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stalemate

 
Dictionary: stale·mate   (stāl'māt') pronunciation
n.
  1. A situation in which further action is blocked; a deadlock.
  2. A drawing position in chess in which the king, although not in check, can move only into check and no other piece can move.
tr.v., -mat·ed, -mat·ing, -mates.

To bring into a stalemate.

[Obsolete stale (from Middle English , probably from Anglo-Norman estale, fixed position , from Old French estal; see stale1) + MATE2.]


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Wordsmith Words: stalemate
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(STAYL-mayt)
noun

1. A position where no other pieces can move and king cannot move without going into check.

2. A deadlocked situation.
verb tr.
To bring into a stalemate. [From Middle English, from Anglo-Norman estale (a fixed position) + -mate.]

Usage:

"`We can again resort to lobbying in case we fail to avoid a stalemate,' Latief said." — Wiranto Elected Chairman of Team to Elect President, The Jakarta Post (Indonesia), Oct 28, 1997.



Thesaurus: stalemate
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noun

    An equality of scores, votes, or performances in a contest: dead heat, deadlock, draw, standoff, tie. See same/different/compare.

Antonyms: stalemate
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n

Definition: deadlock
Antonyms: headway, progress


Word Tutor: stalemate
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: A position in Chess that results in a draw when no move can be made without exposing the King to attack. Also: A deadlock.

pronunciation I have wanted to force her into a stalemate for a long time.

Wikipedia: Stalemate
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Example of stalemate
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 kd Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 kl g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 ql h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Black to move is in stalemate. Black has no legal move since each square to which the lone king might move is attacked by the white queen or king (Polgar & Truong 2005:33).
This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

Stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check but has no legal moves. A stalemate ends the game in a draw. Stalemate is covered in the rules of chess.

During the endgame, stalemate is a resource that can enable the player with the inferior position to draw the game. In more complicated positions, stalemate is much rarer, usually taking the form of a swindle that succeeds only if the superior side is inattentive. Stalemate is also a common theme in endgame studies and other chess problems.

The outcome of a stalemate was standardized as a draw in the 19th century. Before this standardization, its treatment varied widely, including being deemed a win for the stalemating player, a half-win for that player, or a loss for that player; not being permitted; and resulting in the stalemated player missing a turn.

Some regional chess variants have not allowed a player to play a stalemating move. In different versions of suicide chess, another chess variant, stalemate may or may not be treated as a draw.

The word "stalemate" is also used for a metaphor when a conflict has reached an impasse and resolution seems difficult or impossible, i.e. a no-win situation.

Diagram 1
Chess zhor 22.png
Chess zver 22.png a8 b8 kd c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 22.png
a7 b7 pl c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 kl c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 22.png
Black to move is in stalemate
Diagram 2
Chess zhor 22.png
Chess zver 22.png a8 kd b8 bd c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 rl Chess zver 22.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 kl c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 22.png
Black to move is in stalemate
Diagram 3
Chess zhor 22.png
Chess zver 22.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 22.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 kl d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 rl c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 kd b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 22.png
Black to move is in stalemate
Diagram 4
Chess zhor 22.png
Chess zver 22.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 22.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 kl h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 ql c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pd b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 kd b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 22.png
Black to move is in stalemate


Contents

Simple examples

With Black to move, Black is stalemated in diagrams 1 to 4. (Chess diagram convention has white playing up the board, black down.) Stalemate is an important factor in the endgame – the endgame set-up in diagram 2, for example, quite frequently is relevant in play (see King and pawn versus king endgame). The position in diagram 2 occurred in an 1898 game between Amos Burn and Harry Pillsbury[1] and also in a 1925 game between Savielly Tartakower and Richard Réti.[2]

The position in diagram 4 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).

Stalemate in the endgame

As the previous section suggests, stalemate is a typical element of the endgame (Pachman 1973:17), often enabling the player with the inferior position to draw the game (Hooper & Whyld 1992:387). Below are some examples of this from actual play.

