stalemate

stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move has no moves but is not in check. the player is not in check, so there’s no direct danger. however, every move you can make WILL put you in clear and present danger.

that’s gotta suck, right? it’s like there’s nothing wrong right now; but once you make a move, all hell is going to break lose. you can’t progress. you have to be satisfied with your current state. sala sa init, sala sa lamig. damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

at least if a player gets checkmated, there’s a clear winner and a clear loser. for you, it’s either of the two: you win or you lose. good or bad. yin or yang. black or white. at least you know where you stand and the situation is clear. being in a stalemate however is a gray area. nothing is clear. it’s like being in perpetual suspension. there is no resolution.

well… actually… in chess it’s easier: a stalemate is resolved as an automatic draw. in life though - when you’re in a stalemate - you either maintain the status quo and stagnate; or, you make a move and open pandora’s box.

there are no draws in life.

at least that’s how i see it.