What is Zugzwang? || Chess Tactics and Chess Strategy || #AskAChessMaster Episode 09

Today's episode of the #AskAChessMaster show is all about the infamous zugzwang in chess. 

What is zugzwang and how do we apply it in our own games?

Zugzwang, by definition, is a position in which the player whose turn it is, has to make a move, but would rather not as any move they make would make the position they have unfavorable to lost. 

What does this mean? Take a look at the following position.

In this position, it is black to move and the black player is in zugzwang. The reason here is simple. Black would rather not make a move in this position because if he is able to just sit still and do nothing on e8, there is nothing white can do to kick the black king out. However, due to the rules of chess, black is FORCED to make a move, forcing him off the e8 square. With that move, white can enter his position with Kf7, effectively promoting the pawn.

Here is one of the most famous zugzwang positions to actually occur in a middlegame! Can you find the move that forced white to resign?

Find out the amazing answer in this very short video I created!

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