What is the difference between stalemate and checkmate in chess?

Checkmate ends the game with the king under direct attack and no legal escape, while stalemate ends the game in a draw when the player to move has no legal moves but their king is not in check.

Which outcome is better for the player who is losing, stalemate or checkmate?

Stalemate is far better for the losing player because it converts a lost position into a draw, earning half a point, whereas checkmate means a loss with zero points.

Is stalemate considered a win or a draw in official chess rules?

Stalemate is a draw under FIDE and USCF rules, awarding half a point to each player, regardless of how much material the stalemated side has lost.

Can a player force a stalemate when they are far behind in material?

Yes, a player can force a stalemate by sacrificing all remaining pieces and leaving their king with no legal moves while avoiding check, a common tactic in king-and-pawn versus queen endgames.

What are the three specific conditions required for a stalemate to occur?

The three conditions are that the king is not in check, the player has no legal pawn or piece moves, and the player has no legal king moves to any adjacent square.

How does stalemate differ from checkmate in terms of the king's safety?

In checkmate, the king is under active attack with no escape, while in stalemate, the king is completely safe from attack but has no legal move available.

Why do beginners often accidentally stalemate their opponent instead of checkmating?

Beginners often stalemate because they focus on attacking the king but fail to leave the opponent a legal pawn move or king move, especially when they have a large material advantage.

Is stalemate interchangeable with checkmate in any chess variant or context?

No, stalemate is never interchangeable with checkmate in standard chess, though some historic variants like shatranj treated stalemate as a win for the stalemating player.

What is a real-world use case for understanding stalemate in a tournament game?

In a tournament, recognizing a forced stalemate trap can save a half point in a lost endgame, which can be decisive for qualifying to the next round or winning a prize fund.

Can I switch my strategy from pursuing checkmate to aiming for stalemate when losing?

Yes, you can switch your strategy when losing by simplifying the position, removing your own pieces, and steering the game toward a king-and-pawn corner where your king has no legal moves.

Difference Between

Difference Between Stalemate and Checkmate

Written byNex Virox Team

Editorial Team

Reviewed byVarshal Nirbhavane

Senior SEO & Organic Growth Professional · 5+ years

Published: September 8, 202621 min read

Quick answer

The main difference between Stalemate and Checkmate is that Stalemate ends the game in a draw because the player to move has no legal moves but their king is not in check, while Checkmate ends the game in a loss because the king is in check and cannot escape. Stalemate is a deadlock with no attack; Checkmate is an inescapable attack.

Key takeaways

Core distinction: Checkmate ends the game with a king under attack and no escape; stalemate is a draw when the king has no legal moves but isn’t in check.
How each occurs: Checkmate requires the enemy king to be in check with all replies blocked; stalemate happens when the side to move has zero legal moves while not in check.
Game outcome: Checkmate awards the attacking player 1 point and the win; stalemate splits the point, giving both players 0.5 in standard tournament scoring.
Best-fit use case: Stalemate is a defensive resource for the losing side, forcing a draw; checkmate is the offensive goal, converting a material advantage into a decisive victory.
Most common mistake: Beginners often stalemate an opponent by over-restricting the king instead of delivering check, turning a winning position into an undeserved half-point.

