checkmate

Checkmate is a decisive condition in chess in which the player to move has their king in check and has no legal move to escape capture. When checkmate occurs, the game ends immediately with the mating side declared the winner. It is distinct from check, where capture is possible, and from stalemate, which is a draw.

Formally, checkmate occurs when the king is in check and the player to move has no legal move that would remove the threat. This means that capturing the attacking piece, blocking the attack, or moving the king to a safe square is not possible because of the arrangement of pieces on the board and the rules governing legal moves.

Etymology and history: The term checkmate derives from Persian shah mat, meaning “the king is helpless” or “the king is dead,” and entered European chess terminology through Arabic and medieval translations, becoming standard in English.

Examples and patterns: Checkmate is often achieved by coordinating pieces to create a mating net that confines the opposing king. Famous early examples include Fool’s Mate—the fastest possible mate, after 1 f3 e5 2 g4 Qh4#—and Scholar’s Mate, a four-move sequence leading to Qxf7# or similar patterns against insufficient defense.

Relation to other outcomes: Checkmate is the primary objective of the game and ends it; it is contrasted with stalemate, which yields a draw, and with resignations, when a player voluntarily concedes defeat. In standard chess, checkmate ends the game immediately; in some variants, different conditions may apply.