Is it guaranteed?

Logic Level 2

In a game of chess, is it true that, in a King+Queen (White) vs. King (Black) battle, White has a 100% chance of winning no matter what the position?

Assume both sides play optimally. Black moves first.

Yes No

4 solutions

Zain Majumder
Mar 11, 2018

This game ends in a stalemate. Therefore, white will not win $100\%$ of the time.

However, this will never happen when white plays optimally.

A I - 3 years, 1 month ago

Yes, but it says "No matter what the position", and that is a possible position.

PNJJN Pickle - 3 years, 1 month ago

Pnjjn Pickle
Mar 10, 2018

There is no saying that the queen isn't in a position where it can be captured. There's also a chance of stalemate.

how can there be stalemate?

Laura Gao - 3 years, 3 months ago

Black King at a8, White King at a6, White Queen at b1 (for example). Black cannot move.

Mark Hennings - 3 years, 3 months ago

While it is true that stalemate is possible, it is impossible for the queen to be captured.

Blan Morrison - 3 years, 3 months ago

White king at a8, Black king at a1, Black queen at b7. Black's first move has to be to take the queen

Mark Hennings - 3 years, 3 months ago

You can't start a chess game in check.

Blan Morrison - 3 years, 3 months ago

@Blan Morrison – I didn't say the game started in check. I meant more of an endgame scenario.

PNJJN Pickle - 3 years, 3 months ago

@Pnjjn Pickle – You said that both sides play optimally, therefore, white would not've moved his/her queen next to the king.

Blan Morrison - 3 years, 3 months ago

@Blan Morrison – If you are going to insist on optimal play before the start of the problem, how are you going to allow for the possibility of stalemate (which you do)? White would never move into a stalemate. The problem is asking about what might happen if players are faced with a randomly initialised board.

Mark Hennings - 3 years, 3 months ago

@Blan Morrison – I think it means that they play optimally from that point on, not before that point

Laura Gao - 3 years, 3 months ago

black move first, then if king capture queen in the first move, white king will be alone ...

emme effe - 3 years, 3 months ago

Emily Peng
Dec 28, 2019

There is a possibility that, when randomizing the board, the black king can end up next to an undefended white queen. It can also start trapped by the opposing pieces, or a stalemate. In both, white doesn't win. So, a win is not guaranteed.

Akshay Aradhya
Mar 14, 2018

Just curious, if this question was changed such that king and queen start from their starting positions and black moves first. What is the outcome if white plays optimally ?

White wins.

PNJJN Pickle - 3 years, 2 months ago

Is it guaranteed?

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