What is stalemate in chess?

Stalemate is a draw in which the player whose turn it is has no legal move available and whose king is not in check. Stalemate ends the game immediately as a draw regardless of how large a material advantage the other side holds.

White's queen threatens checkmate, but one careless move stalemates.

How is stalemate different from checkmate?

Stalemate and checkmate look similar on the board, but one critical detail separates them. In checkmate, the king is in check and cannot escape. In a stalemate, the king is not in check at all. It simply has nowhere to go, and no other piece of that color can move either.

Checkmate ends the game with a winner. Stalemate ends the game with a draw. One careless move can turn a winning position into a tie.

Stalemate: the white rook moves one square right, the black king is not in check and has no legal move.

How do you accidentally create a stalemate?

Stalemate accidents often occur when one side has a lone king and the other has a king and queen. The queen is so powerful that it can accidentally control every square around the enemy king while not delivering check. You think you are closing in for checkmate, but you leave your opponent with no legal moves without being in check.

The key to avoiding stalemate is to always ask yourself one question before you move: "Does my opponent still have at least one legal move after this?" If the answer is no and you are not giving check, the game will be drawn.

The queen moves left but oversteps: the black king has no legal moves and is not in check. Stalemate.

How do you avoid stalemate when you're winning?

The simplest way to avoid stalemate is to give your opponent's king room. Use your king and queen together to push the enemy king toward a corner or an edge, but always make sure the opposing king has at least one square to move to until you are ready to deliver checkmate. Patience wins the game. Rushing creates a stalemate.

Watch for your opponent's pawns too. Remember, stalemate means zero legal moves for any of your opponent's pieces, not just the king. Sometimes a player's king has no moves but would not be stalemated because a pawn can still advance. If you also block or capture that last pawn, you may accidentally create a stalemate. Before you take your opponent's last remaining pawn, check whether removing it leaves them with no legal moves at all.

The white queen closes in, but leaves the black king a square to flee to, then delivers checkmate on the next move. Engine-verified position, Elo 704.

See it in action

Example 1: Queen too close

Does this move win, or is it a mistake?

Solution: The white queen moves four squares straight down, but this is a mistake. The black king has no legal moves and is not in check. Stalemate.

Example 2: Queen cuts off escape

Does this move win, or is it a mistake?

Solution: The white queen moves one square diagonally, left of the white king, but this is a mistake. Stalemate.

Frequently asked questions

Can stalemate happen when both sides have many pieces?

Yes, but it is rare. Stalemate usually occurs in endgames with very few pieces. In complex positions, there are almost always legal moves available. That said, it can happen in the middlegame, for instance, if one side's king is boxed in and all of that side's other pieces are blocked or pinned so that none of them can legally move either.

Does stalemate count as a win or a loss for anyone?

No. Stalemate is always a draw. Neither player wins, regardless of how much material one side may have.

Can you use stalemate as a defensive trick?

Absolutely. If you are losing badly, you can try to reach a position where you have no legal moves and are not in check. Forcing a stalemate is one of the best survival techniques when you are behind in material. Common tricks include sacrificing material to ensure a stalemate.

Reviewed by Katherine Wise, USCF Rating 1927