Could someone please explain the difference between a checkmate and a stalemate to me?

Sort:
Avatar of MisterRandomYouTube

I honestly don't understand the difference, because sometimes I'm about to win a game, and then instead of saying checkmate, it says stalemate, and instead of me winning, it's a draw.

Avatar of Martin_Stahl
MisterRandomYouTube wrote:

I honestly don't understand the difference, because sometimes I'm about to win a game, and then instead of saying checkmate, it says stalemate, and instead of me winning, it's a draw.

 

Checkmate is when the king is in check and has no legal moves to get out of check.

 

Stalemate is when the king is not in check and the player has no legal moves on the board.

Avatar of notmtwain
MisterRandomYouTube wrote:

I honestly don't understand the difference, because sometimes I'm about to win a game, and then instead of saying checkmate, it says stalemate, and instead of me winning, it's a draw.

In checkmate, the king is in check and can't escape.

In stalemate, the king isn't in check and the player has no legal moves.

Avatar of MisterRandomYouTube

Okay, thank you!

Avatar of blueemu

If the opponent is IN CHECK and has no legal move, it's checkmate (a win).

If the opponent is NOT IN CHECK and has no legal move, it's stalemate (a draw).

Avatar of DogLover4Ever

Checkmate: King is in check and can't move anywhere.

Stalemate: King is NOT IN CHECK but, can't move anywhere!

Avatar of ABC_of_EVERYTHING
DogLover4Ever wrote:

Checkmate: King is in check and can't move anywhere.

Stalemate: King is NOT IN CHECK but, can't move anywhere!

His other pieces can move if they can. Then it is not Stalemate 

Avatar of DogLover4Ever
ABC_of_EVERYTHING wrote:
DogLover4Ever wrote:

Checkmate: King is in check and can't move anywhere.

Stalemate: King is NOT IN CHECK but, can't move anywhere!

His other pieces can move if they can. Then it is not Stalemate 

Right

 

Avatar of MisterRandomYouTube

Okay! Thank you all so much!

Avatar of DogLover4Ever

No problem!!!

Avatar of ProPine7447

Checkmate is when the king is IN check and in the next move, their king will be captured. A stalemate is when the king is NOT IN check and has no legal moves. This refers to the chess rule"you can never put your king in check"