Talk:Zugzwang/Archive 1

Archive 1

Archive 2

Question

Does black lose in that immortal game if he moves first? Evercat 23:52 May 11, 2003 (UTC)

I'm sorry, I'd forgotten that zugzwang is not the same as reciprocal zugzwang. :-) Evercat 23:53 May 11, 2003 (UTC)

But thanks for reminding of the term "reciprocal zugzwang" - I'd forgotten that :) --Camembert

Please add the pronunciation of "zugzwang". --Juuitchan

Müller and Lamprecht citation

There is a cite in the article to "Müller and Lamprecht 2001:22." It's not clear to me what this source is, since it's not listed in the references at the end. Krakatoa 16:48, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

An omission, probably on my part. Fixed now. Bubba73 (talk), 23:53, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

Bourzutschky's trebuchet game

Am I going blind, or does black have two bishops on dark squares in that example? It would have to be a pretty convoluted game to get black to underpromote to a bishop instead of just getting a queen. Molimo 23:23, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

It is not from a game, it is a position discovered by computer. I've added a link to a page about it. Bubba73 (talk), 23:53, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

The link to the "page about it" no longer exists. It used to be http://216.25.93.108/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2860, but the relevant thread has disappeared. -Anon —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.36.227.45 (talk • contribs)

I think Tim Krabbe in his Open Chess Diary discusses Bourzutschky's trebuchet positions. Bourzutschky discovered some more normal-looking trebuchet positions with knights on the board, and no same-colored bishops. Personally, I think one of those would be better to cite. The same-colored bishop position is ugly IMO; better to have a position that one could conceivably reach in a normal game. Krakatoa 01:35, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I thought it was notable because it was the first one discovered that didn't involve knights or pawns. That's why I put it in there. But we are open to suggestions. Bubba73 (talk), 02:43, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

I know you noted that it didn't involve knights or pawns. I guess that is notable if one is a trebuchet scholar or something, but as a non-trebuchet scholar the "no knights or pawns!" thing doesn't excite me and I'd rather see something that looks like a more normal position. Your mileage may vary. Krakatoa 03:11, 29 September 2006 (UTC)

You're not the first to complain about that position, and I'm not married to it. Can you supply a better example? Or it we might just omit that position. Bubba73 (talk), 04:13, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

OK, I'm going to try substituting a position with four knights. Somehow that seems (slightly) more natural than one with two bishops on the same color. Not sure why. One would think there would be a full-point mutual zugzwang position without promoted pieces besides the simple one-pawn apiece trebuchet position. Krakatoa 05:19, 5 October 2006 (UTC)

Zugzwang the play?

I moved the following text here, as it seems out of place in the main article. Perhaps a move to University_of_Wollongong would be in order?

"Zugzwang" is also the name of a highly acclaimed theatrical performance by the talented University of Wollongong (Australia) performance students. The theatrical experience was revived several times and most recently is being transferred to Vietnam as part of the "Experimental Theatre Festival" in Hanoi. --85.139.186.98 15:13, 5 November 2006 (UTC)

Trebuchet

As I understand it a 'trebuchet' is a type of zugzwang - or perhaps vice versa. In any case the 'trebuchet' isn't mentioned or explained in the current version of the article - yet probably should be. Snori 10:35, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

It is discussed inder "recripocal zugzwang", in its own subsection: zugzwang#Trébuchet. Bubba73 (talk), 16:09, 30 January 2007 (UTC)

second image/example

I think this example should not be there. It's not a zugzwang because Black loses no matter if it is Black or White's turn. Shouldn't it be removed? Alex.tan 06:33, August 30, 2005 (UTC)

No. It is zugzwang, for black only. Black would prefer not to move but has to (once the board reaches the appropriate position). —Simetrical (talk) 02:58, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

