Today we will learn the concept of checkmate and how to defend against it!
Checkmate (aka "mate") is when a player's king is in check (threatened with capture) and there is no way to remove the threat. Checkmating the opponent wins the game.
There are a couple of ways to get out of check. If you are able to do one of these, then you're not checkmated and you're still alive!
Three ways to get out of check:
- Capture the piece that is delivering check
- Run away
- Block the check
It's relatively easy to escape from a check. However, it is not as easy to identify a checkmate threat and defend against it.
We know that you're checkmated when your King is under attack but you cannot defend against it (block, capture, or run away). Now, let's imagine an interesting scenario. What if you have no legal moves, but you're not in check (King is not under attack)?
This is called a stalemate. Black has no legal moves, and unfortunately, you cannot force him to make an illegal move. The final result is a draw (game ends and no player wins). In the position above, white was completely winning, but lost concentration for a bit and allowed black to enter a position in which he saved himself with a stalemate.
Pro tip: if you're losing a game, try to force a position in which it's your turn to move but you have no legal moves left! That way, you'll induce a stalemate and earn 0.5 points (for a draw) as opposed to 0 points (for losing).
Now let's change up the position slightly...it's black to play - did black save the game with a stalemate trick?
Remember: a stalemate only happens when a person has to make a move, but has no legal moves at all.
That's it for today! Try to be conscious of checkmates, checks, and stalemates in your future games. Be clever like a fox :-)
Today we will learn the concept of checkmate and how to defend against it!
Checkmate (aka "mate") is when a player's king is in check (threatened with capture) and there is no way to remove the threat. Checkmating the opponent wins the game.
There are a couple of ways to get out of check. If you are able to do one of these, then you're not checkmated and you're still alive!