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The winner's trap: stalemate

No move, no check, no win.

Even with a queen or rook to spare, there's one way to throw it all away: stalemate. If the lone king has no legal move while it is NOT in check, the game is an instant draw — and your whole advantage vanishes.

Look at the diagram: it's Black's move, the king is not in check, but every square is covered. White stalemated a totally won position. The cure is a habit: before each move when you're winning, ask 'after this, does my opponent still have a legal move?' Leave the king one escape square until the moment you actually mate.

Black to move, NOT in check, but no legal square (a7/b7/b8 all covered). Stalemate — a wasted win.

You're up a rook. The enemy king has no legal move and is NOT in check. What happened?

Answer the question to keep going!