Anand versus Kramnik

Anand-Kramnik, 2007
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 pd h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 pd g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 pl g5 h5 kl
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 kd f4 g4 h4 pl
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Before 65... Kxf5, stalemate

In this game between Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik from the 2007 World Chess Championship,[3] Black must capture the pawn on f5, causing stalemate (Benko 2008:49). (Any other move by Black loses.)

Korchnoi versus Karpov

Korchnoi-Karpov 1978
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 kl g7 bl h7 kd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 pd b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 pl b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Position after 124. Bc3-g7

An intentional stalemate occurred on the 124th move of the fifth game of the 1978 World Championship match between Anatoly Karpov and Viktor Korchnoi.[4] 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 and Wrong rook pawn#Korchnoi-Karpov.) 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 (Fox & James 1993:236).)

Bernstein versus Smyslov

Bernstein-Smyslov, 1946
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 rl c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 kd g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 pd g4 h4
a3 b3 pd c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 rd
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 kl f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Black to move ...
Bernstein-Smyslov, 1946
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 kd g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 pd g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 kl g3 h3
a2 b2 rd c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
.. fell into a stalemate trap

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:

1... b2??
2. Rxb2!

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).

Matulović versus Minev

Matulović-Minev, 1956
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 pl b6 rl c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 kd g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 pl g3 kl h3
a2 rd b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
White to move
Matulović-Minev, 1956
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 rl b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 kd
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 pl g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3 kl
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Stalemate if White had played 4. Rxa6

In the Bernstein-Smyslov game, the possibility of stalemate arose because of a blunder. It can arise without one, 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 versus Harrwitz

Williams-Harrwitz, 1846
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 rd c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 nd c4 d4 e4 f4 kd g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pd b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 kl b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 rl h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Position after 72.Ka1
Williams-Harrwitz
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 kd d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 rd b3 rl c3 nd d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pd b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 kl b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Position after 84.Rb3! If Black takes the rook either way, the result is stalemate.

In the game between Elijah Williams and Daniel Harrwitz (diagram at right), Black was up a knight and a pawn in an endgame. This would normally be a decisive material advantage, but Black could find no way to make progress because of various stalemate resources available to White. The game continued:

72. ... Ra8
73. Rc1 Ke3 (avoiding the threatened 73...Nc2+)
74. Rc4 Ra4
75. Rc1 Kd2
76. Rc4 Kd3 (76. ... Nc2+ 77.Rxc2+! Kxc2 is stalemate)
77. Rc3+! Kd4 (77. ...Kxc3 is stalemate)
78. Rc1 Ra3
79. Rd1+ Kc5 (79. ... Rd3 80. Rxd3+! leaves Black with insufficient material to win after 80. ... Nxd3 81. Kxa2, or a standard fortress in a corner draw after 80. ... Kxd3)
80. Rc1+ Kb5
81. Rc7 Nd5
82. Rc2 Nc3
83. Rb2+ Kc4
84. Rb3! (diagram at right)

Now the players agreed to a draw, since 84...Kxb3 or 84...Rxb3 is stalemate, as is 84...Ra8 85.Rxc3+! Kxc3.[5]

Black could still win the game until his critical mistake 82...Nc3. Instead, 82...Nb4 wins - for example: 83. Rc8 Re3 84. Rb8+ Kc5 85. Rc8+ Kd5 86. Rd8+ Kc6 87. Ra8 Re1+ 88. Kb2 Kc5 89. Kc3 a1=Q and wins.

More complicated examples

Stalemate can also occur with more pieces on the board. Outside of relatively simple endgame positions, such as those above, stalemate occurs rarely, usually when the side with the superior position has overlooked the possibility of stalemate (Pachman 1973:17). This is typically realized by the inferior side's sacrifice of one or more pieces in order to force stalemate. A piece that is offered as a sacrifice to bring about stalemate is sometimes called a desperado.

