Everything You Need To Know About Stalemate In Chess
The word “stalemate” has penetrated into everyday usage in the English language, referring to a standoff situation in which neither opposing side can win. But originally, “stalemate” comes from chess! In this article, we cover everything you need to know about stalemate in chess - what it is, and how it works.
The Rules: Stalemate = A Draw In Chess
“Stalemate” is the situation where one player cannot make a legal move, but their king is not in check.
An example is shown below.
Note that the Black king is not in check. However, the two White queens are covering every other possible square it could potentially move to! The Black king cannot legally go to g8, g7, or h7. Therefore, a stalemate situation has arisen.
According to the rules, stalemate is a draw in chess.
Related: Making Use of Draws In Chess.
In the example above, it doesn’t matter that White has an extra two queens, or that Black’s king would be captured no matter where it goes to. The game would immediately end in a draw.
No doubt, the player with the White pieces would be rather upset about this! Having an extra two queens should, of course, result in a win. But the rules are the rules. That is why it is so important to know about stalemate in chess, and to be careful right to the end!
When your opponent is losing, they may look for stalemating chess tactics to attempt to salvage a draw from an otherwise hopeless position. After all, we all want to avoid losing in chess.
Ten Common Stalemates In Chess You Should Know
One of the best ways to master stalemate in chess is to know the important stalemating patterns. That way, once you reach the chess endgame, you will be better equipped to be on the lookout for stalemate ideas, so that you can:
- Avoid them, if you are winning the game.
- Seek them out, if you are trying to get a draw from a worse position.
Related: 100 Endgames You Must Know, available from the USCF store.
Here is a list of ten of the most important stalemate patterns from the chess endgame.
#1: The King And Pawn vs. King Stalemate
This is one of the most common chess endgames - a king and pawn vs. a lone king.
The White pawn cannot be captured because it is defended by the White king. The d8 and f8 squares are controlled by the pawn, while d7 and f7 are controlled by the White king.
#2: The King And Knight-File Pawn vs. King Stalemate
This chess stalemate is unique to when the strong side’s pawn is on the knight-file (i.e. the b-file or g-file).
The Black player has cunningly put their king in the corner, giving White the chance to fall into their stalemate trap. White has been careless, and now the Black king does not have a square it can move to. It is a stalemate, and therefore a draw.
The player with the extra pawn can usually avoid this stalemate by forcing the weak king to the open side of the board (away from the corner). Still, many wins have been squandered with this stalemate motif!
#3: The King And Rook-File Pawn vs. King Stalemate
A rook-file pawn (i.e. a pawn on the a-file or h-file) is well-known to present the defending side with extra drawing resources in the chess endgame - including this stalemate pattern.
Here, Black can secure the draw immediately by stalemating White’s king. After Kc7, White’s king cannot legally move to either b7 or b8, and the White pawn is also immobilized, with its path blocked by its own king. Stalemate is reached, and the game is officially a draw.
Related: Silman’s Complete Endgame Course, available from the USCF store.
#4: The Bishop + Wrong Rook-File Pawn vs. King Stalemate
This is one of the most useful chess endgames to know of. To the untrained eye, the below position looks absolutely hopeless for Black - with White having an extra bishop and an extra pawn. But thanks to stalemating motifs, Black can hold the draw, so long as they keep their king in the corner.
The point is that White’s bishop is the opposite color to the pawn’s promotion square. White has a light-squared bishop, while h8 is a dark-square. This means the bishop cannot force the Black king out of the corner. If White instead had a dark-squared bishop, then it would be a totally different story.
Let’s say it was White's turn to move. If White were to advance the king with Kh6 or Kg6, the Black king would be stalemated immediately. Whereas if White were to make a bishop move (e.g. Bd3), then the Black king can just go to g7 - shuffling back-and-forth between g7 and h8 - and White cannot make progress.
#5: The Queen vs. 7th-Rank Rook-File Pawn Stalemate
This is another chess endgame position which looks deceptively simple, but contains stalemate ideas. A queen vs. a single pawn is usually easily winning for the player with the queen - but if that pawn can:
- reach the 7th rank
- the weak side’s king is near
- the strong player’s king is far away
Then the player with the pawn should not resign just yet!
Such a situation has arisen in the position below.
White to move must move their queen away to avoid stalemate, giving the Black king time to threaten pawn promotion.
With the pawn on the rook-file (i.e. on the a-file or h-file), the weak king can place itself in the corner - putting itself at “risk” of stalemate.
With White to move in the above position, White does not have time to bring their king closer - they must move their queen away to free a square for the Black king so that it is not stalemated right away. Let’s say White were to play Qh6. This now means Black can play Kg1.