The second example was removed on Jan 1, 2006. I think it should be restored because mutual zugzwang is a special case of zugzwang. Most of the times when there is zugzwang, it is not mutual, so non-mutual zugswang is more common (and typical) than mutual zugswang. Bubba73 (talk), 18:18, 1 January 2006 (UTC)

The distinction between zugzwang and mutual zugzwang would be better demonstrated in some other game than chess, because in chess there is no distinction (in chess the term "mutual zugzwang" is a pleonasm). In a zero-sum 2-player game, when it is advantageous for one player to pass, then the same holds for the other side. In the first example demonstrates this principle: "black to move is in zugzwang, and loses" (black draws otherwise). From white's point of view the same diagram can be described as "white to move is in zugzwang, and draws" (white wins otherwise).

That is not correct, because White to move wins in that position. I think it would be a good idea to include examples from other games, but keep what is already in the article. Bubba73 (talk), 23:29, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I overlooked. But in that case, isn't the example flawed? White to move wins, agreed. So when it is Black to move, he is not better off by passing. He loses either way, so it is no zugzwang after all?

I think it is correct. (I think it was given in one of the references, but I'm not sure.) If Black is to move, he is better off to just sit there, i.e. pass. If he moves he loses. If it is White's move, he triangulates to get to the same position in which Black has to move. So I think it is correct. Bubba73 (talk), 00:11, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Mathematical reasoning tells it is the same. This is my last attempt before I move on: Think about this for the example position: Why is it better for Black to pass? If Black passes in this position, it becomes white to move. We have established that white to move wins. So in the example, black cannot improve the outcome by passing in this position: it is not a zugzwang.

Mathematically, the mutuality always holds in zugzwang positions for 2-player zero-sum games. There are 4 game scores to consider: 1. White to move ("WTM"), white's result (abbr. WTM-W), 2. White to move, black's result (WTM-B). Similarly, 3. Black to move, white's score (BTM-W) and 4. Black to move, black's score (BTM-B). Say that loss is 0, draw 0.5, and win is 1.0 . WTM-W + WTM-B = 1 and BTM-W + BTM-B = 1. In zugzwang, it is better to pass and obtain the result for the other position. Say for example that white is in zugzwang: If he moves, he gets WTM-W. When he passes, he obtains BTW-W. White prefers BTW-W over WTM-W: BTM-W > WTM-W. But then we also have 1 - BTM-B > 1 - WTM-B, from which follows BTM-B < WTM-B. Ergo: Black prefers not to be on move: Black is in zugzwang as well. The term "mutual zugzwang" is a pleonasm in chess. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.225.100.33 (talk • contribs)

Mutual/recripocal zugzwang isn't really a pleonasm in chess, the way most authors use the terms. In chess "zugzwang" normally means that one side is at a disadvantage if he has to move. Mutual or recropical zugzwang means that both sides are in zugzwang. It is used differently than in game theory. Bubba73 (talk), 01:36, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

It seems there is a logical fallacy in that argument: How people use a term doesn't preclude it from being a pleonasm. People just don't realize the two situations are always linked. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.225.100.33 (talk • contribs)

Excuse me, I made a big mistake. When I was talking about triangulation, I was looking at the first position, and the header was for the second position. Sorry, my error. Let me try to summarize. In the first position, if it is black's move, he loses. If it is white's move, white can triangulate to get to the same position with black to move, so white wins. That position is a win for white either way, but if it is white's move, he must triangulate to put black in zugzwang. This position is a win for white, regardless of who is to move. (If black could pass once, that wouldn't help him, but if he could pass whenever he wanted to, it would.) In the second position, if it is white's move it is a draw. If it is black's move, black loses. (If whoever is to move could pass one time, and there were no other passes allowed, the pass would change the outcome.) I hope this clarifies it and please discuss it more if you need to. Bubba73 (talk), 15:13, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

PS - from what you are saying, in 0-sum games, zugzwang may be defined more precisely than it is in chess, i.e. it is what is called mutual or reciprocal zugzwang in chess. Bubba73 (talk), 15:40, 16 April 2006 (UTC)

Chess is a 0-sum game. One's good is precisely the other's bad. A dictionary definition of "zugzwang" is: "a situation in which the obligation to make a move in one's turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage" (Oxford American Dictionaries). Try to find a position where this definition holds when White is to move, but doesn't hold when Black is to move. It is logically not possible to have such a position in 0-sum games, chess included.

