What is Zugzwang?
'''Zugzwang''' is a [[List of chess terms|chess term]]. It means a situation where any move by a player will weaken the player's position.<ref>Hoope D. & Whyld K. 1992. ''The Oxford companion to chess''. Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-19-280049-7}}</ref> The fact that the player is compelled to move means that their position will become significantly weaker. For example... {{Chess diagram small | tright | Example of zugzwang |__|__|kd|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|pl|kl|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ | }} ;Black to play '''1. ... Kd7''' and White cannot win: '''2. c6+ Kc7''' '''3. Kc5 Kc8''' '''4. Kd6 Kd8''' (opposing the king) '''5. c7+ Kc8 '''6. Kc6''' is [[List of chess terms#S|stalemate]] ;White to play But if it is White to play in the original position, he can win by zugzwang: '''1. Kc6!''' and now Black must move his king, for example '''1..... Kd8''' '''3. Kb7''' and queens the pawn. == Mutual zugzwang == {{Chess diagram small | tright | Either player to move loses |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ | | | |pd|kl| | | | | |kd|pl| | | | |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ |__|__|__|__|__|__|__|__ | }} There are positions where either player to move will lose. On the following diagram, Whichever king moves, he loses his pawn and the opponent will win the game. == History == The concept of zugzwang was known in the old forms of chess, like [[shatranj]]. We know this because there are some [[Arabic chess]] problems which use the idea. The term itself comes from the 19th century in a German chess magazine. Its first use in English was in the early 20th century.<ref>[http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/extra/zugzwang.html Winter, Edward 1997. ''Zugzwang''. www.chesshistory.com]</ref> == References == {{reflist}} {{-}} {{Chess}} [[Category:Chess]]