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zugzwang

Syllabification: (zug·zwang)
Pronunciation: /ˈzəgˌzwaNG, ˈtso͞ogˌtsvaNG/
Definition of zugzwang

noun

Chess
  • a situation in which the obligation to make a move in one’s turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage:black is in zugzwang

Origin:

early 20th century: from German Zug 'move' + Zwang 'compulsion'

zugzwang in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of zugzwang in the British & World English dictionary

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