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Rules & notation

Stalemate

The side to move has no legal move and is not in check — the game is an immediate draw.

Stalemate is not checkmate: the king is not under attack, but the player simply cannot make any legal move. The result is a draw, no matter how much material the other side has.

It is the great swindle of the endgame — the drowning player's last resource when a queen or extra pawns should have won.

Why it matters

Countless winning endgames are thrown away by stalemate; countless lost ones are saved by it.

The mistake everyone makes

Grabbing every pawn with a queen up and accidentally leaving the enemy king with no legal move.

Related terms

Checkmate
The king is in check and there is no legal way out — the game is over.
Promotion
A pawn reaching the last rank becomes any piece you choose — almost always a queen.
King activity
In the endgame the king becomes a strong piece and should march toward the action.

See Stalemate in your own games

Play the engine, train tactics, and analyse your games — ChessRanger points out these patterns as they come up so the word turns into a skill. Free to start.

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