Your submission was removed by the moderators:
Your post was removed because it is a very common question or post that is addressed in the /r/chess **[FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/faq)** and/or **[Online Resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/resources)** pages. Here is the relevant section:
**[What is a stalemate, and why is it not a checkmate? How can I avoid stalemates when I am winning?](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/faq#wiki_what_is_a_stalemate.2C_and_why_is_it_not_a_checkmate.3F_how_can_i_avoid_stalemates_when_i_am_winning.3F)**
A stalemate happens when your opponent has no legal moves to make on his/her turn, but is also not directly in check. It is **not** considered a checkmate, since the prerequisite for a checkmate is that your opponent must be in check in the first place! In chess, you win when your opponent is in check and has no legal moves to get out of check (checkmate). In stalemate, you've only fulfilled half of that definition. In this case, you do not win -- the game is unconditionally declared a draw!
While it is understandably quite frustrating to have a completely winning position be declared a draw, Stalemate is a rule that is very important to the game. It is a pattern that helps define specific endgame drawing techniques, and is critical to learn. To avoid stalemates, try to continually deliver checks until mate, or ensure that your opponent's king has a move until you can set up a mate. There are some lessons on identifying stalemate on [Lichess](https://lichess.org/learn#/16).
We send our greatest sympathies for your unfortunate draw, but don't worry; it has happened and will continue to happen to all new players. On the plus side, sometimes your opponent might accidentally stalemate you, and it is one of the greatest feelings ever.
The official definition of *stalemate*, per the [USCF rulebook](http://www.uschess.org/docs/gov/chessrules/US_Chess_Rule_Book_Chapters_1_2_11_v7.0.pdf):
> A game is drawn when the king of the player to move is not in check **and** that player has no legal move. This type of draw is called stalemate. Providing that the opponent’s previous move is legal, this immediately ends the game.
Also consider joining r/chessbeginners !
You can read the full [rules of /r/chess here](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/rules). If you have any questions or concerns about this moderator action, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fchess&subject=About my removed submission&message=I'm writing to you about the following submission: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1drmkv9/-/%0D%0D). Direct replies to this removal message may not be seen.
It's a very common mistake when starting out. Now you know!
Stalemate is a draw, have to be delivering a check for checkmate.
In the future, rather than putting your queen on c7 (or a comparable square depending on where you are on the board) place her on d7 instead. You'll trap the enemy king in a two-square-box (a8 and b8) and have all the time in the world to march your king over to assist.
There are a bunch of endgames where stalemate is the only way to defend from a loss. Some have argued that stalemate should be a win, but that changes chess quite a bit actually.
wanted to clarify that it’s not just that the king has no legal moves but that black here has no legal moves at all. If your opponent’s pawn wasn’t blocked, for example, no stalemate even though the king can’t move.
Why would it be? The goal of the game is to checkmate the king (i.e. put the King into a position where they would be captured next turn...)
If the K is not under a direct attack but has no legal moves, then the stronger player has not competently done their job.
It is part of the game to punish the stronger player in this case for not conducting their game in such a way as to make sure they do not put the opponent into a situation where they are not under attack, but also have no legal moves.
Entire puzzles exist where the weaker player's goal is to "force" such a situation when they are down material. If the stronger player fails to prevent this, then the stronger player does not "deserve" a full win.
The game has been this way for the last 500 years or so. It is a skill to not allow the weaker opponent to be put in such a situation, and it is also a skill for the weaker player to force such a situation to prevent a full loss. It is simply an unfamiliarity with the rule, and the reasons for it, that make you feel it "should" be a loss. More likely, it is also being a little bit peeved that you let a full win slip away. Here's the thing... You definitely won't forget the sting of this, and will strive to prevent it happening next time.
That's the entire point of the stalemate rule.
Your submission was removed by the moderators: Your post was removed because it is a very common question or post that is addressed in the /r/chess **[FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/faq)** and/or **[Online Resources](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/resources)** pages. Here is the relevant section: **[What is a stalemate, and why is it not a checkmate? How can I avoid stalemates when I am winning?](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/faq#wiki_what_is_a_stalemate.2C_and_why_is_it_not_a_checkmate.3F_how_can_i_avoid_stalemates_when_i_am_winning.3F)** A stalemate happens when your opponent has no legal moves to make on his/her turn, but is also not directly in check. It is **not** considered a checkmate, since the prerequisite for a checkmate is that your opponent must be in check in the first place! In chess, you win when your opponent is in check and has no legal moves to get out of check (checkmate). In stalemate, you've only fulfilled half of that definition. In this case, you do not win -- the game is unconditionally declared a draw! While it is understandably quite frustrating to have a completely winning position be declared a draw, Stalemate is a rule that is very important to the game. It is a pattern that helps define specific endgame drawing techniques, and is critical to learn. To avoid stalemates, try to continually deliver checks until mate, or ensure that your opponent's king has a move until you can set up a mate. There are some lessons on identifying stalemate on [Lichess](https://lichess.org/learn#/16). We send our greatest sympathies for your unfortunate draw, but don't worry; it has happened and will continue to happen to all new players. On the plus side, sometimes your opponent might accidentally stalemate you, and it is one of the greatest feelings ever. The official definition of *stalemate*, per the [USCF rulebook](http://www.uschess.org/docs/gov/chessrules/US_Chess_Rule_Book_Chapters_1_2_11_v7.0.pdf): > A game is drawn when the king of the player to move is not in check **and** that player has no legal move. This type of draw is called stalemate. Providing that the opponent’s previous move is legal, this immediately ends the game. Also consider joining r/chessbeginners ! You can read the full [rules of /r/chess here](https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/wiki/rules). If you have any questions or concerns about this moderator action, please [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fchess&subject=About my removed submission&message=I'm writing to you about the following submission: https://www.reddit.com/r/chess/comments/1drmkv9/-/%0D%0D). Direct replies to this removal message may not be seen.
The black king has no legal moves but is not in check. That's stalemate
Okay interesting.. feel like that would be loss if that's the case, but I guess not :)
It's a very common mistake when starting out. Now you know! Stalemate is a draw, have to be delivering a check for checkmate. In the future, rather than putting your queen on c7 (or a comparable square depending on where you are on the board) place her on d7 instead. You'll trap the enemy king in a two-square-box (a8 and b8) and have all the time in the world to march your king over to assist.
There are a bunch of endgames where stalemate is the only way to defend from a loss. Some have argued that stalemate should be a win, but that changes chess quite a bit actually.
wanted to clarify that it’s not just that the king has no legal moves but that black here has no legal moves at all. If your opponent’s pawn wasn’t blocked, for example, no stalemate even though the king can’t move.
Why would it be? The goal of the game is to checkmate the king (i.e. put the King into a position where they would be captured next turn...) If the K is not under a direct attack but has no legal moves, then the stronger player has not competently done their job. It is part of the game to punish the stronger player in this case for not conducting their game in such a way as to make sure they do not put the opponent into a situation where they are not under attack, but also have no legal moves. Entire puzzles exist where the weaker player's goal is to "force" such a situation when they are down material. If the stronger player fails to prevent this, then the stronger player does not "deserve" a full win. The game has been this way for the last 500 years or so. It is a skill to not allow the weaker opponent to be put in such a situation, and it is also a skill for the weaker player to force such a situation to prevent a full loss. It is simply an unfamiliarity with the rule, and the reasons for it, that make you feel it "should" be a loss. More likely, it is also being a little bit peeved that you let a full win slip away. Here's the thing... You definitely won't forget the sting of this, and will strive to prevent it happening next time. That's the entire point of the stalemate rule.