Stalemate and Other Draws

When nobody wins

In this lesson you will learn

What stalemate is
How to avoid stalemating your opponent
The other ways a game can be drawn

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13.1 Stalemate

Stalemate is when the player to move is not in check but has no legal move. The game ends at once as a draw. Be careful: when you are winning, stalemate throws the win away.

StalemateBlack to move. The king is not in check, but every square around it is covered: g8, g7 and h7. Black has no legal move. Draw!

Diagram 13.1White to move

Diagram 13.1 · Mate, not stalemate

White has a queen. One careless move would give stalemate.

Give checkmate.

13.2 Other draws

Not enough pieces: If neither player has enough pieces left to give checkmate (for example king against king, or king and bishop against king) the game is a draw.
Repetition: If the same position appears three times with the same player to move, a player can claim a draw.
The 50-move rule: If 50 moves pass on each side without a capture or a pawn move, a player can claim a draw.
Agreement: The players may simply agree to a draw.

Remember

Stalemate: no legal move and not in check. It is a draw.
When you are winning, always check that your opponent still has a move.
King against king, or king and one bishop or knight, is a draw.

Exercises · Lesson 13

Tell checkmate from stalemate, and finish the game with checkmate, not stalemate.

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