Zugzwang

Zugzwang (German for "compulsion to move", pronounced [ˈtsuːktsvaŋ]) is a term usually used in chess which also applies to various other games. The term finds its formal definition in combinatorial game theory, and it describes a situation where one player is put at a disadvantage because he has to make a move when he would prefer to pass and make no move. The fact that the player must make a move means that his position will be significantly weaker than the hypothetical one in which it was his opponent's turn to move.

In game theory, it specifically means that it directly changes the outcome of the game from a win to a loss. The term is used less precisely in games such as chess; i.e., the game theory definition is not necessarily used in chess (Berlekamp, Conway & Guy 1982:16), (Elkies 1996:136). For instance, it may be defined loosely as "a player to move cannot do anything without making an important concession" (van Perlo 2006:479). Putting the opponent in zugzwang is a common way to help the superior side win a game. In some cases it is necessary to make the win possible (Müller & Pajeken 2008:173).

The World's Largest Solar Plant Just Torched Itself

Edit Gizmodo 20 May 2016

Putting 347,000 mirrors in the desert faced towards the sun clearly has its disadvantages ... ....

photo: AP / Manu Brabo, File

In this Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 file photo, a general view of buildings ravaged by fighting in Sirte, Libya.

From The Halls Of Montezuma To Shores Of Tripoli, Imperialism Still Reigns Supreme

Edit WorldNews.com 20 May 2016

Article by WN.com Correspondent Dallas Darling It might come as a surprise to some, but since the early 1800’s the United States has taken the lead in empire-building throughout the world, primarily though aggressive racial, economic, military and cultural expansionist policies. It follows, then, that last week’s deployment of U.S ... military interventions. Shores of Tripoli First Overthrow of a Foreign Government Consequently, the U.S ... ....

photo: AP / Amr Nabil

The Imam of al Thawrah Mosque, Samir Abdel Bary, gives condolences to Tarek Abu Laban, center, who lost four relatives, all victims of Thursday's EgyptAir plane crash, following prayers for the dead, at al Thawrah Mosque, in Cairo, Egypt, Friday, May 20, 2016.

Searchers find body parts, seats, luggage from Egyptian jet

Edit Boston Herald 20 May 2016

CAIRO — Search crews found floating human remains, luggage and seats from the doomed EgyptAir jetliner Friday but face a potentially more complex task in locating bigger pieces of wreckage and the black boxes vital to determining why the plane plunged into the Mediterranean ... In Egypt, home to 30 of the victims, grieving families and friends wondered if their loved ones would ever be recovered ... But so far no hard evidence has emerged ... ....

photo: AP / Gonzalo Fuentes, Pool via AP

French President Francois Hollande attends a national conference on Handicap at the Elysee Palace in Paris, Thursday, May 19, 2016.

[UPDATE]: Egyptian, French Authorities Open EgyptAir Investigations, Bodies Recovered

Edit WorldNews.com 19 May 2016

Egypt’s chief prosecutor and the Paris prosecutor have ordered an “urgent investigation” into the crash of EgyptAir Flight 804, which crashed in the Mediterranean on Thursday with 66 people aboard en route from Paris to Cairo, Breitbart reported. Meanwhile, rescue teams have recovered the first two bodies thought to be from the crash, according to the Al Arabia channel, quoting Greek sources ... “I’m not excluding any theory....

photo: AP / Alexei Nikolsky

Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting with senior government officials at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow, Russia on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015.

Russia Wants Joint Syria Airstrikes With U.S.-Led Coalition

Edit Newsweek 20 May 2016

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia has proposed to the U.S.-led coalition that they stage joint airstrikes on Syrian rebels including Nusra Front who are not observing the ceasefire, starting on May 25, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Friday ... Try Newsweek. Subscription offers ... Shoigu said joint airstrikes should also target convoys carrying weapons and ammunition crossing into Syria from Turkey ... ....

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Sergey Karjakin to face Magnus Carlsen after victory at Moscow Candidates

Edit The Guardian 01 Apr 2016

Sergey Karjakin will challenge for Magnus Carlsen’s world crown after the 26-year-old Russian beat Fabiano Caruana of the United States in the decisive final round of the Candidates in Moscow. Karjakin was a deserved winner who proved tough and resilient under pressure ... Sergey Karjakin v Fabiano Caruana ... Wei Yi v Dao Thien Hai ... 3436 1 Qc3! Qb7 (the only way to guard c8 and g7) 2 Qa1! puts Black in zugzwang ... ....

GOLDMAN: $700 billion will leave China this year — but you don't need to worry, yet

Edit Yahoo Daily News 14 Mar 2016

REUTERS/China Daily ... Here's Goldman on some of the most commonly used metrics (emphasis ours). Import cover ... Composite measures ... Goldman's view contradicts that of Barclays' analysts Ajay Rajadhyaksha and Jian Chang, who are convinced that China has entered a "zugzwang" when it comes to FX reserves, and could have as little as six months before reserves fall below what Barclays describes as comfortable levels....

