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Stalemate

If your opponent has no legal move and is not in check, the game is a draw. Learn to avoid this trap when you are winning.

Beginner5 min

No moves, no check

It is Black's turn. The king is not in check, but every square it could go to is attacked by the queen, and Black has no other pieces. When the side to move has no legal move and is not in check, it is stalemate, and the game ends in a draw.

No moves, no check abcdefgh12345678

The winner's trap

Stalemate usually happens to the player who is winning. With a queen against a bare king it is tempting to squeeze the king tighter and tighter. Here queen to f7 looks strong, but Black would have no move at all. Before every move, ask: will my opponent still have a legal move?

The winner's trap abcdefgh12345678

Give the king a square

Your turn

Don't stalemate! Bring your king closer while leaving Black a move, then checkmate.

Show the answer

King to f6 left Black one move, to g8. Then the queen landed on g7, protected by your king: checkmate.

Give the king a square abcdefgh12345678

Same idea, other corner

Your turn

Checkmate in two moves without stalemating Black.

Show the answer

King to b6 left Black only b8, and then the queen gave checkmate on the back rank.

Same idea, other corner abcdefgh12345678

Quick check

Question

It's Black's turn. Black is not in check but has no legal move. What happens?

  • The game is a draw
  • White wins
  • Black skips a turn
Show the answer

The game is a draw

That is stalemate. Neither side wins, no matter how much material one side has.

More in Rules

Castling Castling moves the king and a rook in one turn, tucking the king away and bringing the rook into play. Learn how and when you may castle. En passant A special pawn capture: when an enemy pawn rushes two squares past yours, you may take it as if it had moved only one. Learn when it's allowed. Check and checkmate When your king is attacked you must save it. Learn the three ways out of check, and how to give a checkmate that ends the game. Promotion A pawn that reaches the last rank turns into a queen, rook, bishop or knight. Learn how promotion works and why the queen is usually the choice. The knight The knight jumps in an L-shape and is the only piece that can leap over others. Learn its move and why it hates the corner.