Zugzwang

A German word meaning obligation to move.  The term is used for a position in which whoever has the move would obtain a worse result than if it were the opponent’s turn to play.  The term was first used in a German chess magazine in 1858. Below is the Immortal Zugzwang game, where in the final position, any move Black makes, loses quickly.

Pronunciation info for English speakers:

say

   tsoog-tsvung

with "ung" as in "young"

Whoever is to move in the following diagram IMMEDIATELY loses. This is because they must not only cease attacking the opponent's pawn, but must give up defense of their own. It's called a 'trebuchet'.

White to move:

Black to move:

Comments:

by sidwhite - 4 years ago
phoenix,Az United States

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1

Very interesting

by Wolmir - 4 years ago
Alegrete, RS Brazil

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1

One must be very good player to do such things.

 

by bosco - 4 years ago
Poland

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 237

Practically, every move i make is a zugzwang's move for my opponent ;-)

cool name, innit ? 

by eyesallhazy - 4 years ago
NC United States

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 11

The pressure is mostly on white.

by 1red5a - 4 years ago
Cainta Rizal, Philippines

Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 225

It was a nice one

 

 

by BrooksJ - 4 years ago
Boston United States

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 57

Thanks for posting that. What a great game to review.

by redlab - 4 years ago
Charlottesville, VA United States

Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 13

cool article and game.  not sure what he means by a 'ghost' though.

by Airforce - 4 years ago
amman Iraq

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 2

good game burt it isn't an easy one !!!!!!!!!!

by lithium11 - 4 years ago
Wellington New Zealand

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 803

I have a lot to learn...
Very interesting, thanks for posting!

by ketchuplover - 4 years ago
West Bend,WI United States

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 755

I believe it's pronounced tsutsung(or something like that

by rajkhilji - 3 years ago
tamilnadu India

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 3

wow ! tat's fantastic.......

by DR_ABBAS - 3 years ago
mallawi city Egypt

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 1

it is avery perfect game

by chessfanforlife - 3 years ago
Toronto Canada

Member Since: Jan 2008
Member Points: 866

nice!

by grensley - 3 years ago
Minnesota United States

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 408

whats wrong with f3?

by Ridzwan - 3 years ago
Pahang Malaysia

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 692

interesting

by srn347 - 3 years ago
California United States

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 268

White is in two zugzwangs. The copy strategy zugzwang(zugzwang lite) can be broken, the extra information zugzwang, not so much.

by chandy - 3 years ago
dagupan city Philippines

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 5

nimzovish is one of the most good at playing zugzwang.

he always plays it when he is black. thats why he's my favorite GM.

If he didnt die at 1874 he would be the best player ever.

by chandy - 3 years ago
dagupan city Philippines

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 5

I mean 1974.

by Pikaspeed - 3 years ago
Canton United States

Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 124

I used this against an opponent, but somehow he fooled me with his queen. I don't know how he did it, though.

by EnGliSHCheSsPlAy - 3 years ago
Italy Italy

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 781

exactly..! it means  " no move "