Zugzwang

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See also: zugzwang

German

Etymology

From Zug (“move”) +‎ Zwang (“compulsion”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtsuːkˌtsvaŋ/, (standard)
  • IPA(key): /ˈtsʊxˌtsvaŋ/ (northern and central Germany; now chiefly colloquial)
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

Zugzwang m (strong, genitive Zugzwangs or Zugzwanges, plural Zugzwänge)

  1. zugzwang
    1. (games, especially chess) Synonym of Zugpflicht (“the rule that a player cannot forgo a move”)
      • 2006, Claus Voigt, “Kühe und Leoparden [Cows and Leopards]”, in Asiatische Spiele [Asian Games], Humboldt, page 75:
        Kühe können entlang den Linien um ein Feld gezogen werden. Sie können nicht springen und nicht schlagen. Für beide Parteien gilt Zugzwang. Für den Leoparden gilt kein Schlagzwang.
        Cows can be moved along the lines by one square. They cannot jump nor capture any piece. Both players are forced to make a move. The leopard is not forced to capture a piece if possible.
    2. (hence more specifically) a situation where this rule forces a player to make a disadvantageous move
    3. (by extension) a situation where someone is under pressure to take action, though not necessarily with disadvantageous consequences.

Declension

Declension of Zugzwang
singular plural
indef. def. noun def. noun
nominative ein der Zugzwang die Zugzwänge
genitive eines des Zugzwangs, Zugzwanges der Zugzwänge
dative einem dem Zugzwang, Zugzwange1 den Zugzwängen
accusative einen den Zugzwang die Zugzwänge

1Now rare, see notes.

Descendants

Further reading

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