Explanation

This endgame is usually winning for the side with the queen, but there are some positions where the side with the rook can draw (or very occasionally win) with one of the following tactical motifs:

• Win the queen with a pin,
• Win the queen with a skewer,
• Escape with a stalemate by sacrificing the rook.

When playing this endgame in practice, watch out for these ideas. You might sometimes be able to get a draw with the rook. When playing with the queen, don't blunder into these tactics.

Examples

White just got a new queen, but Black had foreseen this and can now win the queen with a skewer: 1...Rf1+ 2.Kg3 Rg1+ 3.Kf4 Rxg8.

When the king is on the edge, and the queen is a knight-jump away and stalemates the king, desperado rook sacrifices become possible.

Here White can draw with perpetual check or stalemate: 1.Ra7+ Kb5 2.Rb7+ Ka6 (If the king goes to the c-file, White can win the queen with a pin, e.g. 2...Kc5 3.Rc7.) 3.Ra7+ Kb6 (If 3...Kb5, White can keep checking with 4.Rb7+) 4.Ra6+! Kxa6 stalemate (or 4...Kb5 5.Rxc6).