What is Checkmate in chess?
The king is in check and has no legal way to escape - the game is over.
Delivering checkmate wins the game instantly. The goal of every attack is to trap the enemy king so that it can't move, block, or capture its way out.
Spot checkmate in your own games
Free. Chess2EZ finds the patterns you keep missing and explains each in plain English.
Analyze my games →More chess terms
- DrawA game that ends with no winner - both players score half a point.
- Threefold repetitionThe same position occurring three times in a game allows either player to claim a draw.
- Fifty-move ruleA draw can be claimed if 50 moves pass with no pawn move and no capture.
- Perpetual checkAn endless series of checks that forces a draw by repetition.
- Algebraic notationThe standard system for recording chess moves using piece letters and square coordinates.
- PGN (Portable Game Notation)The standard text file format for saving and sharing chess games.