Checkmate is a term used in chess and other chess-like games to describe a game position in which a players king is in check and there is no possible escape. When a checkmate occurs, the game ends immediately, and the player who delivered the checkmate wins. In chess, the king is never actually captured—the player loses as soon as the king is checkmated. There are various types of checkmates, such as back-rank checkmate, scholars mate, fools mate, and many others. Checkmate is a crucial goal in chess, and it signifies a clear victory in the game.