Stalemate

A stalemate occurs when a situation reaches a standstill, where no progress can be made by any party involved. In chess, it specifically refers to a situation where a player has no legal moves left, but is not in check, resulting in a draw. More broadly, the term can apply to negotiations, conflicts, or debates where both sides hold firm and neither can advance or achieve their objectives, leading to a state of inaction. Stalemates can be frustrating as they prevent resolution and can sometimes require outside intervention to move forward.