Stalemate

A situation wherein the player who has to make the move has no legal moves with his/her pieces and pawns and his/her king is not checked. Stalemate ends the game, resulting in a draw. In some times and places it either was not allowed or the stalemated player missed a turn.

Stalemate as a draw was standardized in the 19th century but in previous years it meant a different outcome. At times it meant a win for the stalemating player, a half win for that player or even a loss. At times the stalemated player was to lose a turn instead of a draw.

The term stalemate which derived from chess was adopted in the English language for the use of depicting a situation of conflict which cannot be resolved or is simply impossible (no-win situation).