- Box the king in — use your queen a knight's move away from the enemy king to shrink its space without giving check.
- Bring your king up. The queen cannot mate alone; walk your king towards the enemy king.
- Deliver mate on the edge — once the king is on the edge, protected by your king, the queen gives mate.
⚠️ Watch out for stalemate: always make sure the enemy king has a legal move until you give checkmate.