Stalemate
Stalemate is a kind of draw that happens when one side has NO legal moves to make. If the king is NOT in check, but no piece can be moved without putting the king in check, then the game will end with a stalemate draw.
Check out our in-depth lesson on stalemate here: Lesson on Stalemate
Examples of stalemate
Example
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Scenario |
A simple case of stalemate | In the image below if it's Black's turn to move, the game is over—stalemate! But why?
This is due to one of the rules of chess: you may never move your king into check. If we examine all of Black's options, we'll find that every square they can move to is attacked by the queen:
Black has no legal moves, and so the game is declared a draw. |
A more complicated stalemate | Stalemate can also happen with a lot more pieces on the board. In the example below it's Black's turn. What piece can they move?
Even though Black has more pieces than in the other scenario, none of them can move because they are blocked by other pieces!
It may seem like the bishop is free to move, but it is pinned by the rook. The king has three squares to choose from, but if it moves up to a7, it’s in the path of the rook on h7. If it moves over to b8, it’s in the path of the queen, and if it moves to b7, it’s double attacked by the queen and rook. Black has no legal moves and yet must make a move. This is the definition of a stalemate. |
Stalemate strategy
Trying to create a stalemate can be a smart tactic when you’re far behind on material. Moving your king into a corner or positioning it behind an opponent’s pawn are common ways to force a stalemate if your opponent isn’t paying close attention.
To avoid stalemates, make sure your opponent always has at least one legal move before you limit their options. Avoid pushing your advantage too aggressively or placing pieces in a way that completely traps your opponent’s king. Always keep an eye on any pawns or minor pieces that can still move.
FAQs
Why wasn't my game recognized as a stalemate?
A game is only a stalemate if the player to move has no legal moves and their king is not in check. If any pawn or piece still has a legal move, the game continues. Always double-check all possible moves for both players.
Why was my checkmate treated as a stalemate?
This can happen when your final move leaves your opponent without legal moves but doesn’t place their king in check. In that case, it’s a stalemate, not checkmate. Try to plan your final moves so the opponent’s king is actually in check.
Check out this article to learn more about Stalemate: Stalemate - Chess Terms.