Celebrate Matthew Gray Gubler’s 36th birthday with his best ‘Criminal Minds’ episodes

Edit Zap2it 09 Mar 2016

We’re big “Criminal Minds” fans here at Zap2it, and even bigger Matthew Gray Gubler fans. Dr. Spencer Reid has had some pretty impressive and game-changing episodes centered around his character during the 11-year run of “Criminal Minds,” so to celebrate 36 year of Gubler, we’ve picked out the best Dr. Reid episodes to watch on this momentous day ... ‘Zugzwang’ (Season 8 Episode 12).   ... ....

ZUGZWANG: 'China arguably has 6 to 12 months before FX reserves fall below comfort levels'

Edit Yahoo Daily News 23 Feb 2016

The long, grinding economic slowdown in China is coming to a head, and the country has entered a "zugzwang," according to Barclays analysts Ajay Rajadhyaksha and Jian Chang .. In chess, the concept of zugzwang refers to a point in the game where any change in the status quo weakens a player’s position ... (Hence the zugzwang.) The PBOC could enforce capital controls, preventing Chinese from moving money abroad....

'China arguably has six to 12 months before FX reserves fall below comfort levels'

Edit Business Insider 23 Feb 2016

Zugzwang - Up to Malawians to Fix Broken Economy

Edit All Africa 23 Feb 2016

[Nyasa Times] No doubt Malawians are facing extreme economic hardship which make the two-year-old DPP government look incompetent .There has been a rumour about a "coup plot" to over throw the government and replace it with the opposition. Since it has been a rumour, I will leave it at that hoping there is no truth to it whatsoever ... ....

The Dance of Chess Kings

Edit Huffington Post 09 Feb 2016

Everybody knows they are going to score, but not many are able to prevent it ... Magnus Carlsen - Hou Yifan. Wijk aan Zee 2016 ... She is in zugzwang and has to surrender the square b6 ... A ... Black's defense is based on a stalemate and zugzwang ... A position with a mutual zugzwang ... The analysis of the game Carlsen-Hou Yifan brought us to the wonderful world of zugzwangs, stalemates and critical, correspondence or conjured squares in the pawn endgames....

How the oil rout's 'endgame' might play out: a zugzwang?

Edit Topix 06 Feb 2016

When terms like "oilmageddon" get bandied about, you know investors are feeling mighty beat up by the oil market, whose collapse is seen as a driver of weakness in stocks and a contributor to turmoil across financial markets. But at least one prominent investor is ready to argue that there is some light at the end of the tunnel ... ....

Leonard Barden on chess

Edit The Guardian 05 Feb 2016

The former world champion Vishy Anand suffered a horror show at Gibraltar’s Tradewide Open. Gibraltar’s annual Tradewise Open has created a fine reputation with its high prize fund, efficient and friendly organisers, and distinctive venue ... Gledura was very well prepared, though ... The teenager played the pawn ending faultlessly, using his extra space to squeeze the black king and force zugzwang (compulsion to make a losing move) ... ....

Magnus Carlsen emulates Boris Spassky and reaps reward at Qatar Open

Edit The Guardian 01 Jan 2016

He tied with Yu Yangyi, then crushed his Chinese rival 2-0 in the speed tie-break ... Several potential Carlsen rivals competed in Qatar ... Holland’s current world No3, Anish Giri, and Russia’s Sergey Karjakin, both candidates, halved too often ... He did score in one elegant finish where he sacrificed queen for rook and bishop to create a zugzwang, then calmly marched his king up the board before transposing to a won pawn endgame ... ....

Planning vital in sacrificing the queen

Edit Deccan Herald 31 Oct 2015

Chess Checks. The most powerful piece on the chessboard is the Queen and often its value is considered to be that of two rooks. However there are certain instances when a player can demonstrate some beautiful queen sacrifices on the chessboard. Queen sacrifices have to be substantiated with some cool calculations or amazing positional judgement ... White thereafter intensifies pressure on the pinned piece ... White ... Sicilian Defence ... A zugzwang ... ....

ZooZoo Brings Avant Garde Family Theater to Socorro (New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology) ...

Edit Public Technologies 23 Oct 2015

(Source. New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology). SOCORRO, N.M ... Friday, Oct. 30 ... New Mexico ... Her acting appearances in Mouawad's original plays include Dead End Ed, Samuel's Major Problems, Serial Killer Parents, Apis, Tick Tack Type, Stage Left Lost and Zugzwang ... His series of original silent works titled 'Opera Beyond Words' include; Apis, or the Taste of Honey; The Cuban Missile Crisis; Tick Tack Type; Stage Left Lost and Zugzwang....

Beware the Dreaded Zugzwang

Edit Huffington Post 21 Oct 2015

For all the derision that Donald Trump dodges, one has to wonder if indeed he's dumb, but more like a fox. What appears lately to be a staple in The Donald's arsenal is a savvy move of chess masters. The Zugswang. Zugzwanghttp.//www.chess.com/chessopedia/view/zugzwang [ˈtsuːktsvaŋ]. A player is said to be "in zugzwang" when any possible move will worsen his position. German word meaning "obligation to move." ... Bush ... ....