Evans versus Reshevsky

Evans-Reshevsky, 1963
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 ql d8 e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 rl g7 pd h7 kd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 pd c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 qd h5 pd
a4 b4 pl c4 d4 e4 pl f4 nd g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 rd f3 pl g3 pl h3 pl
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2 kl
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Position before White's forty-seventh move
Evans-Reshevsky, 1963
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 kd h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 rl h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 pd c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5 pd
a4 b4 pl c4 d4 e4 pl f4 nd g4 h4 pl
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 pl g3 qd h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 rd f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1 kl
Chess zhor 26.png
Position after 50. Rxg7+!, the eternal rook

One of the best-known examples of the desperado is a game by Larry Evans versus Reshevsky, which was dubbed "The Swindle of the Century".[6] Evans sacrificed his queen on move 49 and offered his rook on move 50. White's rook has been called the eternal rook. Capturing it results in stalemate, but otherwise it stays on the seventh rank and checks Black's king ad infinitum (i.e. perpetual check). The game would inevitably end in a draw by agreement, by threefold repetition, or by an eventual claim under the fifty-move rule (Averbakh 1996:80-81).

47. h4! Re2+
48. Kh1 Qxg3?? (After 48...Qg6! 49.Rf8 Qe6! 50.Rh8+ Kg6, Black remains a piece ahead after 51.Qxe6 Nxe6, or forces mate after 51.gxf4 Re1+ and 52...Qa2+.)[7]
49. Qg8+! Kxg8
50. Rxg7+!

Gelfand versus Kramnik

Gelfand-Kramnik, 1994
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 __ b8 __ c8 qd d8 rd e8 __ f8 __ g8 __ h8 __ Chess zver 26.png
a7 __ b7 __ c7 __ d7 __ e7 rl f7 __ g7 pd h7 kd
a6 pd b6 ql c6 __ d6 __ e6 __ f6 pd g6 __ h6 pd
a5 pl b5 __ c5 __ d5 __ e5 __ f5 pl g5 __ h5 pl
a4 __ b4 __ c4 __ d4 pl e4 __ f4 __ g4 pl h4 __
a3 __ b3 __ c3 __ d3 __ e3 __ f3 pl g3 __ h3 kl
a2 __ b2 __ c2 __ d2 __ e2 __ f2 __ g2 __ h2 __
a1 __ b1 __ c1 __ d1 __ e1 __ f1 __ g1 __ h1 __
Chess zhor 26.png
Position after 67. Re7
Gelfand-Kramnik, 1994
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 __ b8 __ c8 d8 ql e8 __ f8 __ g8 __ h8 __ Chess zver 26.png
a7 __ b7 __ c7 __ d7 __ e7 rl f7 __ g7 pd h7 kd
a6 pd b6 c6 __ d6 __ e6 __ f6 pd g6 __ h6 pd
a5 pl b5 __ c5 __ d5 __ e5 __ f5 pl g5 __ h5 pl
a4 __ b4 __ c4 __ d4 pl e4 __ f4 __ g4 pl h4 __
a3 __ b3 __ c3 __ d3 __ e3 __ f3 pl g3 __ h3
a2 __ b2 __ c2 __ d2 __ e2 __ f2 __ g2 __ h2 kl
a1 __ b1 __ c1 __ d1 __ e1 __ f1 __ g1 __ h1 __
Chess zhor 26.png
Possible stalemate

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. Re4-e7?, 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's desperado queen forces the draw with 68... Qh1+ 69. Kg3 Qh2+!, compelling 70. Kxh2 stalemate (second diagram). 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.[8]

