▁of ▁threat ▁( not ▁possible ▁when ▁the ▁attack ing ▁piece ▁is ▁a ▁kn ight ▁or ▁pa wn , ▁or ▁when ▁in ▁double ▁check ). ▁The ▁attack ing ▁piece ▁is ▁captured ▁( not ▁possible ▁when ▁in ▁double ▁check , ▁unless ▁the ▁king ▁capt ures ). ▁ ▁If ▁none ▁of ▁the ▁three ▁options ▁are ▁available , ▁the ▁player ' s ▁king ▁has ▁been ▁check m ated ▁and ▁the ▁player ▁los es ▁the ▁game . ▁ ▁St alem ate ▁ ▁A ▁st alem ate ▁occurs ▁when ▁a ▁player , ▁on ▁their ▁turn , ▁has ▁no ▁legal ▁moves , ▁and ▁the ▁player ' s ▁king ▁is ▁not ▁in ▁check . ▁ ▁If ▁this ▁happens , ▁the ▁king ▁is ▁said ▁to ▁have ▁been ▁st alem ated ▁and ▁the ▁game ▁ends ▁in ▁a ▁draw . ▁A ▁player ▁who ▁has ▁very ▁little ▁or ▁no ▁chance ▁of ▁winning ▁will ▁often , ▁in ▁order ▁to ▁avoid ▁a ▁loss , ▁try ▁to ▁ent ice ▁the ▁oppon ent ▁to ▁in ad vert ently ▁place ▁the ▁player ' s ▁king ▁in ▁st alem ate . ▁ ▁Ro le ▁in ▁game play ▁In ▁the ▁opening ▁and ▁m idd leg ame , ▁the ▁king ▁will ▁rarely ▁play ▁an ▁active ▁role ▁in ▁the ▁development ▁of ▁an ▁off ensive ▁or ▁def ensive ▁position . ▁Instead , ▁a ▁player ▁will ▁normally ▁try ▁to ▁castle ▁and ▁seek ▁safety ▁on ▁the ▁edge ▁of ▁the ▁board ▁behind ▁friendly ▁pa wn s . ▁In ▁the ▁end game , ▁however , ▁the ▁king ▁emer ges ▁to ▁play ▁an ▁active ▁role ▁as ▁an ▁off ensive ▁piece