Chessworld.net founded in 2000 is an online chess site.If you would like to play relaxed, friendly online chess, then...
or
Stalemate
A Draw When There Are No Legal Moves
🤝 Definition: Stalemate is a draw.
It happens when the player to move has no legal moves — but their king is not in check.
Stalemate is one of the easiest rules to understand in words — and one of the easiest to miss in practice. The key is to remember: not in check + no legal moves = draw.
Stalemate checklist
- It is that side’s turn to move.
- The king is not in check.
- There is no legal move with any piece.
5 Classic Diagram Examples (Why Each One Is Stalemate)
Example 1: King boxed in by a Queen
|
|
Black to move is stalemated.
The king is not in check, but every escape square is controlled by the white queen.
The king is not in check, but every escape square is controlled by the white queen.
Example 2: King & pawn vs king (wrong file / tempo)
|
|
Black to move is stalemated.
The pawn on f7 locks key squares, and the white king controls the rest.
The pawn on f7 locks key squares, and the white king controls the rest.
Example 3: Pinned bishop = no legal move
|
|
Black to move is stalemated.
The bishop cannot move because it is pinned to the king by the rook. The king also has no legal squares.
The bishop cannot move because it is pinned to the king by the rook. The king also has no legal squares.
Example 4: Queen vs pawn endgame stalemate
|
|
Black to move is stalemated.
The pawn is stuck, the king is boxed in, and the queen controls all escape squares — without giving check.
The pawn is stuck, the king is boxed in, and the queen controls all escape squares — without giving check.
Example 5: Wrong bishop / wrong rook pawn pattern
|
|
Black to move is stalemated.
The pawn on a7 and king on a6 restrict the king completely; the bishop cannot help because it controls the wrong color squares.
The pawn on a7 and king on a6 restrict the king completely; the bishop cannot help because it controls the wrong color squares.
Example 6: Pinned Knight Stalemate
|
|
Black has a rook, but it is pinned and cannot move.
The king has no legal squares → stalemate.
Example 7: Wrong Bishop + Rook Pawn
|
|
A famous endgame trap: the bishop controls the wrong color.
The king is frozen in the corner → stalemate.
Example 8: Rook Version of the Classic Pawn Stalemate
|
|
The pawn blocks the rook’s line.
The king has no squares and no moves → stalemate.
Example 9: Kingside Pinned-Rook Stalemate
|
|
The rook cannot move without exposing check.
The king has no escape → stalemate.
Example 10: NOT Stalemate – King Is in Check ❌
|
|
The king is in check.
If the king is in check, the position can never be stalemate.
Example 11: NOT Stalemate – Legal Moves Exists ❌
|
|
It looks frozen — but Black still has one legal move.
Therefore this is not stalemate.
♟️ Related Concepts
Check
A threat to the king. Stalemate cannot occur if the king is in check.
Checkmate
In checkmate the king is in check and has no legal defense. In stalemate the king is not in check.
Draw
Stalemate is an official drawing method, alongside repetition and the 50-move rule.
Insufficient Material
Another draw: neither side has enough pieces to force checkmate (e.g., lone kings).