Often checkmate situations can be overcome by performing a move in the containing system.

Every system is nestled within another system.

It's easy to forget this, because your horizon will be constrained by the system you're inside of, and it will feel like the edge of the universe.

If within the system someone goes "aha! I have you trapped!" the other agent can often pop up to the surrounding system and do a move "outside".

An example: In a game of chess, yelling "Checkmate!"... and your opponent kicks the table over and shoves you in frustration.

A more positive example is the heroes in the Matrix being able to do magic because they know they're in the Matrix.

These outside moves will feel completely shocking to those inside the system, because they were totally inconceivable within the system.

It's important to never forget that a move could come from the outer system, scrambling the internal system.

Some of these moves feel inherently unfair or like "cheating", but sometimes they can be extremely powerful judo moves.