Take the first example on the current main page (labeled "Flear 2004, page 11", 8/8/3k4/1p1p1p2/1P1K1P2/2P5/8/8 b - -). As the text explains, Black to move and Black loses, but allowing to pass once draws. So it is zugzwang. The same position with White to move is zugzwang as well: White to move draws, but allowing to pass once turns it back into win for White. So the obligation for White to move also gives him a disadvantage (a mere draw instead of a win). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.225.100.33 (talk • contribs)

1. As Elkies and Berlekamp et. al. point out (and the article states), game theory does not apply directly to chess.

2. As stated in the article, the term is used differently in chess than in game theory.

Ad 1 & 2: The relevant theory is sometimes called Combinatorial Game Theory, which certainly applies to chess. Sorry for the ambiguity, but the term "Combinatorial" is usually omitted when it is clear the context is chess and not economics or gambling. Under (Combinatorial) Game Theory, Zugzwang for 0-sum 2-player games is mutual. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.225.97.51 (talk • contribs)

I meant that the term zugzwang is used differently in chess (not game theory). Bubba73 (talk), 15:25, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

3. You said "The same position with White to move is zugzwang as well: White to move draws" This is wrong. If white is to move in the first position, he is not obligated to make a move that weakens his position. (Kd3 and Ke3 do not hurt his position. Only c4 hurts his position, and he is not obligated to do that.) If it is white's move, white draws anyway. White is not in zugzwang, according to the way the term is used in chess. Bubba73 (talk), 18:20, 14 July 2007 (UTC)

Ad 3: Kd3, Ke3 and c4 all draw the game for White. None is better or worse than the other. The outcome is the same. However, that is not the point. The point is that if White would arrive in this position and is to move, he is forced to draw, no matter which move. If he could pass once, he would win. Therefore the obligation to move costs him half a point. So it is a zugzwang for White. (by applying the same definition we used for the original Black to move position: the obligation to move costs Black half a point if he were to move). —Preceding unsigned comment added by 125.225.97.51 (talk • contribs)

No, c4 loses for White. Kd3 and Ke3 draw. Please sign your comments on talk pages with four tildas. Bubba73 (talk), 15:22, 29 July 2007 (UTC)

Consider the position, not the result. (This is how zugzwang is used in chess.) In the position being discussed, consider the pawns where they are but with the kings farther back. Then the position would be a draw. If black moves ...Kd6 and then white moves Kd4, he has put black in zugzwang - any move by black loses. On the other hand, if white moves Kd4 and then black moves ...Kd6 he has not put white in zugzwang - white has moves that do not hurt his position (i.e. they maintain the draw). Bubba73 (talk), 23:02, 14 August 2007 (UTC)

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
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According to main article, Black to move is in zugzwang, and loses

This is a very poor example. White to move wins by 1. Ke5. If Black tries to maintain opposition by 1...Ke7, then 2. c6 forces promotion because the K has moved out of the square of the B6 pawn. If 1...Kc6, then 2 Kd4 Kd7 (if ... Kb5 then 3. Kd5-d6-c7 winning the Pb7) 3. Kd5, when the same position is reached with black to move.

