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zugzwang

/ˈzugˌzwɑŋ/
/ˈtsukˌtsvɑŋ/
IPA guide

Other forms: zugzwangs

A zugzwang is a situation in chess where a player is required to make a move but any move they can make worsens their position. For example, if a player only has two possible moves, and one move requires them to lose their queen and another to lose their rook, that's a zugzwang.

The word zugzwang comes from the German zug, meaning "move," and zwang, meaning "force." So zugzwang occurs when a player is forced to make a move that is unfavorable because a game's rules demand a move be made. The word zugzwang is also sometimes used to describe any situation in which you must take action but all available actions are bad. It's a zugzwang if you must answer a question, but any answer you give will really upset someone.

Definitions of zugzwang
  1. noun
    a situation in a game, especially chess, where a player has to make a move that will be bad for them
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