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Zugzwang

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Last updated on Sun, 11/15/2009 at 3:55pm.

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 Zugwang 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"

462 reads | 37 comments

Comments:

by sidwhite - 2 years ago
phoenix,Az United States

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1

Very interesting

by Wolmir - 2 years ago
Alegrete, RS Brazil

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 1

One must be very good player to do such things.

by bosco - 2 years ago
International

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 230

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

cool name, innit ?

by eyesallhazy - 2 years ago
NC United States

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 11

The pressure is mostly on white.

by 1red5a - 2 years ago
Cainta Rizal, Philippines

Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 225

It was a nice one

by BrooksJ - 2 years ago
Boston United States

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 57

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

by redlab - 23 months 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 - 23 months ago
amman Iraq

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 2

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

by lithium11 - 21 months ago
Wellington New Zealand

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 609

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

by ketchuplover - 21 months ago
West Bend,WI United States

Member Since: Jun 2007
Member Points: 462

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

by rajkhilji - 19 months ago
tamilnadu India

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 3

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

by DR_ABBAS - 19 months ago
mallawi city Egypt

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 1

it is avery perfect game

by grensley - 19 months ago
Minnesota United States

Member Since: Mar 2008
Member Points: 405

whats wrong with f3?

by srn347 - 14 months ago
California United States

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 245

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

by chandy - 12 months 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 - 12 months ago
dagupan city Philippines

Member Since: Sep 2008
Member Points: 5

I mean 1974.

by Pikaspeed - 11 months ago
Canton United States

Member Since: Nov 2008
Member Points: 101

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 - 11 months ago
Italy Italy

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 791

exactly..! it means " no move "

by Maurissius - 11 months ago
Somewhere in Canada

Member Since: Nov 2007
Member Points: 2538

cool

by Pierrechess - 10 months ago
Paris France

Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 312

I'm good at does when I am in the end of the game which makes me a trong player.

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