because the attacking king can usually escape checks by the opposing rook (which is hard to judge in advance). Rook versus rook: this is normally a draw, but a win is possible in some positions where one of the kings is in the corner or on the edge of the board and threatened with checkmate. See for example the Saavedra position. Queens and rooks with minor pieces Queen versus a rook and a : this is usually a draw. The queen has good winning chances if the king and rook are near one edge and the minor piece is near the opposite edge. In the case of the knight, the queen can trap it on the edge; then the king assists in winning it. Against the bishop, the queen makes moves eventually forcing the bishop onto a square where it can be won. Two rooks and a minor piece versus a queen: this is usually a win for the three pieces, but it can take more than fifty moves. Queen and a minor piece versus a rook and minor piece: this is normally a win for the queen. Rook and two minor pieces versus a queen: draw. Queen and a minor piece versus two rooks: this is usually a draw for a knight and a win for a bishop, although the win takes up to eighty-five moves. The best method of defense is to double the rooks on the third rank with the opposing king on the other side and keep the king behind the rooks, though this does not always guarantee the draw. This case with a bishop and queen versus rooks is unusual in that such a small advantage forces a win. It was thought to be a draw by human analysis, but computer analysis revealed a long forced win. Queen and a minor piece versus a rook and two minor pieces: In a typical stable position, queen and knight win against rook, bishop, and knight, but mating requires up to 545 moves. Other piece combinations are a draw, except that a queen and a minor piece win against a rook and a same colored bishop pair. The KQN v KRBN win is surprising since the difference in material is only one point (other pawnless combinations up to seven pieces require greater difference to win), and a queen and a minor piece draw against a queen. However, compared