Stalemate rule

I've played chess for years, but I'm still not clear on the stalemate rule. i've heard it lots of different ways; 15 moves with only a king, 50 moves without check, etc. could someone plz clarify what the rule actually is? thanks :) *feeling sheepish*

If its your turn to play and you have no legal move, and your king isnt in check, thats a stalemate/draw.

but also: if both players have insufficent material to mate that is also a draw

and if one player only has a king, and the game progesses for 50 more moves, that is also a draw

If the OP means Draw Rules instead of Stalemate, which is something else specific, try to google rules of chess or laws of chess.

Actually it's 50 consecutive moves have been played where neither player has moved a pawn or captured a piece.

 This isnt quite correct. I think you are thinking of the 50 move rule but if my opponent only has a king and I have some pawns the count starts over every time a pawn moves. The 50 move rule can also be used to draw in positions that both players have more than just their kings.

FYI in reference to "sufficient material to mate" here is an interesting tidbit:

Your king and a queen can mate a lone king. Your king and one or two rooks can mate a lone king, Your king and TWO bishops can mate a lone king, Your king and a bishop AND a knight can mate a lone king.

BUT...

Your king and one bishop cannot mate a lone king, your king and one knight cannot mate a lone king, your king a two knights cant mate alone king. Your king and a pawn cant mate unless you can promote it with out loosing the promoted piece. In these situations you dont have sifficent material to mate. I think...

Does that sound like dialog from Alice in Wonderland or what?

A king+2n is sufficient to mate but not force mate.

If the OP wants to learn about the rules that govern draws in chess it's always better to find the rules online rather than try to ferret out what's true from what's not in threads like these.

You can also get a rules of chess book

It's interesting that a king and 2 knights can't force mate against a lone king, but in many positions can against a king and a pawn. The tempo makes all the difference.

Normally, I hate quoting anything Wiki, but many times it is correct and has good information.  This is one of those cases:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalemate

The "50 move rule" applies when 50 moves go by without a capture or a pawn move, generally. If progress is not being made by either side, the game is inherently drawn.   :)

Indeed - this is true. Your opponent would have to cooperate and "allow themselves" to be mated or blunder into it.