What is Zugzwang in chess?
A position where any move you make worsens your position.
Zugzwang is most common in endgames. You'd love to 'pass', but chess forces you to move, and every move loses ground.
Spot zugzwang in your own games
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Analyze my games →More chess terms
- FortressA defensive setup where the weaker side builds an impenetrable wall to force a draw despite being down material.
- Lucena positionThe key winning setup in rook-and-pawn vs rook endgames, solved by 'building a bridge.'
- Philidor positionThe key drawing defense in rook-and-pawn vs rook endgames.
- Key squaresSpecific squares that, once reached by the attacking king, guarantee a pawn promotes.
- TriangulationA king maneuver that loses a tempo to reach the same position with the opponent to move.
- Square of the pawnA visual shortcut to check whether the defending king can catch a passed pawn before it promotes.