Troitzky versus Vogt

Troitzky-Vogt, 1896
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 kd d8 rd e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 pd c7 pd d7 bd e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7
a6 b6 bd c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 rd h6
a5 pd b5 pl c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 pl b4 c4 d4 e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 qd g3 nl h3
a2 b2 c2 ql d2 e2 f2 pl g2 h2 pl
a1 b1 c1 rl d1 e1 bl f1 g1 kl h1 rl
Chess zhor 26.png
White, on move, sets a trap with 1.Rd1!
Troitzky-Vogt, 1896
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 kd e8 f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 pd c7 pd d7 e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7
a6 b6 bd c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 rd h6
a5 pd b5 pl c5 d5 e5 pd f5 g5 h5
a4 pl b4 c4 d4 e4 pl f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 nl h3 bd
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 pl g2 h2 pl
a1 b1 c1 d1 qd e1 bl f1 g1 kl h1 rl
Chess zhor 26.png
Position after 3... Qxd1, stalemate

In Troitzky-Vogt, 1896, the famous endgame study composer pulled off an elegant swindle in actual play. After Troitzky's 1.Rd1!, Black fell into the trap with the seemingly crushing 1...Bh3?, threatening 2...Qg2#. The game concluded 2.Rxd8+ Kxd8 3.Qd1+! Qxd1 stalemate. White's bishop, knight, and f-pawn are all pinned and unable to move.[9][10]

Stalemate in studies

Rhine 2005
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 __ b8 __ c8 kl d8 __ e8 __ f8 __ g8 __ h8 ql Chess zver 26.png
a7 __ b7 __ c7 __ d7 __ e7 __ f7 __ g7 __ h7 __
a6 __ b6 qd c6 kd d6 bd e6 __ f6 __ g6 bd h6 __
a5 __ b5 __ c5 nd d5 __ e5 __ f5 __ g5 __ h5 __
a4 __ b4 __ c4 pd d4 __ e4 __ f4 __ g4 __ h4 rl
a3 __ b3 __ c3 __ d3 nl e3 nl f3 __ g3 __ h3 __
a2 __ b2 nd c2 __ d2 __ e2 __ f2 __ g2 __ h2 __
a1 __ b1 rl c1 __ d1 __ e1 __ f1 __ g1 __ h1 __
Chess zhor 26.png
White to play and draw
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 kl e8 bd f8 g8 h8 Chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 c7 d7 e7 f7 g7 h7
a6 b6 nd c6 d6 kd e6 f6 g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 nd d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 c4 d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 g1 h1
Chess zhor 26.png
Incredibly, the possibility of stalemate allows White, three pieces down, to draw.

Stalemate is a frequent theme in endgame studies (Hooper & Whyld 1992:388) and other chess compositions. An example is the "White to Play and Draw" study at left, which was composed by the American master Frederick Rhine[11] in 2005 and published in 2006 (Benko 2006:49). White saves a draw with 1.Ne5+! Black wins after 1.Nb4+? Kb5! or 1.Qe8+? Bxe8 2.Ne5+ Kb5! 3.Rxb2+ Nb3. Bxe5 After 1...Kb5? 2.Rxb2+ Nb3 3.Rxc4! Qxe3 (best; 3...Qb8+ 4.Kd7 Qxh8 5.Rxb3+ forces checkmate) 4.Rxb3+! Qxb3 5.Qh1! Bf5+ 6.Kd8!, White is winning. 2.Qe8+! 2.Qxe5? Qb7+ 3.Kd8 Qd7#. Bxe8 3.Rh6+ Bd6 3...Kb5 4.Rxb6+ Kxb6 5.Nxc4+ also leads to a drawn endgame. Not 5.Rxb2+? Bxb2 6.Nc4+ Kb5 7.Nxb2 Bh5! trapping White's knight. 4.Rxd6+! Kxd6 5.Nxc4+! Nxc4 6.Rxb6+ Nxb6+ Moving the king is actually a better try, but the resulting endgame of two knights and a bishop against a rook is a well-established theoretical draw (Fine & Benko 2003:524) (Müller & Lamprecht 2001:403) (Staunton 1847:439).[12] 7.Kd8! (diagram at right) Black is three pieces ahead, but if White is allowed to take the bishop, the two knights are insufficient to force checkmate. The only way to save the bishop is to move it, resulting in stalemate. A similar idea occasionally enables the inferior side to save a draw in the ending of bishop, knight, and king versus lone king.

