Chessy
Queen vs Pawn
Queen versus a lone advanced pawn is a win for the side with the queen in the vast majority of positions — the queen's mobility is simply too much for a single pawn and king to withstand, even when that pawn is one step from promoting.
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Qxd2+ Ka6 Qd7 Kb6 Kd2 Kc5
First job: neutralize the pawn
If the pawn hasn't queened yet and the queen can reach it safely, take it immediately — here Qxd2+ removes the pawn with check in one move, collapsing the whole problem down to a simple king-and-queen mate. Whenever you have a clean shot at the pawn, don't overthink the endgame theory; just capture it.
When the pawn is one step from queening
If the queen can't take the pawn directly, the standard method is to use checks and the threat of stalemate to force the defending king in front of its own pawn, buying time for your own king to approach. Repeated checks push the defender back rank by rank until your king is close enough to help finish the job — this is the classic technique for stopping a pawn that's already reached the 7th rank.
The exception worth knowing: rook and bishop pawns
The one real danger zone is a rook pawn or bishop pawn sitting on the 7th rank with its own king tucked right in the corner or next to it — in some of those specific setups, the defending king can shelter from checks and the position is only a draw. It's a narrow exception, not the rule, and it doesn't apply to central pawns like the one here, but it's worth remembering before you assume every queen-vs-pawn position is automatically won.
Frequently asked questions
Does the queen always beat a lone pawn?
Almost always, yes — with one narrow exception: a rook or bishop pawn on the 7th rank shielded by its own king in the corner can sometimes hold a draw. Central and knight pawns don't have this escape.
What should I do if I can just capture the pawn?
Take it. If the queen has a safe, immediate capture of the pawn, grab it — the resulting king-and-queen-vs-king position is a straightforward win, no special technique required.
How do you stop a pawn about to promote with just a queen?
Use a series of checks to drive the defending king in front of its own pawn, which both blocks the promotion and buys time for your king to walk up and help finish the win.
Why does the rook/bishop pawn exception exist?
In those specific corner setups, the defending king can hide from queen checks in a way it can't with a central or knight pawn, occasionally producing a stalemate-based draw instead of a win.