Most frustrating/worst “stalemate/draw in the history of Chess.com!

I’m a re-beginner...learned chess moves as a 10-13 y/o and haven’t played since, over 60 years ago. Joined this site because of watching The Queens Gambit several months ago...loved it! Watched the beginner 4-series chess vids from this site (as well as multiple ones on YouTube...which are less helpful). Do some puzzles daily, but mostly just play Bots. Have beaten all the “beginner” bots, and have worked through the Intermediate Bots until I played “Nelson” the bot that uses the Queen early and often. Haven’t beaten him yet, but must have 6-8 “stalemates/draws” against him. Sooo, the worst draw in the history of Chess.com...I just finished a game where I had 9 pieces left and he only had his Queen and King. I had his King trapped, and his Queen had plenty of moves to make. He offered up his Queen to sacrifice and I foolishly took it, thinking his King had no moves that didn’t result in checkmate. But, as soon as I took his Queen, the game was over...stalemate...with 9 pieces left! No matter what, I can’t get down the concept of the stalemate and it’s driving me crazy! I’m an IDIOT! Other than just reading this long winded “vent” are there any suggestions, resources the someone can direct me to, to just possibly get some understanding on how to avoid so many stalemates! Without the stalemates, I’d probably be through all the intermediates by now. Thanks in advance!

I recommend you start playing real people. Sounds like you've played the bots enough to give you an idea of the game. Anyone can give up a stalemate. I saw it in a grandmaster game several weeks ago. As you learn , you will become wary in certain situations. You will learn to avoid it.

Thanks for the response! Yeah, I haven’t dipped my toes in the real people pool yet. Don’t want to be humiliated by a 5 y/o! Gotta figure out how to do that on this site...just “challenge” someone? I don’t have any friends on here either. Did I mention that I’m really old? I can spell technology, but I’m terrible at it. Anyway...

Well, you know about the stalemates, so you just need to look out for them.

When you do your move, think about what his counter-move will be, in this instance where he offered his queen, you need to think, what will his next move be after I take the queen? And you can see he would have no possibility of a move, so therefor you can't take it.

 

I pretty much always try to go for stalemates if I'm in a losing position, it's up to the opponent to see through my attempts.

You should totally play real people more often! You'll get the real thrill and tension of actual gameplay. It also teaches you the time value of chess because computer games aren't timed. And, computers may be extremely consistent, but — and this sounds weird — computers "aren't good at being bad." Their mistakes are very calculated and not the types of blunders you'd see from humans. Practicing with computers is still beneficial; but don't practice entirely with computers.

You shouldn't be embarrassed to lose, even to a child. You progress more when you lose than when you don't participate at all. And humiliation sure does force people to remember things, doesn't it?

And as for your stalemates, I had the same frustrations when I picked chess back up about a month ago. I developed the habit of ALWAYS considering whether or not the opponent's king (or at least one other piece) can move after I make my next move.

To prevent stalemates, simple check: 

1) do I check my opponent's king? 

if no:

2) do I have hella lot of pieces on the board? (this increases chances of stalemate)

if yes:

check to make sure enemy king has somewhere to move.

The safest way to avoid stalemate is to check your opponent every move.

There are lots of children on this site at all levels. 

Thanks to everyone for your responses! The consensus is I need to play real live people! Now...just need to figure out how to do that. I mentioned that I haven’t established any friends, so do I have to have friends or will Chess.com find random opponents...hopefully of similar skills, or lack of it.

Click "Play" and pick a time control.

my language isn't English, but that should be enough. Chess.com will always pair you with opponents of similar rating.

Thank you! Yep...got it...very helpful. Now...to just get the courage to actually play another human!

Ok...played my first person...a 1183 rating...mine was a 1200? How is that possible, I’ve never played a single game! After the win...my rating went above 1300. Don’t understand at all. Thought I would be a 400 or something similar to the “beginner” bots. Anyway...my “win” was because the opponent “timed out!” Lol...and he had the winning position in my opinion...definitely in material. Chess is a strange game.

Your starting rating is 1200. If you play more games your rating will stabilize (you will gain and lose less points the more you play) to where your real rating is.

Thank you B1ZMARK for your responses and answers...much appreciated.