Stalemate

A stalemate is a final position of a chess game in which a player can train on befindlicher make a valid train and his king is not in check. A stalemate is, so counted as a draw draw and is therefore often a lifeline for the defeated player. This can make use of a carelessness of superior enemy to bring into a stalemate.

Origin and use of the term

The term was taken from the French and is apparently derived from Latin pactum ( = agreement, agreement). However, the original transmission in the chess language goes back to Italy. In Italian is generally patta for a draw, the stalemate is, however, referred to as Stallo (see also English: stalemate ).

In a figurative sense, one speaks, for example, in the politics of a stalemate when a balance between two parties and there is no can prevail, such as the nuclear stalemate. However, this does not correspond to the situation of the chess stalemate and would be more accurate to compare with a Seki in the game of Go.

History of the stalemate rule

The evaluation of the stalemate as draw was controversial in the history of chess a long time. In the Arab world chess the stalemate was calculated as profit for the stronger party.

In the European chess, especially in Italy and France, ruled the classification before draw. But was partially until recent time uncertainty. So the stalemate reduction of the enemy was seen as a game loss for the stronger party in the 17th and 18th century in England as opposed to other countries. These unusual special rule remained until about 1810, when the leading London Master Jacob Henry Sarratt interspersed with an effort to standardize the international rule.

Stalemates

The probably most famous stalemate is a beginner's mistake when checkmate with queen and king against the single king (see above, the fourth example below right). Here and at other elementary Matt guides the stronger side must always make sure the "naked" enemy king, which is not in check, to make a second free field.

The stalemate is a tactical motif in many combinations and in chess composition. A position in which both sides are shell, called in chess composition double stalemate.

In the first diagram, four examples of possible deadlock situations are seen. Black is the train, the field of the black king is not threatened, but rather all the fields on which they could draw.

Example of a stalemate

If in this position White to train, so it is a stalemate. Because the white king could not occupy one of the key fields for its marginal farmers g7 or g8, the pawn is not to convert. This position is at the same time a very common technique in pawn endings.

Is Black the train, he can with the waiting move Kf7 -f8 continue to control both key fields and force the stalemate.

Processing for standoff

Material is white on loss. Would Black on train, would immediately Db4 -b2 or Db4 - e1 matte. On the other hand: Could White simply take his rook from the board, then it would be a stalemate. Therefore, White does not need to lose this game. He pulls Th7xb7 double attack on King and Queen. Black will therefore hit the tower. Whether that happens with King or Queen, White is then patt.

If Black moves the king and the rook will not respond, then hits the tower, the lady and white is winning.

This, too, is an important technique in playoffs: In worse position one should look for a saving settlement on the lookout, for example after a stalemate.

The shortest stalemate

Wheeler showed already in 1887 that a stalemate even with all the stones on the chessboard is possible: 1 a2 -a4 c7 - c5 2 d2 -d4 d7 - d6 3 Dd1 -d2 e7 - e5 - f4 e5 4 Dd2 e4 - 5 h2 h3 Bf8 - e7 6 Df4 - h2 - h4 Be7 7 Ta1 -a3 Bc8 - e6 8 Ta3 - g3 Be6 -b3 9 Nb1 -d2 Qd8 - a5 10 d4 -d5 e4 -e3 11 c2 - c4 f7 - f5 12 f2 -f3 f5 - f4 stalemate

Samuel Loyd showed the shortest possible stalemate: 1 e2 -e3 a7 - a5 - 2 Dd1 Ta8 h5 - h7 - h5 Dh5xa5 a6 3 4 5 Da5xc7 Ta6 - h6 h2 h4 f6 f7 - 6 Dc7xd7 Ke8 - f7 7. Dd7xb7 Qd8 -d3 - h7 Dd3 Db7xb8 8 9 Db8xc8 Kf7 - g6 10 DC8 - e6 stalemate

Patt examples in chess studies

In a variety of studies, the topic is taken up stalemate. In the following articles you will find more examples:

• Ercole del Rio
• Hermann von Gottschall
• Genrich Gasparjan with mutual stalemate
• Hermanis Matisons
• Ossip Bernstein and Gia Nadareischwili with play on self- Patt
• Ernest Pogosjanz
• Saavedra study
• Andrei Vladimirovich Seliwanow

Xiangqi

The Chinese Chess Xiangqi variant the stalemate leads to the victory of patt -setting player.