on the right shows the king moving to c6.
You need to use your king as well as your Queen. White has played Kc4, bringing his king up.
In the diagram on the right black has played Kd6
White plays Qf6+ and the black king is forced to move back to c7 or d7. He is being forced to go nearer to the back edge of the board. He plays Kd7