Table of Contents18 sections

Difference Between Stalemate and Checkmate: Comparison Table

Aspect	Stalemate	Checkmate
Definition	A position where the side to move has no legal moves but is not in check.	A position where the king is in check and has no legal escape from capture.
Purpose	Records a drawn game when neither side can force a win.	Ends the game immediately with a decisive win for the attacking side.
Core Mechanism	Relies on a lack of legal moves for the player whose turn it is.	Relies on an active attack on the king that cannot be blocked or escaped.
King Status	The king is not under attack; it is simply immobile or has no safe squares.	The king is under direct attack and must be defended on the next move.
Game Result	Always results in a draw, with no winner or loser declared.	Always results in a loss for the checkmated player and a win for the opponent.
Move Availability	The player to move has zero legal moves available for any piece.	The player to move has zero legal moves available for the king specifically.
Legal Move Definition	A legal move is any move that does not leave the king in check.	A legal move is any move that removes the king from immediate attack.
Game Termination	Ends the game by rule, but only after the draw is officially declared.	Ends the game instantly; the opponent cannot make a reply move.
Check Condition	Check is completely absent; the king is safe from capture.	Check is always present; the king is under immediate threat.
Defensive Options	No defensive move is needed because no attack exists to counter.	Defensive options like capture, block, or king move are all exhausted.
Attacking Pieces	No enemy piece is currently attacking the king in a stalemate position.	At least one enemy piece is actively attacking the king's square.
Player Turn	Applies only to the player whose turn it is to move the pieces.	Applies only to the player whose king is currently in check.
Material Balance	Often occurs with equal or minimal material left on the board.	Can occur with any material balance, even when the winner has fewer pieces.
Board State	Typically involves blocked pawns or a lone king trapped by its own pieces.	Typically involves coordinated attack from multiple pieces or a lone queen.
Historical Origin	Term derives from an older chess rule where no legal move meant a loss.	Term derives from the Arabic phrase "shah mat," meaning the king is dead.
Rule Change	Rule changed in the 19th century to declare stalemate a draw instead of a loss.	Checkmate has always been a win condition throughout chess history.
Scoring Impact	Gives both players zero points in tournament scoring systems.	Gives the winner one point and the loser zero points in standard scoring.
Strategic Value	Used by a losing player to salvage a draw and avoid a loss.	Used by a winning player to convert a material advantage into victory.
Endgame Phase	Usually occurs in the endgame when few pieces remain on the board.	Can occur at any phase, including the opening or middlegame.
Commonality	Occurs more frequently in games between evenly matched players.	Occurs more frequently when one player has a clear skill or material edge.
Detection Difficulty	Requires checking all pieces for legal moves, which is easy to miss.	Requires checking only the king's escape squares, which is simpler to spot.
Player Awareness	Often goes unnoticed by beginners until the arbiter declares the draw.	Is immediately obvious because the king is visibly attacked.
Resignation Rule	Players rarely resign before a stalemate; they play for the draw.	Players often resign one move before checkmate to save time.
Software Handling	Chess engines report stalemate as a draw with a 0.0 evaluation score.	Chess engines report checkmate as a forced win with an infinite score.
FIDE Rules	FIDE Article 5.2.b declares stalemate an automatic draw.	FIDE Article 5.1.a declares checkmate an immediate win.
Typical Example	King versus king with no other pieces is a classic stalemate position.	King and queen versus lone king often produces a forced checkmate.
Typical Users	Defensive players who are down material use stalemate to escape defeat.	Aggressive players with a material lead use checkmate to seal the win.
Primary Limitation	Cannot force a win; it only prevents a loss and yields no points.	Requires a material or positional advantage that may be hard to build.
Best-Fit Scenario	Best for a player who is behind in material and wants to salvage a draw.	Best for a player who is ahead in material and wants a guaranteed win.

What Is Stalemate?

Stalemate is a chess position where the side to move has no legal moves but is not in check. It immediately ends the game as a draw, regardless of material advantage. Stalemate exists to prevent a player from winning purely through trapping the opposing king without delivering checkmate.

Definition of Stalemate

Stalemate is a technical chess rule defining a position where the player whose turn it is has zero legal moves available and their king is not currently under attack. Under FIDE rules, this position automatically results in a drawn game, awarding half a point to each player.

Key Characteristics of Stalemate

Characteristic	What It Means in Practice
No legal moves	The player cannot move any piece, including the king, to a safe square or capture an enemy piece.
King not in check	The king is safe from attack, distinguishing stalemate from checkmate where the king is attacked.
Automatic draw	The game ends immediately as a draw, awarding half a point to each player without further play.
Opponent's last move	Stalemate is always caused by the opponent's final move, which restricts all legal options.
Material irrelevance	A player can have a queen and multiple rooks ahead but still lose the win due to stalemate.
FIDE rule 5.2.1	The official chess laws state that the game is drawn when the player to move has no legal move.
Common in endgames	Stalemate occurs most frequently in king and pawn endgames where few pieces remain on the board.
Defensive resource	The side with less material can force stalemate to salvage a draw from a losing position.
Requires precise calculation	Players must calculate all legal replies to avoid accidentally creating stalemate for the opponent.
Distinct from checkmate	Checkmate requires the king to be in check with no escape, while stalemate involves no check at all.

