Chess Stalemates: How to Avoid a Draw in Chess

A stalemate is a special type of draw in the game of chess that occurs when the chess player who has to move cannot make any legal moves to a safe square but is also not in check. Stalemate typically ends the game with a draw—a scenario in which there is no way for either player to win the game. A stalemate can also happen during an endgame scenario when very few pieces are left on the board. On occasion, it can also take place during the middlegame, when each player has moved their king to safety and developed most of their major pieces.

Stalemate doesn't benefit a winning side in a game, but it can be an important defensive measure for the weaker side, as in some cases, the game ends with a half-point to the stalemating player rather than zero points. But it's also a controversial decision: for some players, a stalemate can't be a draw because it forces zugzwang, a scenario in which all variations on a player's next move will end with the loss of a piece.

One of the most famous and unique examples of a stalemate took place during the fifth game of the 1978 World Chess Championship between grandmasters Viktor Korchnoi and Anatoly Karpov. The stalemate occurred on the 124th move with a bishop endgame. Korchnoi’s white bishop was unable to attack or defend, and his white king couldn't force his opponent's king into a position for the win, which resulted in a stalemate. The game was the longest in a World Chess Championship final match and the only one to end in a draw before 2007.

There are several ways to avoid ending a game in a stalemate position:

• Understand the stalemate rule. A stalemate occurs when a player can't make any legal moves to a safe square, not when they have only one or two trapped pieces. Even if their next move doesn’t change the game’s course, you should still allow them to move and not resort to a stalemate where there is no clear winner.
• Observe your opponent. If you find yourself in the winning position, be aware of all of your opponent's options. Can they make another legal move without placing themselves in check? Try to envision their next possible moves to see how and when you can deliver a final check.
• Give your opponent room to move. One of the most common stalemate scenarios is the corner stalemate. In this situation, a king is locked into a corner by a queen or other piece two rows away and cannot make any legal moves. Leaving at least two possible spaces for them to make legal moves will allow you time to bring in your second piece for check and prevent a stalemate.
• Avoid focusing on other pieces. New chess players may find themselves in a winning position and expend time and energy picking off their opponent's less powerful pieces, like a pawn or rook. You can rob yourself of a swift and decisive checkmate and even force your opponent into an insufficient material situation where stalemate is the only option, which will prevent you from winning.

The difference between stalemate and checkmate is determined by whether the king is in check or not. If the king is in check and cannot escape, it's considered checkmate (or mate). Stalemate happens when a player is not in check but can't make a legal move. Checkmate ends with a clear winner, while stalemate ends in a draw or tie, depending on the particular game’s rules.

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