zugzwang

American  

[tsook-tsvahng] / ˈtsukˌtsvɑŋ /

noun

Chess.

1. a situation in which a player is limited to moves that cost pieces or have a damaging positional effect.

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zugzwang British  

/ ˈtsuːktsvaŋ /

noun

1. a position in which one player can move only with loss or severe disadvantage

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verb

1. (tr) to manoeuvre (one's opponent) into a zugzwang

Etymology

Origin of zugzwang

First recorded in 1900–05; from German, equivalent to Zug “move, pull” + Zwang “constraint, obligation”

Example Sentences

White’s position is bleak and approaching zugzwang as none of her pieces can move without material loss.

From Washington Times • Nov. 28, 2023

He likened his dilemma to a "zugzwang" - the position where a player in chess or draughts faces only bad moves.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2021

"There's this position on the board called 'zugzwang' which means there's no good move to make ... and that's what we had yesterday, a zugzwang," he told Reuters.

From Reuters • Apr. 28, 2021

He could still draw a pawn down until another blunder enabled Grischuk to create zugzwang, compulsion for the opponent to make a losing move, then launch a winning advance to queen.

From The Guardian • Sep. 4, 2015

A player in zugzwang has no good moves.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin