Nimzovitch Vs Saemisch

Copenhagen / 1923

• This game is a great illustration of the difficult concept Zugwang.
• At the end of the game you will see the Zugzwang position.

Zugzwang Defined

A German move meaning: a compulsion to move, or making a move even though it hurts you...like strangling yourself. Dr. Tarrach defined it as "a disagreeable obligation to move." In chess a player has the right and obligation to move whether he likes it or not. Accordingly, Fred Reinfield exoplains that the underlying idea of Zugzwang is the making of a forced move which "is suppose to be and asset and a blessing" but actually it, "becomes a liability and curse."

---From "A Dictionary of Modern Chess" by Horton