Definitive ending of a chess game
Checkmate is the clearest decisive finish: a king is attacked and has no legal escape. But a final result can also come from resignation, time or a draw.
How a chess game finishes
| Ending | Result | What decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Checkmate | Win | An attacked king has no legal escape. |
| Resignation | Usually a loss | A player concedes; see the exception below. |
| Time expires | Usually a loss | The required moves were not completed in time; the same exception applies. |
| Stalemate | Draw | The player has no legal move, but their king is not attacked. |
| Dead position | Draw | Neither side can ever checkmate through any legal continuation. |
| Draw agreement | Draw | Both players agree, subject to event rules. |
| Repeated position | Draw | Three occurrences allow a claim; five end the game automatically. |
| Move-count rules | Draw | 50 moves each without a pawn move or capture allow a claim; 75 end it automatically, unless the last move checkmates. |
For resignation or expired time, FIDE awards a draw if the opponent has no possible legal mating sequence.
Checkmate or stalemate?
Checkmate
Stalemate
Source: FIDE Laws of Chess: Articles 5, 6.9 and 9. Rules checked October 12, 2026. Event and online-platform procedures can differ.