In most chess databases you can also find some very strange games. As an example I have searched for some early stalemates in the the ICOfY database and I have found some stalemates at the 12th move in which all pieces are still on the board.
I think that all these games are prearranged draws, but they clearly demonstrate that stalemates are not limited to the endgame.








White to move

Stalemate

1.d4 e5 The Englund Gambit 2.Qd2

( In most games the pawn is taken 2.dxe5 and the game continues with 2...Nc6 3.Nf3 Qe7 )

2… e4 3.Qf4 f5 4.h3 Bb4+ 5.Nd2 d6 6.Qh2

( 6.a4 Ba5

( 6… a5 7.Qh2 Qh4 8.Ra3 Be6 9.Rg3 Bb3 10.c4 c5 11.d5 f4 12.f3?? e3

This crazy stalemate can been found in both the games Roland Smalts – Rolf Schlindwein (1991) as Ahmad Siar Wahedi – Enrico Marchio (2001).

( Note that 12... fxg3! is winning ) )

7.Ra3 Be6 is another, even stranger, sequence of moves that can be found in the game Rolf Schlindwein – Jochen Kountz from 1991 that can lead to the same kind of stalemate 8.Qh2 Qh4 9.Rg3? Bb3? 10.c4? c5? 11.d5? f4 12.f3 e3? stalemate. The fact that the name of the same player pops up, but this time playing the white pieces is another indication that these games are prearranged. )

6… Be6 7.a4 Qh4 These as well as the following moves can be found in the mentioned database in at least four different games. 8.Ra3? c5? 9.Rg3? f4 10.f3? Bb3? 11.d5? Ba5? 12.c4? e3? ( 12… fxg3 is winning. ) 1/2-1/2

You may have missed some of the previous chess lessons. The previous chess lesson was about Weak pawns, the next lesson gives an overview of the Elements in chess strategy. The index of all chess lessons can be found when pressing the lessons navigation link at the top of this site.

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3 Responses to “Some crazy stalemates”

  1. hello…happy know with you..i’m from indonesia.still learn and play chessgame.thanks for your information about chess databases.thanks

  2. in the diagrammed position if black plays d3 white must play Qxg3 which is followed by Qxg3 mate just thought you should know

  3. In the diagrammed position (after 11.d5 f4 12.f3?? e3) it is White’s turn to move, but since White has no legal moves it’s a stalemate. If it was Black’s turn to move 13…fxg3 14.Qxg3 Qxg3# will probably be played.

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