Stalemate vs checkmate in chess: what is the difference?
Both leave the side to move with no legal move. In checkmate their king is in check, and they lose. In stalemate their king is NOT in check, and the game is a draw.
Stalemate is how a winning player throws away a won game: with a queen against a lone king, a careless move can leave the king with no square while not attacking it.
Before every move when you are far ahead, ask: after this, does their king still have a legal move, or am I giving check?
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Checkmate in one. Careful: a tempting move is stalemate, a draw.
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