Common Examples of Stalemate

King and pawn vs king - The defending king moves into the corner, and the attacking pawn's advance blocks all escape squares.
Queen vs king corner trap - The attacking queen controls all flight squares but delivers no check, leaving the king immobile.
Rook endgame blunder - A player with a rook advantage pushes too far, and the lone king has no legal moves.
Bishop and knight combo - The defending king sits on the edge while the bishop and knight cover every exit square without checking.
Double rook mistake - Two rooks on the seventh rank trap the enemy king, but the final rook move creates stalemate instead of check.
Pawn promotion error - Promoting a pawn to a queen on the wrong square blocks the enemy king's last legal move.
Opposition in pawn endgames - The defending king takes opposition, and the attacking king's move leaves the defender with no options.
Sacrifice to force draw - A defender sacrifices all remaining pieces, leaving the king with no legal moves against superior force.
Knight fork trap - A knight fork leaves the enemy king with no safe squares, but the forking move itself gives no check.
Zugzwang position - The player to move has only bad moves available, and every legal move leads to immediate material loss or stalemate.

Advantages and Limitations of Stalemate

Advantages	Limitations
Provides a last-resort defensive resource for the weaker side in lost positions.	Creates frustration for the stronger player who loses a clearly winning game through one careless move.
Encourages precise calculation and forces players to consider all legal replies before moving.	Can feel like a loophole that rewards poor play from the defending side rather than good play.
Adds strategic depth to endgame theory, creating complex drawing techniques for defenders.	Requires the attacking player to memorize specific winning patterns to avoid stalemate traps.
Produces dramatic game-saving draws that increase spectator excitement in competitive chess.	Confuses beginners who struggle to understand why a superior position does not guarantee victory.
Teaches the importance of maintaining checking threats when converting a material advantage.	Occurs rarely in high-level play, making it a low-frequency but high-impact tactical error.
Creates a clear, objective rule that eliminates ambiguity in game adjudication.	Offers no partial credit; the attacking player loses the full point despite dominating the position.
Forces attacking players to deliver checkmate efficiently rather than just capturing material.	Can be exploited by defenders who intentionally sacrifice pieces to reach a stalemate fortress.
Provides a natural safety valve in chess that prevents infinite games with no decisive result.	Differs from checkmate, which requires active checking, so players must switch tactics completely.
Rewards creative defensive ideas and unconventional piece sacrifices in desperate positions.	Leaves the stronger player with only a half point, which can be costly in tournament standings.
Creates memorable study positions that are analyzed and taught to chess students worldwide.	Requires constant vigilance; even grandmasters have fallen victim to stalemate in rapid games.

What Is Checkmate?

Checkmate is the winning position in chess where the king is under attack and cannot escape. It ends the game immediately, giving the attacking player victory. The checkmated king has no legal move, no piece to block, and no capture to remove the threat.

Definition of Checkmate

Checkmate is a chess position where the king is in check and every possible legal response—moving, blocking, or capturing—is impossible. The game ends instantly with a win for the player delivering the mate. No further moves are permitted once checkmate occurs.

Key Characteristics of Checkmate

Characteristic	What It Means in Practice
King in check	The king is attacked by an enemy piece, and the attack cannot be resolved.
No escape squares	All adjacent squares are occupied by friendly pieces or controlled by enemy attackers.
No blocking possible	A piece cannot be interposed between the king and the checking piece.
No capture available	The king cannot capture the attacker, nor can another piece eliminate the threat.
Game ends instantly	Unlike stalemate, checkmate is a decisive result, not a draw.
Requires prior check	Checkmate always begins with a check; you cannot mate a king that is not in check.
Attacker controls key squares	The mating side covers all flight squares with its pieces or pawns.
Can occur anywhere	Mates happen in the center, edge, or corner, though corner mates are most common.
Often uses multiple pieces	Queen and rook, two rooks, or queen and king are typical mating combinations.
No move count limit	Checkmate can occur on move 2 (Fool's Mate) or move 100+; no rule restricts timing.

