Example of stalemate in chess
If Black is to move, he is in stalemate.
Photo of the above situation
- This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.
Stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move has no legal moves but is not in check. Stalemate ends the game, with the result a draw. Often during the endgame the player who is behind in material seeks stalemate in order to avoid losing the game (Hooper & Whyld 1992).
In certain chess variants, such as suicide chess, stalemate is not necessarily a draw. Depending on the variant, stalemate can be a win for either the player with fewer pieces (a draw results if the players have the same number of pieces) or for the stalemated player.
Stalemate has become a widely used metaphor for other situations where there is a conflict or contest between two parties, such as war or political negotiations, and neither side is able to achieve victory, resulting in what is also called a dead heat, standoff, or deadlock. Unlike in chess, this usage allows for the situation to be a temporary one and thus ultimately resolved, even if it seems currently intractable.
The remainder of this article is about stalemate in chess.
Simple examples
Four examples of stalemate with Black to move. Separation through the x and y axes.
With Black to move, the black king is stalemated in each of the four positions in the diagram at the right. Stalemate is an important factor in the endgame — the endgame set-up in the top-right of this diagram, for example, quite frequently is relevant in play (see King and pawn versus king endgame).
The position in the bottom-left is an example of a pawn drawing against a queen. Stalemates of this sort can often save a player from losing an apparently hopeless position (see Queen versus pawn endgame). In that position, even if it were White's move, there is no way to avoid this stalemate without allowing Black's pawn to promote. (White may be able to win the resulting queen versus queen ending, however, if the white king is close enough).
Examples from games
There are many examples of stalemates in chess and just because a stalemate can be easily achieved with just a few pieces doesn't mean it can be done with more pieces.
Anand-Kramik
Anand-Kramnik, 2007
Before 65... Kxf5, stalemate.
In this game between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik from the 2007 World Chess Championship, Black must capture the pawn on f5, causing stalemate (Benko 2008:49). (Any other move loses.)
Korchnoi-Karpov
Korchnoi-Karpov 1978
Position after 124. Bc3g7
An intentional stalemate occurred on the 124th move of the fifth game of the 1978 World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi [1]. The game had been a theoretical draw for many moves (Karolyi & Aplin 2007:170), (Griffiths 1993:43-46). (Even if White wins the black pawn, the black king can get to the a8 corner and set up a fortress. See fortress (chess)#Fortress in a corner.) However the players were not on speaking terms so neither would offer a draw by agreement. Korchnoi said that it gave him pleasure to stalemate Karpov and that it was slightly humiliating (Kasparov 2006:120). (Incidentally, as of 2008 this is the longest game played in a World Chess Championship final match, and also the only World Championship game to end in stalemate.)
Gelfand-Kramnik
Gelfand-Kramnik, Candidates match, 1994
Stalemate can also occur with more pieces on the board. The position at right occurred in Gelfand-Kramnik, FIDE Candidates match, game 6, Sanghi Nagar 1994. Kramnik (Black), down two pawns and on the defensive, would be very happy with a draw. Gelfand (White) has just played 67. Re7? (from e4), a strong-looking move that threatens 68. Qxf6, winning a third pawn, or 68.Rc7, further constricting Black. Black responded 67... Qc1! If White takes Black's undefended rook with 68. Qxd8, Black draws with 68... Qh1+ 69. Kg3 Qh2+!, forcing 70. Kxh2 stalemate. If White avoids the stalemate with 68. Rxg7+ Kxg7 69. Qxd8, Black draws by perpetual check with 69... Qh1+ 70. Kg3 Qg1+ 71. Kf4 Qc1+! 72. Ke4 Qc6+! 73. Kd3!? (73. d5 Qc4+; 73. Qd5 Qc2+) Qxf3+! 74. Kd2 Qg2+! 75. Kc3 Qc6+ 76. Kb4 Qb5+ 77. Ka3 Qd3+. Gelfand played 68. d5 instead, but still only drew. [2]
Bernstein-Smyslov
Sometimes a surprise stalemate saves a game. In the game between Ossip Bernstein and Vasily Smyslov, Black should win by sacrificing the f-pawn and using the king to support the b-pawn. However, Smyslov thought it was good to advance the b-pawn, because of the skewer of the rook if it captures the pawn once it is on b2. Play went:
Now if 2... Rh2+ 3. Kf3! Rxb2 is stalemate. Smyslov moved 2... Kg4 and the game was drawn after 3. Kf1 (see rook and pawn versus rook endgame) (Minev 2004:21).
Matulovic-Minev
In the Bernstein-Smyslov game, the possibility of stalemate arose because of a blunder. It can arise without a blunder, as in the game Milan Matulović-Nikolay Minev (at right). Play continued:
- 1. Rc6 Kg5
- 2. Kh3 Kh5
- 3. f4 (hoping for 3... Ra3+?, with a win for White)
- 3....Rxa6!
and now 4. Rxa6 would be stalemate. White played 4. Rc5+ instead, and the game was drawn several moves later (Minev 2004:22).
Williams-Harrwitz
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