Etymology
From Zug (“move”) + Zwang (“compulsion”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈtsuːkˌtsvaŋ/, [ˈt͡suːkˌt͡sʋaŋ] (standard)
- IPA(key): /ˈtsʊxˌtsvaŋ/ (northern and central Germany; now chiefly colloquial)
Noun
Zugzwang m (strong, genitive Zugzwangs or Zugzwanges, plural Zugzwänge)
- zugzwang
- (games, especially chess) Synonym of Zugpflicht (“the rule that a player cannot forgo a move”)
2006, Claus Voigt, “Kühe und Leoparden”, in Asiatische Spiele, 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.
- (hence more specifically) a situation where this rule forces a player to make a disadvantageous move
- (by extension) a situation where someone is under pressure to take action, though not necessarily with disadvantageous consequences.
Declension
More information singular, plural ...
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Declension of Zugzwang [masculine, strong]