[Event "New to nuke: Basic endgames: KQQ v K - corner"] [Date "2016.07.26"] [Result "*"] [Variant "Atomic"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "New to nuke: Basic endgames"] [ChapterName "KQQ v K - corner"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/k4CE3PmD/N78A9obg"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Illion"] [FEN "6QQ/8/8/8/3Kk3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1"] [SetUp "1"] [UTCDate "2016.07.26"] [UTCTime "13:51:06"] [Orientation "white"] { The winning technique in KQQ v K is important to know. If you're up two pieces or pawns, you can usually simplify to this endgame, which is winning even with connected kings. Here there is a method to separate the kings. } 1. Kc3 { Step 1 is to move the white king to a corner, in this case a1. Black then only has the three blue squares available to stay connected. } { [%csl Ga1,Ba2,Bb2,Bb1][%cal Gc3a1] } 1... Kd4 2. Kb2+ Kc3 3. Ka1+ Kb2 { Step 2 is to force black into a zugzwang. By placing the queens on the green squares (a2 and b1), black's king on b2 will be forced to step away from the white king. } { [%csl Bb2,Ga2,Gb1] } 4. Qa2 Kb1 5. Qh1 (5. Qhb2?? $10 { Occupying the red squares a2 and b2 is a mistake; this is stalemate. } { [%csl Ga1,Ra2,Rb2][%cal Rb2c2,Rb2c1] }) 5... Kb2 6. Qhb1 $22 { Black is in zugzwang here. c3 is undefended, and black must step away from the white king. } { [%cal Ra2b3,Rb1c2,Rb1c1,Bb2c3,Ra2a3] } 6... Kc3 7. Qab2+ { White cuts the black king off. Now the black king is separated, and will be mated shortly. } { [%csl Gb2,Gc3,Ga1] } 7... Kc4 8. Qd4# { This winning method will work with a queen and any other white piece, or two rooks. } *