Stalemate is a situation in the game of chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check but has no legal move. The rules of chess provide that when stalemate occurs, the game ends as a draw. During the endgame, stalemate is a resource that can enable the player with the inferior position to draw the game rather than lose.

For example: Black to move is stalemated. Black is not in check but has no legal move since every square to which his king might move is under attack by White.