Check attacks the king. Checkmate is a check that cannot be escaped and ends the game. Stalemate is when the side to move is not in check but has no legal move, and it is a draw.
Key principles
- Escape a check by moving the king, capturing the checker or blocking
- Checkmate wins the game; stalemate only draws
- Before every move in a winning position, make sure the opponent still has a legal move
Common mistakes
- Stalemating with an overwhelming material advantage
- Missing that a checking piece can be captured