Roycroft
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 __ b8 __ c8 __ d8 __ e8 rd f8 qd g8 rd h8 nd Chess zver 26.png
a7 __ b7 pd c7 __ d7 __ e7 pd f7 pd g7 bd h7 kl
a6 __ b6 pd c6 pl d6 pd e6 __ f6 pd g6 pd h6 nd
a5 __ b5 __ c5 __ d5 __ e5 __ f5 __ g5 __ h5 __
a4 __ b4 __ c4 __ d4 __ e4 __ f4 __ g4 __ h4 __
a3 __ b3 __ c3 __ d3 __ e3 __ f3 __ g3 __ h3 __
a2 bd b2 pd c2 __ d2 __ e2 __ f2 __ g2 __ h2 __
a1 __ b1 kd c1 __ d1 __ e1 __ f1 __ g1 __ h1 __
Chess zhor 26.png
White to play and draw
Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 __ b8 __ c8 __ d8 __ e8 rd f8 qd g8 rd h8 nd Chess zver 26.png
a7 __ b7 pd c7 __ d7 __ e7 pd f7 pd g7 bd h7 kl
a6 __ b6 pd c6 __ d6 pd e6 __ f6 pd g6 h6 nd
a5 __ b5 __ c5 __ d5 __ e5 __ f5 __ g5 pd h5 __
a4 __ b4 __ c4 bd d4 __ e4 __ f4 __ g4 __ h4 __
a3 __ b3 __ c3 __ d3 __ e3 __ f3 __ g3 __ h3 __
a2 b2 pd c2 rl d2 kd e2 __ f2 __ g2 __ h2 __
a1 __ b1 c1 __ d1 __ e1 __ f1 __ g1 __ h1 __
Chess zhor 26.png
Final position

At right is a remarkable composition by A.J. Roycroft. White draws with 1.c7! g5 (1...Ka1 2.c8(R) transposes to the main line; 1...f5 2.c8(Q) Bc3 3.Qxf5+ draws by stalemate) 2.c8(R)!! (2.c8(Q)? Ka1 3.Qc2 (or 3.Qc1) b1(Q) wins) Ka1 (2...Ng6 3.Rc1+ forces Black to capture, stalemating White) 2...b1(Q) 3.Rc2!!, and now 3...Qxc2 or 3...g5 is stalemate, while otherwise White will sacrifice his rook on b2) 3.Rc2!! (not 3.Rc1+?? b1(Q)+! 4.Rxb1+ Bxb1#; now White threatens 4.Rxb2 and 5.Rxa2+, forcing stalemate or perpetual check) Bc4 (trying to get in a check; 3...b1(Q), 3...b1(B), and 3...Bb1 are all stalemate; 3...Ng6 4.Rc1+!) 4.Rc1+ Ka2 5.Ra1+ Kb3 6.Ra3+ Kc2 7.Rc3+ Kd2 8.Rc2+ (diagram at right). As in Evans-Reshevsky, Black cannot escape the "eternal rook". (Roycroft 1972:294)

Stalemate in problems

Some chess problems require "White to move and stalemate black in n moves" (rather than the more common "White to move and checkmate black in n moves").

Chess zhor 26.png
Chess zver 26.png a8 __ b8 __ c8 __ d8 __ e8 __ f8 bd g8 nd h8 rd Chess zver 26.png
a7 __ b7 __ c7 __ d7 __ e7 pd f7 __ g7 pd h7 qd
a6 __ b6 __ c6 __ d6 __ e6 ql f6 pd g6 kd h6 rd
a5 __ b5 __ c5 __ d5 __ e5 __ f5 __ g5 __ h5 pd
a4 __ b4 __ c4 __ d4 __ e4 __ f4 __ g4 __ h4 pl
a3 __ b3 __ c3 __ d3 __ e3 pl