zugswang

German for "compulsion to move" - most often used in reference to chess when a position that would be tenable if one could keep all one's pieces where they currently stand, but is lost because one of them must vacate its position.

After Black's clever pawn sacrifice, White was in Zugswang.

by notactuallyarealname November 12, 2006

Zugzwangstasis

Noun: The state where two people moving towards each other have tried to pass each other and on the same side and then both reverse course in sync to block each other again resulting in an awkward juking shuffle going back and forth with neither progressing until the situation is acknowledged and resolved.

Compound of "Zugzwang", a German chess term for when a player is disadvantaged by their obligation to move and the English "Stasis", a period or state of inactivity or equilibrium.

I turned the corner and saw her walking straight towards me, I stepped to my right but she moved to her left and we found ourselves in zugzwangstasis for several seconds.

by MaxPrum January 10, 2022

Zugzang

The process in which you foist ones obligations onto an unsuspecting party.

Abe was supposed to call Avi but instead Zugzanged Mordy into making the call.

by realonehunnit February 8, 2021