Common Examples of Checkmate

Back-rank mate – A rook or queen delivers mate on the 1st or 8th rank while the king is trapped by its own pawns.
Fool's Mate – The fastest possible checkmate, delivered by the queen on move two after two fatal pawn moves.
Scholar's Mate – A four-move mate using the queen and bishop attacking the f7 (or f2) square against a weak opening.
Smothered Mate – A knight delivers mate while the king is surrounded by its own pieces, typically in a corner.
Anastasia's Mate – A knight and rook or queen combine to mate a king stuck on the edge of the board.
Boden's Mate – Two bishops on crossing diagonals deliver mate, often after a queen sacrifice.
Arabian Mate – A rook and knight work together to trap the king in the corner, with the knight covering escape squares.
Damiano's Mate – A queen supported by a pawn delivers mate on the 7th rank, often after a rook sacrifice.
Legal's Mate – A classic trap where a knight checks the king while a bishop and queen pin a piece, winning material.
Epaulette Mate – The queen mates the king while the king's own rooks block its escape on both sides.

Advantages and Limitations of Checkmate

Advantages	Limitations
Decisive and clear: checkmate produces an unambiguous winner, unlike stalemate which is a draw.	Rare in practice: most games end by resignation before checkmate appears on the board.
Ends the game instantly: no lengthy endgame grind is needed once mate is delivered.	Requires precise calculation: a missed mate can allow the opponent to escape or counterattack.
Forces accurate defense: the threat of checkmate compels the opponent to make only defensive moves.	Often needs material advantage: mating nets typically require more pieces than the defender has.
Creates beautiful patterns: classic mates like smothered or back-rank are aesthetically satisfying.	Vulnerable to stalemate: if you overextend while chasing mate, you may accidentally force a draw.
Works in all phases: checkmate can occur in opening, middlegame, or endgame, offering flexibility.	Needs king safety awareness: attacking for mate can expose your own king if you miscalculate.
Teaches piece coordination: delivering mate trains players to use multiple pieces together effectively.	Limited by material: you cannot checkmate with only a king and bishop against a lone king.
Provides a concrete goal: unlike vague positional play, checkmate gives a clear target to aim for.	Blocked by pawns: your own pawns can trap your attacking pieces, preventing a mate.
Rewards aggressive play: players who seek mate often create pressure that forces errors.	Time-consuming to set up: against strong defense, building a mating net can take many moves.
Universal across chess variants: checkmate is the standard win condition in most chess formats.	Impossible against lone king: a single king cannot be mated unless the attacker has at least a rook or two bishops.
Creates memorable moments: famous checkmates are studied and replayed for centuries.	One mistake ruins it: a single inaccurate move can turn a winning mate into a drawn or lost position.

Similarities Between Stalemate and Checkmate

Shared Aspect	How Stalemate and Checkmate Are Alike
Game Termination	Both stalemate and checkmate immediately end the chess game, with no further moves permitted by either player.
King's Role	Both stalemate and checkmate involve the king as the central piece, with the king's safety being the decisive factor.
Legal Move Absence	Both stalemate and checkmate occur when the side to move has zero legal moves available on the board.
Chess Rules Origin	Both stalemate and checkmate are defined by the official FIDE Laws of Chess, governing all rated play.
Endgame Frequency	Both stalemate and checkmate occur most often in the endgame phase, when few pieces remain on the board.
Opponent's Turn	Both stalemate and checkmate result from the opponent's last move, which creates the terminal position.
Piece Coordination	Both stalemate and checkmate require coordinated piece placement, often using two or more attacking units together.
No Capture Escape	Both stalemate and checkmate deny the king any capture of an attacking piece as a possible response.
No Blocking Option	Both stalemate and checkmate prevent the king from blocking an attack with another piece, as no block exists in stalemate.
No Interposition	Both stalemate and checkmate eliminate interposition, meaning no piece can be placed between the king and danger.
King's Immobility	Both stalemate and checkmate leave the king completely immobile, unable to step to any adjacent square safely.
Opponent's Objective	Both stalemate and checkmate are the attacking player's objective in the endgame, representing a successful conclusion.
Defender's Constraint	Both stalemate and checkmate force the defender into a passive role, with no counterplay or active response available.
Board Geometry	Both stalemate and checkmate rely on the 8x8 board's edges and corners, which limit the king's escape squares.
Pawn Promotion Risk	Both stalemate and checkmate can arise from a pawn promotion, where a new queen delivers the final blow.
Material Advantage	Both stalemate and checkmate typically occur when the attacker holds a material advantage, though not always required.
Zugzwang Element	Both stalemate and checkmate exploit zugzwang, where the defender must move but every move worsens their position.
King Opposition	Both stalemate and checkmate often use king opposition, where the two kings face each other with one square between.
Rook's Power	Both stalemate and checkmate can be delivered by a rook, which controls entire ranks and files to trap the king.
Queen's Reach	Both stalemate and checkmate frequently use the queen's long-range diagonal, vertical, and horizontal movement.
Bishop's Diagonal	Both stalemate and checkmate can use a bishop's diagonal control to cut off escape squares on one color complex.
Knight's Fork	Both stalemate and checkmate can arise from a knight fork, where the knight attacks the king and another piece simultaneously.
Pawn's Support	Both stalemate and checkmate can be supported by a pawn, which controls key squares without being captured.
Defender's Pieces Blocked	Both stalemate and checkmate often involve the defender's own pieces blocking the king's escape routes.
No Time Pressure	Both stalemate and checkmate are independent of the clock; the position alone determines the game's outcome.
Draw vs Win Clarity	Both stalemate and checkmate provide an unambiguous result, with stalemate as a draw and checkmate as a win.
Tournament Recognition	Both stalemate and checkmate are recognized results in all chess tournaments, from club level to world championships.
Historical Evolution	Both stalemate and checkmate have evolved over centuries, with rules standardized in the 19th century for modern play.
Endgame Study Value	Both stalemate and checkmate appear in endgame studies, where composers create positions to illustrate tactical ideas.
Beginner Learning	Both stalemate and checkmate are among the first concepts taught to chess beginners, as they define game endings.

