Zugzwang Explained: A Chess Resource Guide
Feeling forced to make a bad move? In chess, that's Zugzwang!
This guide equips you with valuable resources to understand and practice Zugzwang, from in-depth articles and interactive puzzles to instructive game analyses and insightful video lessons.
Good sized page on this topic with history and examples.
BOOKS (FREE)
- Zugzwang - Chess Tactics -9 page PDF ) I Believe this is a chapter from some book.
- Chess zugzwang puzzles 1 to 10 - 8 page PDF
Zugzwang Chess Articles: Sharpen Your Tactics
Dive into strategy guides, tackle challenging puzzles, and witness the power of Zugzwang in action through analyzed games.
- What is Zugzwang and How Can You Win Chess Games With This Idea - Nice Article (In Depth) - It covers strategies on how to induce Zugzwang, provides examples from famous games, and explains related terms like zwischenzug (intermediate move), highlighting their importance in chess tactics and endgames.
- Zugzwang Article - by GM Julio Becerra on Chess.com - showing you the “Zugzwang Immortal Game” between Saemisch-Nimzowitsch
- Chess Puzzles: The Art of Zugzwang - Article by GM Lubomir Kavalek - 3 Famous Puzzles to Solve.
- Zugzwang in Chess (The Beginner’s Guide) - Chessable Blog Guide (In-Depth) - really extensive Guide showing many places in chess where this concept has to be considered.
- Zugzwang in Chess: Everything You Need To Know - Article w/ Embedded Video Lesson
- Zugzwang: How It Works and Why It Matters in Chess - GM Igor Smirnov - Nice solid easy to understand Article.
ZugZwang LiChess Studies
Put your Zugzwang understanding to the test with this collection of interactive Lichess studies!
- Zugzwang Hard and Nice Puzzles - 13 Chapter - Interactive Study
- Zugzwang.Exercises - 11 Chapter - Interactive Study
- Paul Morphy zugzwang puzzle variations - 18 Chapter - Interactive Study
- Zugzwang: Endgame - 11 Chapter - K&P Endgame Puzzles
New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.
Game Databases
Delve into the world of real-life Zugzwang with these curated game collections:
Chessgames.com
- Collection of 34 Games - extraordinary examples featuring Zugzwang from
- Zugzwang Greats !! - 36 Games
By studying these games, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how Zugzwang manifests in real-world chess scenarios. You'll observe how grandmasters create Zugzwang situations, exploit their opponent's limitations, and ultimately secure victory.
Tactics
Sharpen your tactical vision
Lichess Tactics Trainer
- ZugZwang Puzzles - 26,262 Puzzles
Zugzang Chess Video Lessons
What is Zugzwang In Chess? 🎓 Beginner Chess Lessons - GM Damian Lemos - 15 Min - Damian tackles a topic that can be crucial in chess games, but is often overlooked by beginners: Zugzwang.What Is "Zugzwang" In Chess? - 5 Min - NM Nelson Lopez - In this video I show an example from a recent game where I achieved zugzwang on my opponent.
Chess.com: Endgame Technique; Zugzwang - 4 Min - GM Friedel analyzes what could be a very difficult endgame. But with the application of the principle of zugzwang, he is able to make everything clear.
Kostya Kavutskiy) - Kostya Kavutskiy brings us an interesting example of Zugzwang in the endgame!
Saemich vs Nimzovich (1923) - 10 min Video -Kingscrusher.
(The Immortal Zugzwang Game)
Video Below
Alekhine - Nimzowitsch - 11 Min Video (With a Zugzwang Theme)Great zugzwang ending
Rook vs Pawn Endgame Study - (1928 Reti Endgame Study) - For having so few pieces, it is really a fantastic piece which showcases opposition, zugzwang, and king shouldering. If you can master this ending you will have no problem with most Rook vs. Pawn positions!
Rook vs Pawn Endgame Study - (1928 Reti Endgame Study) - For having so few pieces, it is really a fantastic piece which showcases opposition, zugzwang, and king shouldering. If you can master this ending you will have no problem with most Rook vs. Pawn positions!
Most Incredible Zugzwang Of All Time?! - 22Min - IM Danny Rensch - IM Danny Rensch as he breaks down this epic game between Stoofvlees and Stockfish during the 15th Computer Chess Championship