Zugzwang: when a game player is at a disadvantage because they must make a move

en.wikipedia.org

12 pointshberg3 comments

I like how this concept applies to decision-making outside of games in daily life. I've certainly been in various situations where a clear yes/no decision felt arbitrary or forced, yet waiting it out (a.k.a. not making a move) would simply bring clarity or eliminate the need for the decision altogether.

Does anyone have any classic examples of zugzwang in the game of Go?

You can pass in Go, so there is no such thing.

But there are many simple examples from chess, especially in the end game. The king-rook checkmate, for example, relies on the fact that the player must move (inevitably, into opposition).

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