However, now Black has a different threat - to promote the pawn to a queen, whereupon the material balance will become equal. White’s only way of preventing this is to give a check - in which case Black’s king will simply go back to the corner and renew the stalemate threat.
Much to White’s dismay, the game will end in a draw.
#6: The Queen vs. 7th-Rank Bishop-File Pawn Stalemate
A 7th rank pawn on the bishop’s file (i.e. the c-file or f-file) can also present the weak side with stalemating ideas if their king can go to the corner, and the strong side’s king is far away.
White can try moving their king closer, but Black will then have time to move their king back to g1 or g2 to again threaten promotion.
The player with the Black pieces still has some work to do to prove that this position is, in fact, a draw, but the ability of the Black king to go to the corner on h1 to prevent Qxf2 due to stalemate is important to know.
Related: Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual, available from the USCF store.
#7: The Rook vs. 7th-Rank Rook-File Pawn Stalemate
With a 7th-rank pawn on the rook file (i.e. the a-file or h-file), stalemate motifs can also help the weak side secure a draw against a rook.
In the below position, Black currently has no legal moves.
As soon as White’s rook vacates the g-file, Black’s king can go to g2 or g1 to threaten promotion of the pawn.
If White’s rook gives a check with Rg7+, then the Black king will go back to the corner with Kh1, again threatening stalemate. There is nothing White can do other than agree to a draw.
#8: The Rook vs. King Stalemate
A rather special case, but nonetheless one which is useful to know. A sneaky opponent might tempt you into making a capture that results in a position similar to that shown below, or you could blunder it in time trouble if you are not on the lookout for it!
The White rook cannot be captured, while the a2 and b1 squares are both impossible for the Black king to move to.
#9: The Queen vs. King Stalemate
A king and queen vs. a lone king should, of course, be winning for the strong side. But in time trouble, it is possible to throw away half a point due to carelessness. It has happened countless times in bullet chess and blitz chess!
Be especially careful once your opponent’s king reaches the edge of the board. When your opponent is down by a whole queen, they expect to lose - and stalemate is literally their only hope of stealing a draw.
#10: The Rampant Stalemate
The final stalemate to know of is not so much a “pattern”. It is instead a chess tactics “idea”.
When a player’s king is immobilized, and so are all but one of the rest of their forces, then they can try to force their opponent into capturing that last remaining piece which has legal moves. That way, if that last mobile piece is captured, then a stalemate will arise.
For example, the below position occurred in Sowray vs. Williams, 2011.
Down by a rook and two bishops, White played the stunning Qg6+! offering Black the chance to capture his queen. However, if Black were to capture with Kxg6, then it would be a stalemate. So Black instead played Kg8, whereupon White continued attempting to sacrifice his own queen with Qf7+
With the game sure to end either in a draw by stalemate, or a draw by threefold repetition, Black was forced to acquiesce to sharing the point.
Related: The Complete Chess Swindler available from the USCF store.
Final Thoughts: Stalemate In The Chess Endgame
Stalemate in chess is a theme that all strong chess players should be aware of.
By studying these stalemate patterns and looking out for them in your own games, you can salvage many vital half-points from losing positions - and just as importantly, avoid throwing away half-points in winning positions!
Remember - if your opponent has not yet resigned, then it is possible that they may be pinning their last hopes on stalemate.
FAQ: Stalemate In Chess
What Is Stalemate In Chess?
A stalemate in chess is the situation where one side cannot make any legal move on its turn, and their king is not in check. When this happens, the game is a draw.
Is Stalemate A Win Or A Draw?
Stalemate in chess is a draw. Regardless of how many extra pieces one player has - if either player cannot make a legal move on their turn (and their king is not in check), the game immediately ends as a draw.
What Is An Example Of Stalemate?
One example of stalemate in chess is the famous king and pawn vs. king stalemate: with the pawn one square away from promoting, and the defending king blocking the promotion square, and the attacking king placed immediately behind its pawn. If it is the defending player’s turn to move, their king has no legal moves - and therefore stalemate has arisen. The game will be declared drawn.
Is Stalemate Fair?
When one player is losing the game, going for a stalemate is a completely legitimate and fair way of attempting to earn a draw. It is not considered somehow “unsporting” to play for a stalemate. However, it is all part of the game! It is up to the player winning the game to avoid their opponent’s attempts to stalemate.
How Do I Avoid Stalemate?
First, be aware. If you are winning the game, always be on the lookout for your opponent’s attempts to put themselves in a stalemate - especially in an endgame. If your opponent is in a losing position, stalemate may be their last, desperate hope to steal a draw. Second, study the most important stalemate patterns so that you can learn to recognize stalemate in your own games.