It is black to move, not white. But I replaced it with an example from Flear. Bubba73 (talk), 04:16, 22 May 2006 (UTC)

I added two things to the article a week ago to make it clearer, a new position and the breakdown of the three types of positions in chess. What you are saying is that there are no positions of type #2. But there are positions of that type, and triangulation (chess) gives another good example. Bubba73 (talk), 13:37, 22 July 2007 (UTC)

Terminology

Zugzwang is a chess term that has been applied to game theory, not a game-theory term that applies to chess. The article has this backward. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.116.224.62 (talk) 01:07, 16 October 2007 (UTC)

I don't think that it specifically says or even implies that game theory was the first to use the term. Can you point to a specific passage? Bubba73 (talk), 01:14, 19 October 2007 (UTC)

Zugzwang and chess

Anyone have a problem with the inconsistent and confusing opening? The opening paragraph concludes with: "The term is used less precisely in other games; e.g., the game theory definition is not necessarily used in chess." New paragraph, first sentence: "The term zugzwang is frequently used in chess." . . . . Huh???--Lindsay (talk) 02:23, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

There are some problems with it. I think it should say that the term is used less precisely in chess and other games compared to the more precise definition of game theory. In game theory, every zugzwang is a mutual zugzwang. That isn't the case in chess. And in chess, different authors use the term differently. Bubba73 (talk), 02:31, 13 December 2007 (UTC)

The opening paragraph has it backwards; "Zugzwang" was a chess term long before there even was such a thing as game theory (game theory began with von Neumann & Morgenstern's Theory of Games and Economic Behavior (1944), while Nimzowitsch discussed Zugzwang extensively in Mein System (1925) and he certainly didn't coin it). The current lead suggests that it's a term from game theory that is also used in chess, but it would be more accurate to say that "Zugzwang (German for "compulsion to move", IPA: [ˈtsuːktsvaŋ]) is a term used in chess to describe a situation where one player is put at a disadvantage because he has to make a move. The term is also used in other games and in combinatorial game theory, etc."). 194.171.56.13 (talk) 17:43, 19 January 2008 (UTC)

I changed the order to list chess first. Is it OK now, or does chess need to be a sentence by itself? Bubba73 (talk), 01:22, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

Much better! Thanks, 194.171.56.13 (talk) 10:43, 20 January 2008 (UTC)

Immortal Zugzwang Game and Lasker

I deleted the claim that Lasker coined the term "Immortal Zugzwang Game". Edward Winter's 1997 article on Zugzwang (one of the references for the article) pretty well shows that that is not the case. According to Nimzo himself, the term originated in "Danish chess circles". See this from Winter's piece:

Eventually, Nimzowitsch went on a propaganda blitz. He burst into annotational song on pages 17-18 of the 2/1925 Wiener Schachzeitung under the heading ‘Zugzwang on a full board!’ Double exclamation marks accompanied Black’s 10th, 20th and 25th moves, and the high-spirited victor described 25...h6 as follows:

‘An exceptionally beautiful problem move! This puts White in nothing less than a tragic Zugzwang position (I won’t say tragicomic, since the sheer force of Black’s play rules out any thought of humour).

... In the opinion of the well-known Danish amateur master, the writer/editor Hemmer Hansen, this game would be worthy of being placed alongside the “Immortal Game”. While Anderssen was able to deploy the “sacrifice” as such to maximum benefit, I, Hansen said, achieved a similar effect with the Zugzwang. In Danish chess circles, this game is therefore described as the Immortal Zugzwang Game!’

Later that year, he continued in the same vein in his first book, Die Blockade (page 52), writing of 25...h6:

‘A brilliant move which announces the Zugzwang. ... This unusually brilliant Zugzwang mechanism makes this game, which Dr Lasker in a Dutch publication called a magnificent achievement, a counterpart to the “Immortal Game”. There the maximum effect of the “sacrifice”, here that of the “Zugzwang”.’

The Lasker article (in a Dutch newspaper?) has yet to be located.

