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I can't see the difference between a waiting move and zugzwang.

Michael West
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user30415
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    Very Closely Related: What is zugzwang in chess? – SecretAgentMan Nov 29 '21 at 14:32
  • Did you mean to say zugwang here, or zwischenzug? – Noah Snyder Nov 30 '21 at 02:08
  • Maybe the translation of the german word "Zugzwang" helps to see the difference? In games, it refers to the general rule of being compelled ("gezwungen sein", noun: "Zwang") to make a move ("ziehen" in this context, noun: "Zug") when it is your turn -- skipping is not an option allowed by the rules of the game. From that point of view, you are always in Zugzwang when you play chess and it is your turn. Having said that, the word comes up mostly when moving weakens your position: "Can I skip my turn?"/"Kann ich passen?" -- "No, the rules compel you to make a move"/"Nein, es herrscht Zugzwang!" – orithena Nov 30 '21 at 15:03
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    It would have helped if you had written what you think these terms mean. – Carsten S Nov 30 '21 at 17:34

3 Answers3

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Zugzwang is when one side would like to "pass" but cannot. With a waiting move, you essentially do "pass". A waiting move could lead to zugzwang if one side has the ability to play them and the other does not, but this is by no means necessary.

An opponent might have their own waiting moves (in which case the game could be drawn by repetition unless one side decides to do something meaningful) or they might have a different evaluation of the position and decide to simply proceed with their plan.

For example, one side might play a waiting move to see which side the opponent castles on, but the opponent may well think that the benefits of castling right then outweigh the drawbacks of giving the first player that information.

D M
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A waiting move is a move to wait and see what your opponent will do.

If you are in zugzwang then all moves worsen your position.

Michael West
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    Zugzwang is not having only bad moves but especially if making a move worsens your position – Minot Nov 29 '21 at 12:29
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    "If you are in zugzwang then you have only bad moves" is correct but incomplete; I don't think it deserves a downvote. – Cleveland Nov 29 '21 at 14:13
  • @Minot I don't see the different between a bad move and a move that worsens your position I edited my response to include your wording since it was not clear. – Michael West Nov 29 '21 at 17:00
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    @MichaelWest - I understand where you're coming from, but at least in my mind there's a difference. To me, a "bad move" (in the way I think people usually mean that) is a mistake - an error. Whereas, in zugzwang, there's no error - it's just that there aren't any moves available (at all) that aren't harmful to your position. There's no "error" in that case - it's just that there aren't any decent choices available. – patbarron Nov 29 '21 at 18:09
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    @patbarron that makes sense to me. Glad I changed the wording :) – Michael West Nov 29 '21 at 18:11
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    The new wording is missing the word "only." Or, better yet: "all moves worsen your position." – Brian McCutchon Nov 29 '21 at 21:01
  • @BrianMcCutchon changed. That is clearer. Thanks! – Michael West Nov 29 '21 at 21:05
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    Compressing your thoughts makes for a better master. – Joshua Nov 30 '21 at 00:01
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    I don't think that the edit fixes the issue. The value of a position is the value of your best move. It's not possible for every move to worsen your position; your best move preserves the value of your position, by definition. – Acccumulation Nov 30 '21 at 00:29
  • @Acccumulation: All moves lead to a position that is worse than the present arrangement of pieces would be if the opponent were on move. – supercat Nov 30 '21 at 23:25
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The former is a move which passes the initiative on to the opponent.

The latter is a position where that initiative is a burden, and all moves are detrimental to the player with the move.

Stacker Lee
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