Stalemate: Near Checkmate Turned Sour
A stalemate in chess is actually a smooth sailing play nearing a checkmate against an opponent but then suddenly turns awry near the end. It is worse than suffering a checkmate. This is how we can avoid a stalemate in chess.
First, we should always think ahead while implementing a checkmate strategy—from beginning to end. A stalemate in chess often happens near the end of a game when a few more steps would render the opponent vanquished. But constant awareness is a key here. We have to switch on our alertness mode at the outset until the actual last few steps before a checkmate. Many players fall into the stalemate pit due to sheer negligence. Thus, in every phase we should be aware of our checking strategy and the enemy king's options.
After much of the fierce battle is past and we have demolished enemy defenses to a literal zero so that only the enemy king remains, we gradually position our assault team for the final kill. However, we should make sure the enemy king has freedom of movement as we do so. When the enemy king loses free movement and there's no check against it, there's a stalemate.
In some games, at this stage, the leading player is given only 12 moves to consummate a checkmate assault. If the leading player fails to do a checkmate within 12 moves, the match is called a draw. But then, the frustration on the part of the leading player would be tantamount to a loss.
The pressure can be so great that stalemate at this point is very likely to happen. When we have surrounded the enemy king such that it cannot make a free move without being captured—and this without having been checked—we have a stalemate and the match ends in a draw. So what we do is to always keep the enemy king free until we move in for a check. The checking action is so crucial here.
Again, it's vital to always think ahead while executing a checkmate strategy. As we close in for a check we should always think beforehand what the enemy king's options are. We trap it but allow it at least a free square to move into—until we have made the checkmate.
A stalemate in chess is the worst trap we can fall into. As we set the enemy for a trap we fall into it ourselves. And only fools do that.