VITAL TOPICS TO PLAY AN ENDGAME: triangulation and zugzwang

Hello everyone! Today we will talk about triangulation and zugzwang in chess, two very important topics that are mostly presented in the endgames. The endgames in general are quite complex and these concepts are no exception. They require a lot of practice and study because when it comes to reaching an end, they could be the weapon that leads to winning the game.

Triangulation
It refers to a maneuver of the king that aims to lose time and leave the opponent with the turn of the game. Instead of entering the opposition, which could prove fatal, triangulation will be used to achieve a better path for our king, and instead it will be our opponent who ends up in the opposition.

In this example it was demonstrated how triangulation is applied, now let's see another one with more pawns:

In these two examples it was clear how the triangulation was executed with the kings, which is the piece with which it is mostly performed.

Zugzwang:
Zugzwang is a word of German origin that is related to chess, the translation of this concept has been - any move you make causes you to lose. Triangulation and zugzwang are two topics that are somewhat similar, since the first is based on a series of plays that lead to the same starting position but with the idea that it is the rival who has the turn in order to benefit from it, while the second is a situation in which a player is at a disadvantage because it is his turn to play and any movement he makes will disadvantage him. Zugzwang positions, like triangulation positions, tend to emerge at the end of the game, when the number of pieces and possible moves are reduced. Next we will see three examples

I would like to finish this article with a very interesting and famous study on this subject, which over the years has been quite analyzed and exemplified as part of training in academies, clubs, schools, etc.

In conclusion, these two topics are of the utmost importance when playing an ending in a chess game, because the final result of the game can be decided depending on the procedure followed by the side that has the option of applying the above. For this reason, arduous study and work must be devoted to training for, and in case it occurs in a chess game, apply it correctly and achieve the flattering result.

I am Maicol Benavides, Master Fide and chess coach. Available for private lessons or training games, for more information write to +584262367909, maicolalexander06@gmail.com or to private chat.