stalemate

Stalemate is a term used in chess to describe a drawing condition that occurs when the player to move has no legal moves and is not in check. In this situation, the game ends immediately in a draw. By definition, the side to move must be free from check at the moment; if the king is currently in check, the position is checkmate instead.

Stalemate commonly arises in endgames, where one side has sufficient material to checkmate but can trap the opponent’s king in a position with no legal moves. It can occur through careful calculation by the defender or as an accidental consequence of an aggressive attack by the opponent. Typical motifs include the defending king and a few pieces being boxed near the edge of the board, or the defending side being forced to move pawns to squares that ultimately leave no legal options without placing the king in check.

Players often aim to avoid stalemate when trying to win, because a misstep can turn a winning line into a draw. Conversely, a player who is losing may seek a stalemate to salvage at least a half-point. In formal terms, stalemate is one of several draw conditions in chess; others include insufficient material, threefold repetition, and the fifty-move rule.

Beyond chess, stalemate also appears as a metaphor for political or strategic deadlock, where opposing sides cannot advance toward a resolution.