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If I play as White and use my queen to check Black on every move, and Black can only move their king to get out of the check, can I win the game? White could move something else, but they decide to check on every move.

This happened years ago when I was new to the game in a tournament, and the referee gave me the win as it was not checkmate, but my opponent only had a king and two pawns left. Was that my win?

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    I can't understand your question. Are you asking about perpetual check (i.e. one side decides to give check constantly)?
    – Allure
    Commented Apr 6, 2020 at 4:56

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No, this is not a win.

What you describe is called perpetual check and according to the rules of chess it results in a draw.

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    Could add that it is typically used as a defensive technique in order to secure the draw in worse position.
    – user1583209
    Commented Apr 6, 2020 at 8:35
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    The question doesn't state that the checks are in repeated positions, so this isn't necessarily perpetual check (and thus is not necessarily a draw). Beginners often put their opponents into a series of checks without achieving the requirements for 3-fold repetition.
    – GreenMatt
    Commented Oct 30, 2020 at 13:22
  • The question specifically describes perpetual check. If you give check every move, eventually also the positions will repeat.
    – BlindKungFuMaster
    Commented Nov 4, 2020 at 22:27
  • Theoretically, yes, but depending on the position it could take very, very long before the positions repeat - not to mention repeat three times. Happily there are the 50-move and 75-move rules, as well as the possibility of a draw by mutual agreement.
    – Stef
    Commented Feb 5 at 19:47
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Is the game done if your only movement is getting out of check?

No. By rule, your only legal move when in check is to get out of check if you can. If you cannot, the game is over, as it is checkmate.

If I play as White and use my queen to check Black on every move, and Black can only move their king to get out of the check, can I win the game? White could move something else, but they decide to check on every move.

Initially, the game isn't over just because you keep putting the other player in check. However, if this goes on long enough without any captures or pawn moves, your opponent could invoke the 50 move rule. If that doesn't happen, the tournament director (TD) could eventually invoke the 75 move rule (referenced at the same Wikipedia link as the 50 move rule). In either case, the game would be a draw. Also, before you invoke one of those rules, you may achieve a threefold repetition, which is also a draw.

This happened years ago when I was new to the game in a tournament, and the referee gave me the win as it was not checkmate, but my opponent only had a king and two pawns left. Was that my win?

Taking the last first, yes, it was your win. However, instead of a win on the board, the TD gave you the win by adjudication, because in their opinion you would have gotten there eventually. There may have been a time constraint to be met - perhaps the next round needed to start to keep the event on schedule, or - if it was the last round - the room needed to be vacated for another event.

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