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Zugzwang
Compiled by patzer2
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Zugzwang, which is a German word that means "compelled to move," incorporates two essential ideas: (1) The position would be defendable (or at least much more secure) for the player in zugzwang if they could break the rules and forego having to make their next move; and (2) The position is such that any move of a piece significantly weakens the position (usually resulting in a lost position).

41. Rxc8! forces Zugzwang in eight moves, after 47. Kh2
B Thelen vs F Treybal, 1927 
(D63) Queen's Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, 49 moves, 1-0

30. b4!
Bagirov vs K Grigorian, 1976 
(A01) Nimzovich-Larsen Attack, 30 moves, 1-0

55. Kh6!
D Kosic vs T Christensen, 2005 
(D30) Queen's Gambit Declined, 55 moves, 1-0

41. b4!
Anand vs Van Wely, 1997 
(B08) Pirc, Classical, 41 moves, 1-0

25. h6!
Saemisch vs Nimzowitsch, 1923  
(E18) Queen's Indian, Old Main line, 7.Nc3, 25 moves, 0-1

45. Bc5!
K Spraggett vs G Glen, 1975 
(C02) French, Advance, 45 moves, 1-0

34. Rg8!
Steinitz vs Lasker, 1896 
(C54) Giuoco Piano, 39 moves, 0-1

39...h6! is zugzwang per Capablanca
Lasker vs Capablanca, 1936 
(B58) Sicilian, 54 moves, 0-1

26...c4!
J Kaplan vs Bronstein, 1975 
(C11) French, 26 moves, 0-1

33. Qf3!
L Ogaard vs E Torre, 1976 
(A43) Old Benoni, 33 moves, 0-1

50...Nc5!
V Rauzer vs F Bohatirchuk, 1934 
(C75) Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defense, 55 moves, 0-1

45...Rc1!
Nimzowitsch vs Capablanca, 1927  
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 46 moves, 0-1

42...Be3!
T H Tylor vs Lasker, 1936 
(C49) Four Knights, 45 moves, 0-1

44. Bg3!! per Chessbase link in Jul 1, 2005 post above
Botvinnik vs Bronstein, 1951 
(E60) King's Indian Defense, 57 moves, 1-0

34...g4! sets up a zugzwang to trap tjhe Queen
B Harper vs R Zuk, 1971 
(E97) King's Indian, 39 moves, 0-1

60...Qe4+ 61. Rf3 Bf2! puts White's Queen in Zugzwang
Radjabov vs Topalov, 2003 
(E10) Queen's Pawn Game, 61 moves, 0-1

58. a4! traps the Rook after pawn moves are exhausted
Tal vs S Saeed, 1985 
(D51) Queen's Gambit Declined, 58 moves, 1-0

96...Kd5! forces the White Rook off the a3 square
Karpov vs G Needleman, 2005 
(E62) King's Indian, Fianchetto, 96 moves, 0-1

22. Rac1! soon leaves Black running out of moves
Alekhine vs Nimzowitsch, 1930 
(C17) French, Winawer, Advance, 30 moves, 1-0

36. g5+!
A Kornev vs P H Nielsen, 2005 
(C48) Four Knights, 36 moves, 1-0

42. Re5!
L Day vs J Yoos, 1996 
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 55 moves, 1-0

38. e6! punishes 37...Be8??
Aronian vs Svidler, 2006 
(D80) Grunfeld, 38 moves, 1-0

64...Bd4!
Reshevsky vs Bronstein, 1953 
(E68) King's Indian, Fianchetto, Classical Variation, 8.e4, 65 moves, 0-1

31...exf3!!
Najdorf vs Mecking, 1978  
(A15) English, 43 moves, 1/2-1/2

63. Rd5! and any Black move worsens his position
Capablanca vs Kostic, 1919 
(C42) Petrov Defense, 86 moves, 1-0

54. Re7!! sets up a pin and then zugs Black out of useful moves
Speelman vs Sax, 1988 
(A35) English, Symmetrical, 62 moves, 1-0

72...Kg4!
Portisch vs Westerinen, 1963 
(A43) Old Benoni, 74 moves, 1/2-1/2

60. a7!
Larsen vs Miles, 1979 
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 60 moves, 1-0

68. b8=Q! leads to a winning zugzwang position
R Calvo vs D Byrne, 1968 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 70 moves, 1-0

42. Be8+! Kxe8 43. Kxe6 Be7 44. c4! +-
Bolbochan vs J Martinez, 1946 
(C10) French, 44 moves, 1-0

62.Rb3 Kh6 63.Rb7 Rh8 64.Kg4 Rg8+ 65.Kh4 Rh8 66.Ra2
K Klaman vs Kholmov, 1949 
(B12) Caro-Kann Defense, 89 moves, 1/2-1/2

134...Rc7! forces Zugzwang position
S Baldazzi vs A Holmsten, 2001 
(A16) English, 137 moves, 0-1

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