In sum, (1) Nimzowitsch credited the "Immortal Zugzwang Game" sobriquet to "Danish chess circles"; (2) Nimzowitsch said that Lasker in an unnamed Dutch publication called the game "a magnificent achievement, a counterpart to the 'Immortal Game' " (Nimzo's paraphrase of what Lasker supposedly said); (3) the alleged Dutch publication has not been located. Krakatoa (talk) 20:48, 24 December 2008 (UTC)

That seems good to me. Bubba73 (talk), 20:57, 24 December 2008 (UTC)

On the other hand, what Lasker said (or what Nimzo said he said) might well have been the genesis of the name. Bubba73 (talk), 21:18, 24 December 2008 (UTC)

But Nimzo had "Danish chess circles", not Lasker, calling it the "Immortal Zugzwang Game". So it would seem that "Danish chess circles" (supposedly) coined the name, and Nimzo's quotation of them is apparently what led to the widespread use of it. Krakatoa (talk) 10:52, 25 December 2008 (UTC)

Cut the complication

There's a classic zugzwang position, which I'm surprised you don't have in. It's very simple to understand. White king d6, white pawn e7, black king e8, white to move. Anything white does results in a draw, from a winning position. White will only get a half point instead of the full point he would have gotten if he had played so as not to get himself into that position. Instead of confusing the user with "black loses in 96 moves" put this example in. It's only three pieces and very elementary. 69.17.67.11 14:24, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

I think it used to be in there. Do you have a reference saying that particular position is Zugzwang? (I know it is but we need a source saying so.) Bubba73 (talk), 15:11, 18 July 2006 (UTC)

This is probably Wikipedia heresy, but in my opinion a source shouldn't be necessary for something like that. The position is extremely simple, and anyone who knows anything at all about chess, applying the definitions given in the article, can see that it's mutual zugzwang. Krakatoa 16:48, 22 July 2006 (UTC)

This example, like Poe's purloined letter, was "hidden" in the most obvious place: the "zugzwang" entry in Hooper and Whyld's The Oxford Companion to Chess, which the article already cited. I've added the diagram (actually a functionally identical diagram with a c-pawn instead of an e-pawn) to the article. Krakatoa (talk) 03:25, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Yes, one of the most obvious places. It is also the same as the first diagram under Reciprocal zugzwang, except that the white king is on the other side. Bubba73 (talk), 03:56, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Oh. I saw the anon's comment above (of pretty ancient vintage at this point) and didn't go through the article to see if the position had since been added in somewhere. Feel free to take out my example if you think it's too redundant - which it may well be. Krakatoa (talk) 05:34, 30 January 2009 (UTC)

Like This?:

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Position after 28. a3, Black is in zugzwang

Teutsch versus NN

I moved the following from the article. It is unreferenced, Teutsch is not a known player, and the game does not appear in ChessGames.com or ChessBase. Bubba73 (talk), 21:51, 29 January 2009 (UTC)

Teutsch versus NN

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Position after 28. a3, Black is in zugzwang

In the game played by Moshe Teutsch (opponent not known), Black is in Zugzwang. If Black moves his King, the Knight on e7 hangs, the Bishop on c8 has no safe squares, and if Black plays 1... Rb6, he loses a piece after 2. Rxe7!

The game continued:

1... g5

2. g3 gxf4

3. gxf4 h5

4. Kf2

Black is completely helpless and he resigned.

It's also not as good as the positions given in the article, since knight moves only lose a pawn immediately, e.g. 1...g5 2.g3 gxf4 3.gxf4 Nd5 4.Rxf7+ Kg8 - though White is certainly winning. So I don't think it would be worth including even if we had a source. Krakatoa (talk) 21:22, 8 March 2009 (UTC)

Zugzwang Lite

We should mention in the article the concept of Zugzwang Lite, which is discussed toward the end of First-move advantage in chess. I believe Rowson coined the term, describing symmetrical opening positions where neither side has anything useful to do, and thus the side on move is compelled to commit himself in some way, possibly to his disadvantage. Soltis cites Tal as saying that a symmetrical position where he was Black against Portisch is easier for Black (the side not on move) to play. Fischer went further, claiming that Black was better after 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 0-0 5.d3 d6 - although Keres disagreed. Krakatoa (talk) 21:29, 8 March 2009 (UTC)

OK, go ahead. Bubba73 (talk), 00:41, 9 March 2009 (UTC)

Forsyth-Edwards Notation

It would be very nice if editors began to use FENs ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forsyth-Edwards_Notation ). FENs make it far easier for others to input a position into their favorite chess GUIs.

