Meaning & use
zugzwang
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountabletechnical
In chess, a situation where a player is forced to move but every possible move makes their position worse.
Grammar: Usually uncountable; used with 'in': 'in zugzwang'.
Patterns
- in zugzwang
- put someone in zugzwang
The grandmaster realized he was in zugzwang and had to move his king.
Black's position was so cramped that any move would create zugzwang.
She studied endgame positions to understand zugzwang better.
noununcountablefigurative
By extension, any situation in which someone must act but all available actions are harmful.
Grammar: Often used figuratively in politics or business; can be countable in rare cases.
Patterns
- in a zugzwang
- face zugzwang
The government found itself in a political zugzwang: any decision would anger voters.
Negotiators described the deadlock as a diplomatic zugzwang.
Common combinations
- in zugzwang
- After the queen trade, White was in zugzwang.
- put someone in zugzwang
- The clever pawn move put his opponent in zugzwang.
- a classic zugzwang
- This endgame is a classic zugzwang studied by beginners.
- avoid zugzwang
- He tried to avoid zugzwang by keeping a tempo move in reserve.
Commonly confused: zugzwang or zwischenzug?
zugzwang vs zwischenzug
Another German chess term meaning an in-between move; zugzwang is about being forced to move, while zwischenzug is about inserting a surprising move.
Practice
What does 'zugzwang' mean in chess?
Choose one answer.
Zugzwang means a player is forced to move and all moves are bad. Option A describes stalemate (no legal moves), which is different.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “zugzwang”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.