Stalemate or Checkmate: Which Should You Choose?

Choose stalemate when your goal is a draw, not a win. The deciding variable is your opponent’s available legal moves. If they have none and are not in check, the game ends in a draw. Checkmate wins the game immediately.

When to Use Stalemate

Choose Stalemate when you are losing materially and cannot escape. Force a draw by removing your opponent’s legal moves while avoiding check. This works best in endgames with only kings and pawns, where a trapped king secures half a point.

When to Use Checkmate

Choose Checkmate when you have a decisive material or positional advantage. Deliver check with no escape squares, captures, or blocks. This is the only way to win outright, so prioritize mating nets over perpetual checks or pawn promotions in winning positions.

Common Misconceptions About Stalemate and Checkmate

Common Myth	The Reality
"Stalemate is the same as checkmate because the king is trapped."	Stalemate ends in a draw with no winner; checkmate ends the game with a win for the attacking side.
"A stalemate only happens when you have no legal moves left."	Stalemate requires the king to be NOT in check, plus zero legal moves for any piece.
"You can checkmate a king with just a king and a bishop."	King and bishop alone cannot force checkmate; you need at least a knight or additional material.
"Stalemate is a win for the player who runs out of moves."	Stalemate is a draw; the player with no legal moves does not lose, they share the point.
"Checkmate requires capturing the enemy king."	Checkmate occurs when the king is in check and cannot escape; the king is never actually captured.
"A king in check can be stalemated if it has no moves."	A king in check with no escapes is checkmate, not stalemate; check must be absent for stalemate.
"Stalemate is a rare accident that only beginners encounter."	Stalemate is a common defensive resource in endgames, even at grandmaster level, especially with pawns.
"If you have more pieces, you automatically win by checkmate."	Material advantage does not guarantee checkmate; insufficient mating material or a stalemate trap can force a draw.
"Checkmate is the only way to win a chess game."	You also win by opponent resignation, forfeit on time, or an illegal move; checkmate is one of several win methods.
"Stalemate only involves the king, not other pieces."	Stalemate occurs when ALL pieces of the side to move have no legal moves, not just the king.
"A stalemate position is always a blunder by the winning side."	Stalemate can be a deliberate defensive tactic by the losing side to salvage a half-point from a lost position.
"Checkmate and stalemate both end the game immediately."	Both end the game, but checkmate awards a win/loss, while stalemate awards a draw to both players.
"You can checkmate with just a king and a knight."	King and knight alone cannot force checkmate; the opponent can always avoid it with correct play.
"Stalemate is a type of check that the king ignores."	Stalemate is not a check at all; the king is not attacked, but has no safe legal move to make.
"A pawn promotion can never lead to a stalemate."	Promoting a pawn to a queen or rook can create a stalemate if it blocks all escape squares without giving check.
"The side delivering checkmate always has more material."	Checkmate can be delivered with less material, such as a lone pawn promoting while the opponent has extra pieces.
"Stalemate is only possible in the endgame."	Stalemate can occur in the middlegame or even opening, though it is far more frequent in simplified endgames.
"A king can capture a protected piece to escape checkmate."	If the piece is protected, the king cannot capture it; that capture would move into check, so checkmate stands.
"Stalemate gives the defending player a win by default."	Stalemate awards half a point to each player; no one wins, and no one loses the game.
"Checkmate requires the attacking king to be adjacent to the enemy king."	The attacking king must control escape squares, but it never needs to be adjacent; distance is irrelevant.
"You can stalemate your opponent by giving a check."	Giving check eliminates stalemate possibility; the opponent must respond to check, so stalemate requires no check.
"A stalemate is a legal move that the player chooses to make."	Stalemate is not a move; it is a state after a move, where the side to move has no legal options.
"Two kings alone on the board is checkmate."	Two kings alone is a draw by insufficient material, not checkmate, because neither king can give legal check.
"Checkmate can be delivered by any piece, including the king."	The king can deliver checkmate, but only if the enemy king is in check from the king's attack and cannot escape.
"Stalemate is a rule only in Western chess, not in other variants."	Stalemate rules vary by variant; in shogi, stalemate is a loss, while in chess it is a draw.
"A player who is stalemated has lost the game."	The stalemated player does not lose; the game is drawn, and both players receive half a point.
"Checkmate always involves a queen or a rook."	Checkmate can be delivered by a bishop, knight, pawn, or king alone, as long as the enemy king cannot escape.
"Stalemate is a mistake that only happens in blitz games."	Stalemate occurs in classical games too; it is a tactical resource that requires precise calculation to exploit or avoid.
"The difference between stalemate and checkmate is the number of pieces."	The difference is the king's status: in checkmate the king is in check, in stalemate it is not, regardless of material.
"You can force a stalemate by simply moving your king back and forth."	Repeating moves leads to a draw by threefold repetition, not stalemate; stalemate requires a specific no-legal-move position.