For example, Polerio's position, as listed in the artcle, would be :

8/8/6p1/7p/7P/8/pk1K4/2R5 w - - 0 1

This could be added somewhere handy near the graphics, at your discretion or by some convention.

67.34.98.154 (talk) 16:34, 18 November 2009 (UTC)

If this is to be done it needs to be done in many of the chess project articles. I've brought it up at the talk page of wp:chess. Bubba73 ^{(the argument clinic)}, 21:59, 19 November 2009 (UTC)

"Trébuchet" definition

The article currently treats "trébuchet" as synonymous with "full-point mutual zugzwang". Can you cite a source for it being defined this way? Considering that a trébuchet is a mediaeval catapult, I had assumed the metaphor (in the KP v KP position) was one king being flung away from his pawn as if by a catapult. In other words, "trébuchet" is a name specifically for this type of position and not for full-point mutual zugzwangs in general. Tim Krabbé's site, the source for the four knights position, does not use the word "trébuchet". 213.249.135.36 (talk) 17:47, 25 April 2010 (UTC)

I can get a source for trébuchet. Mutual zugzwang is usually when one player to move loses and the other player to move draws. In trébuchet, the player to move loses, so it is a "full point" rather than a "half point", counting a win as 1 point and a draw as a half a point. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 23:10, 25 April 2010 (UTC)

The reference at the end of the first paragraph is a reference, also The Oxford Companion to Chess. There are others. Bubba73 ^{(You talkin' to me?)}, 00:03, 26 April 2010 (UTC)

Is this a subset of forced move?

Is this a subset of forced move? Badanedwa (talk) 16:25, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

Not really, it is kind of the opposite reverse. A forced move is one you have to make or suffer serious consequences. If you are in zugzwang, you would prefer not to move. The fact that you have to move puts you at a disadvantage. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 16:45, 9 January 2012 (UTC)

Date of Verőci vs. Bohmgren

The text says this game was played in 1967, the diagram caption says 1972. Which is right? Krakatoa (talk) 21:19, 14 April 2012 (UTC)

Well, if it was an Olympiad game, as is claimed, then of course there was no Olympiad in 1967. Skopje 1972 therefore appears most likely, particularly as (according to Keene & Levy) Hungary (Zsuzsa Veroci) did indeed play Sweden (Ulla Bohmgren) in Ladies Prelim grp IV. Brittle heaven (talk) 21:49, 14 April 2012 (UTC)

Yes. I fixed it. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 02:19, 15 April 2012 (UTC)

Harper vs. Zuk is not Zugzwang

This is not an example of zugzwang, since white can't force a draw by forfeiting a move. See commentary of June 15 2011 [1] 74.216.110.16 (talk) 17:11, 18 September 2012 (UTC)

It's true that it's nearly trivial for Black to force a win in that position even if White could pass anytime he chose, but this might still be commonly thought of as zugzwang as the compulsion to move will cause White to self-immolate even if Black does nothing constructive. We should ask User:Krakatoa what he thinks. Quale (talk) 22:46, 18 September 2012 (UTC)

Zugzwang (in chess) does not always mean a change in the result. I think this is one of those cases. (I did not add this example and I don't know who did.) Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 04:10, 19 September 2012 (UTC)

I agree with the way Quale put it: "this might still be commonly thought of as zugzwang as the compulsion to move will cause White to self-immolate even if Black does nothing constructive." Krakatoa (talk) 11:33, 19 September 2012 (UTC)

Terminology aside, an even quicker win is 37…Nf5 and 38…Ne3 (instead of Nd4-e2), 39…Nd1 and the threat of 40…Nf2# forces White's Queen to commit Sati a move earlier. Wikipendel 14 Apr 2015

Disputed statement

Something doesn't seem to me to add up. In that first diagram, wouldn't the black king simply be able to capture the white queen if it was black's turn initially?

