Zugzwang
Zugzwang is a situation in chess and other turn-based games where a player is at a disadvantage because they are forced to make a move, as any legal move will worsen their position. The term, derived from German, has been used in chess literature since at least 1858 and in English since 1905. Although the concept predates the term by centuries, it is particularly relevant in endgame scenarios where a player's obligation to move can determine the outcome.
- ▪Zugzwang refers to a situation where any legal move a player makes will worsen their position.
- ▪The term originates from German, combining 'Zug' meaning 'move' and 'Zwang' meaning 'compulsion'.
- ▪The concept of zugzwang appears in chess endgames, especially in king and pawn endgames and elementary checkmates.
- ▪Positions of reciprocal zugzwang are considered important in endgame analysis according to chess expert John Nunn.
- ▪The symbol '⊙' is used in international chess notation to indicate a zugzwang position.
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Toggle the table of contents Zugzwang 37 languages العربيةAzərbaycancaБеларускаяБългарскиBrezhonegCatalàČeštinaЧӑвашлаDanskDeutschEspañolEuskaraفارسیSuomiFrançaisעבריתՀայերենInterlinguaItaliano日本語Қазақша한국어LietuviųLatviešuNederlandsNorsk bokmålPolskiPortuguêsRomânăРусскийSimple EnglishSlovenčinaSvenskaதமிழ்TürkçeУкраїнська中文 Edit links ArticleTalk English ReadEditView history Tools Tools move to sidebar hide Actions ReadEditView history General What links hereRelated changesUpload filePermanent linkPage informationCite this pageGet shortened URL Print/export Download as PDFPrintable version In other projects Wikidata item Appearance move to sidebar hide From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Disadvantage in a game due to obligation to move .mw-parser-output .side-box{margin:4px…
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