Yes, you can win a chess game without giving a single check.
While checkmate is the most common way to win in chess, forcing your opponent's king into a position where it is both under attack and unable to escape, there are alternative methods that don't necessitate putting the king in check before delivering the final blow.
Here's a breakdown of the ways you can win a chess game without a check:
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Resignation: The opponent resigns, conceding defeat. This often occurs when a player believes their position is hopeless, even if checkmate isn't immediately imminent. For example, a player may resign if they have lost a significant amount of material, such as a queen or rook, and see no way to recover or prevent further losses. Resignation can occur at any point during a game, even before a single piece has been moved!
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Time Out: In timed games, an opponent's time runs out. Even if no check or checkmate has occurred, the player with time remaining wins. This is irrespective of the position on the board, even if the player with time remaining is in a terrible situation. However, there is an exception: If the player runs out of time and their opponent does not have sufficient mating material (king and knight or king and bishop), then the game is ruled a draw.
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Forfeit: The opponent forfeits the game due to a violation of the rules, such as illegal moves or unsportsmanlike conduct.
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Opponent is Unable to Move (Stalemate): Though stalemate results in a draw, there are scenarios where a player can force their opponent to stalemate if the conditions are met. By forcing the opponent into this state, if that player can no longer make a legal move, that can be interpreted as winning "by stalemate."
Therefore, although checkmate is the most widely recognized method, resignation, timeout, and opponent forfeits all provide alternative paths to victory without delivering a check.
