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Chess Stalemate Moves - The Art Of Rescuing Half a Point
by Graham Wadden
The term "Stalemate" refers to games that end in a Draw.
With the objective of Winning so ingrained in the psyche, it can be easy to neglect to pay attention to learning how to create the conditions that help us to Draw our game(s) of Chess.
I can almost hear some question why you'd want to learn to Draw your games instead of focusing on the greater prize obtained by a Win?
The clue is in the title of this article, "Rescuing" Half-a-Point. Each Win gets 1 Point; each Loss gets nothing (zero Points); while, a Draw sees each player gets a share of the winning point and so receives 1/2-a-Point.
While it may not seem much reward after a single game, if you play multiple games in a tournament, these half-points contribute to your overall score, which could mean the difference between rising in the Rankings - perhaps the difference between winning prize money and walking away with nothing (I bet that's got your attention, now!?).
Of course, priority should always go to training and playing to Win. But, as an "insurance policy", should things go wrong in your game(s) and you're no longer in position to Win; if you know how to play for a Draw, you can adapt your plans mid-game and seek to rescue your 1/2 Point.
The first thing we need to learn are the Rules that determine when a game of Chess ends in Stalemate...
The Rules And Types of Stalemate Situations
There are a number of different situations that can bring about a Draw. These are:
1. Fifty Move Rule... A player can claim a Draw if no capture has been made and no Pawn has been moved in the last fifty consecutive moves (fifty moves by each side).
2. Three-time Repetition Rule... If the same position is repeated three times, the game will end immediately in a Draw.
3. By Promotion... There are some positions where a King is currently safe on its square and, by promoting a Pawn to a Queen, their opponent will unwittingly remove all of the enemy King's remaining escape routes. This usually results in the game ending immediately in a Draw, as the King is safe on its current square, is the only unit that can move, but cannot as it would put that King in Check.
4. Only Kings Remain... Kings cannot attack each other, so if it gets to a situation where all that's left on the board are the two Kings, then the game can only end in a Draw.
5. By Accepted Offer... If both players are experienced enough to see that their game is destined for a Draw, they can both agree to cut the proceedings short, to get on with their next game. One will offer the Draw; the other will accept.
Ways To Achieve Stalemate
1. Bishop + Wrong-color Rook-Pawn vs. Lone King... With this situation, the Rook-Pawn (the one on the 'a' or 'h' file, respectively) won't be able to succeed, even if it can Promote, due to the close-proximity of your King and, because the remaining enemy Bishop is on the wrong-color, it cannot prevent your King from capturing the Pawn, even if it does gain Promotion. Your King will be able to hold out for a Draw (usually by Three-time Repetition, or by Accepted Offer).
2. Fortress Building... The main units involved in building a Fortress are your Pawns. You'll position these in such a way that your King can quickly nip either side of them for protection, or prevent the enemy getting into position to Checkmate your King. This one often ends in Stalemate by Three-time Repetition of position.
3. Two Knights vs. Lone King... If you can get rid of all your Pawns and Pieces, your King can survive against your opponent who has just two Knights (but no Pawns, as they'll run for Promotion!). As long as you play it right and concentrate on keeping your King close to both Knights, your opponent will usually get fed up by being only able to Check, but not Checkmate your King, and offer a Draw.
4. Perpetual Checks... This is where your King will be constantly put in Check by the same enemy Piece, which will result in a Draw by Three-time Repetition of position (unless your opponent is experienced enough to see it coming and offer the Draw).
5. Perpetual Pursuits... Because of your threat to the enemy's position - however it may be - your opponent will have no choice but to chase away your threatening Piece. You'll move your Piece out of harms way, but then proceed to send it back to the same position, only for it to be chased away, by the same enemy Piece. Yep, you've got it, the game will end in a Draw, by Three-time Repetition of position.
About the Author
Learn Stalemate Moves at chess-game-strategies.com.
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