zugzwang

Rh6 back to the same position and Black is in zugzwang.

White has gained the opposition and Black is now in zugzwang.

White was in zugzwang and had to temporarily leave the second rank.

The concept of zugzwang, if not the term, must have been known to players for many centuries.

Now it looks like zugzwang, as White's king can't move and the bishop has no safe square.

Zugzwang occurs when the need to move causes a player to lose.

The first diagram at right shows the simplest possible example of zugzwang.

The diagram on the right shows a position of reciprocal zugzwang.

Bb3, holds this block, making no threat, but putting black in zugzwang.

It is probably best to begin a review of "Zugzwang" by explaining its title.

She was in complete zugzwang, but then she found a way out of it.

It is zugzwang – being compelled to make a move one would prefer to avoid.

Creative use of zugzwang is a common tactic to force a win in these situations.

A player is said to be "in zugzwang" when any possible move will worsen their position.

As such, zugzwang is very rarely seen in the middlegame.

But if it is White to play in the original position, he can win by zugzwang:

The reason is to lose a tempo and put the opponent in zugzwang.

It's difficult to believe now, but only a few moves earlier my opponent had been in virtual zugzwang.

Oftentimes, in fact, the zugzwang is mutual: both players would rather that the other one move next.

Kb5), based on a mutual zugzwang that may occur three moves later.

If your newspaper regards that plan as the best option on the table, we truly are in a zugzwang.

When both kings can reach a key square, a position of mutual zugzwang may occur.

It took him a few delicate tempo moves before he could create the zugzwang situation with 39 Rd7!

By using these moves he can force Black into a fatal zugzwang:

Some writers call the second type a squeeze and the third type zugzwang.