Conclusion

Difference Between Stalemate and Checkmate is decisive: checkmate ends the game with a king under direct attack and no legal escape, while stalemate leaves the king safe but with zero legal moves, forcing a draw. To win, trap the enemy king in check. To avoid losing, ensure your opponent always has a legal move.

FAQs on Difference Between Stalemate and Checkmate

What is the difference between stalemate and checkmate in chess?: Checkmate ends the game with the king under direct attack and no legal escape, while stalemate ends the game in a draw when the player to move has no legal moves but their king is not in check.
Which outcome is better for the player who is losing, stalemate or checkmate?: Stalemate is far better for the losing player because it converts a lost position into a draw, earning half a point, whereas checkmate means a loss with zero points.
Is stalemate considered a win or a draw in official chess rules?: Stalemate is a draw under FIDE and USCF rules, awarding half a point to each player, regardless of how much material the stalemated side has lost.
Can a player force a stalemate when they are far behind in material?: Yes, a player can force a stalemate by sacrificing all remaining pieces and leaving their king with no legal moves while avoiding check, a common tactic in king-and-pawn versus queen endgames.
What are the three specific conditions required for a stalemate to occur?: The three conditions are that the king is not in check, the player has no legal pawn or piece moves, and the player has no legal king moves to any adjacent square.
How does stalemate differ from checkmate in terms of the king's safety?: In checkmate, the king is under active attack with no escape, while in stalemate, the king is completely safe from attack but has no legal move available.
Why do beginners often accidentally stalemate their opponent instead of checkmating?: Beginners often stalemate because they focus on attacking the king but fail to leave the opponent a legal pawn move or king move, especially when they have a large material advantage.
Is stalemate interchangeable with checkmate in any chess variant or context?: No, stalemate is never interchangeable with checkmate in standard chess, though some historic variants like shatranj treated stalemate as a win for the stalemating player.
What is a real-world use case for understanding stalemate in a tournament game?: In a tournament, recognizing a forced stalemate trap can save a half point in a lost endgame, which can be decisive for qualifying to the next round or winning a prize fund.
Can I switch my strategy from pursuing checkmate to aiming for stalemate when losing?: Yes, you can switch your strategy when losing by simplifying the position, removing your own pieces, and steering the game toward a king-and-pawn corner where your king has no legal moves.