Stalemate
"A situation where the player to move is not in check but has no legal moves."
Interactive Demonstration
Visualizing the Concept
Use the interactive board to explore this position. Understanding Stalemate is much easier when you can visualize the pieces in action.
7k/5Q2/6K1/8/8/8/8/8 b - - 0 1In-Depth Explanation
A Stalemate is a type of draw in chess. It occurs when the player to move has no legal moves and their king is not in check. The game ends immediately as a draw, regardless of material advantage.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Stalemate is a draw. The game ends immediately with a 1/2 – 1/2 result, regardless of how much material either side has.
In checkmate the king is in check and has no legal moves – a loss. In stalemate the king is NOT in check but the player has no legal moves at all – a draw.
In king-and-pawn or queen endgames, always leave your opponent's king at least one legal square. Push pawns and check with care; use Plychess analysis to visualize your opponent's escape squares.
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