Check, checkmate, and stalemate all involve the king and legal moves, but they have different results. Check is a threat to answer; checkmate wins; stalemate draws even when one side looks completely won. Knowing the difference helps you respond calmly and avoid throwing away a winning endgame.
| Rank | a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | a8, empty | b8, empty | c8, empty | d8, empty | e8, empty | f8, empty | g8, empty | black king on h8 |
| 7 | a7, empty | b7, empty | c7, empty | d7, empty | e7, empty | f7, empty | g7, empty | h7, empty |
| 6 | a6, empty | b6, empty | c6, empty | d6, empty | e6, empty | white king on f6 | white queen on g6 | h6, empty |
| 5 | a5, empty | b5, empty | c5, empty | d5, empty | e5, empty | f5, empty | g5, empty | h5, empty |
| 4 | a4, empty | b4, empty | c4, empty | d4, empty | e4, empty | f4, empty | g4, empty | h4, empty |
| 3 | a3, empty | b3, empty | c3, empty | d3, empty | e3, empty | f3, empty | g3, empty | h3, empty |
| 2 | a2, empty | b2, empty | c2, empty | d2, empty | e2, empty | f2, empty | g2, empty | h2, empty |
| 1 | a1, empty | b1, empty | c1, empty | d1, empty | e1, empty | f1, empty | g1, empty | h1, empty |
What check means
A king is in check when an enemy piece attacks its square. Rooks, bishops, and queens give line checks when no piece blocks them; knights attack fixed L-shaped squares; pawns attack diagonally; and an opposing king attacks adjacent squares. The king is never captured: the checked player must make a legal move that leaves it safe.
A check can be direct or discovered when a piece moves away and reveals a line attack. Giving check is not automatically good, because the opponent may capture the attacker. The checked side must answer before anything else.
The three ways to answer a check
First, move the king to a square that is empty and not attacked. Second, capture the checker if the capture leaves the king safe. Third, block a rook, bishop, or queen when there is a square between attacker and king; blocking cannot answer a knight or pawn check, or a rook, bishop, or queen checking from an adjacent square. The kings can never legally stand next to each other.
Against double check, only a king move can remove both checks. A pinned piece may be unable to capture if moving it exposes another attack. Test the resulting position, not just the idea of the move.
- King move: check every destination square for enemy attacks.
- Capture: verify that the capturing piece can legally move and the king is safe afterward.
- Block: identify the exact line and place a piece on an intermediate square when one exists.
When check becomes checkmate
Checkmate means the king is in check and no legal king move, capture, or block removes it. For example, a rook may check along a rank while a queen and knight cover the escape squares; if the rook cannot be captured or blocked, the position is mate.
A player may resign before mate, but the king is never captured. Once checkmate occurs, the game ends immediately.
Why stalemate is a draw
Stalemate happens when the player to move is not in check but has no legal move. The game ends as a draw. A common example is a lone king whose neighboring squares are controlled while its current square is not attacked. Material advantage alone does not decide the result.
Before a quiet move in a winning endgame, check whether the opponent has a legal move afterward. Keep a spare pawn move or flight square when needed. Checkmate attacks the king; stalemate restricts movement without attacking it.
A reliable check-and-mate checklist
When your king is attacked, locate the checker, list safe king squares, test captures, and look for a block on a line. When attacking, calculate every capture, block, and escape. This separates real checkmate from a check that only looks decisive.
Questions and answers
How do you answer check?
Move the king to a safe square, capture the checker if the resulting king position is safe, or block a rook, bishop, or queen line where an intermediate square exists. In double check, only a king move works.
How is stalemate different from checkmate?
Stalemate occurs when the side to move has no legal move with its king not attacked; this includes checking every possible move by every piece. It is a draw. Checkmate requires an attacked king and no legal response.
Further reading: FIDE Laws of Chess