1: Kb7; 2: Kd7; 3: Ka7; 4: c8Q; 5: Kb6

Wouldn't the black king now be able to escape? --  Denelson83  08:23, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

No, the black king cannot capture the queen, that would be an illegal move, see rules of chess. And no, the black king cannot escape because the king and queen versus king can force an elementary checkmate#King and queen. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 16:29, 28 November 2012 (UTC)

Also a Question

How is that Fischer versus Taimanov Second game an example of this?

By moving the Knight to e4 the White King is in check. Whether White takes the Knight or moves the King, that's an excellent move. Takes and Black can get the pawn. Moves and black frees the Knight.Orram (talk) 07:21, 23 January 2013 (UTC)

If 1...Ne4+ 2. Bxe4 and then Black can't stop the pawn from promoting and winning. If Black didn't have to move he could draw (by sacrificing the knight for the pawn - when the opportunity arises - the bishop and king alone cannot checkmate), so he is in zugzwang. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 18:16, 23 January 2013 (UTC)

That's wrong. Ne4, Bxe4, Kxe4, h4, Kf3, h3, Kg3, h2, Kxh2. Draw. White could move their King. That's Ne4, Bxe4, Kxe4, Kg5, Kf3, h4, Kg2, Kg4, h3, Kh2, Kh4, Kg1, Kg3, Kg1, Kh1, h2... stalemate. Now, unless I've done something wrong, this isn't zugzwang. Orram (talk) 02:43, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

You've done something wrong - pawns move the other way, see pawn (chess). 1.../Ne4+ 2. Bxe4 Kxe4 3. h6, followed by 4. h7 and 5.h8=Q or 5.h8=R and White wins with a basic checkmate. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 04:37, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Oh, I see, I forgot white starts from the bottom, not the top. Orram (talk) 05:13, 24 January 2013 (UTC)

Zugzwang in chess second diagram

Flear 2004, p. 11

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Black to move. Black is in zugzwang because he must move and lose the game.

This might sound completely random. However, what harm would the move of Black King to C6 or E6 do? The white Pawns cannot move diagonally, unless they're capturing another piece. From what I can see, if the Black King moves to C6, for example, the White King can only move to: E5. (Any other move will result in endangering the White King.) If the Black King moves to E6, the White King can only move to: C5.

Flear 2004, p. 11

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
4									4
3									3
2									2
1									1
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

Black to move. Black is in zugzwang because he must move and lose the game. - I marked all the possible legal moves I can see with the Black King.

In addition, what is preventing the Black King from moving to any of these squares: C7, D7, or E7? I wonder if this example is a very simplified one about diagonal downward directions. In that case, yes, I see it. However, otherwise, I do not. Am I missing something? This example has me curious. Maybe, it's White to move? I can see how the White King is practically unable to make a move. With White to move, only the pawn on C3 can advance to C4. On Black's next turn, obviously the moved pawn can get captured, and the game is a Stalemate. I think I need a bit of clarification.... any assistance in the comprehension of the original diagram is appreciated. Thank you for your time. 67.204.237.112 (talk) 16:02, 15 March 2013 (UTC).

If Black moves ...Kc6 then White moves Ke5, captures the pawn on f5 (or d5), and soon wins. If Black moves ...Ke6, White moves Kc5. captures the pawn on b5 (or d5), and wins. If Black makes the other moves, White soon wins (after Kxd5 or Kc5 or Ke5). Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 16:57, 15 March 2013 (UTC)

I think you have a misunderstanding about how the pieces move, see rules of chess and stalemate. Bubba73 ^{You talkin' to me?} 17:07, 15 March 2013 (UTC)