This week's term is an interesting one. The German Zugzwang is originally a chess term. In this context, it describes a situation in which a player is obliged to make a move, but where any move will put him or her at a disadvantage. This is the way zugzwang is used in English. In Russian, цугцванг ("tsugtsvang") was originally used for chess only, too. Nowadays, however, it can also be used to describe hopeless real-life situations. In modern German, the term has largely lost the connotation of something unpleasant waiting ahead no matter what you do. It still means that one is obliged to do something (urgently), though, so the notion of compulsion is still there.
By the way, the text below today's image reads "Zugzwang occurs more often in real life than in chess." I think I agree.
The image is from www.prozaru.com.
By the way, the text below today's image reads "Zugzwang occurs more often in real life than in chess." I think I agree.
The image is from www.prozaru.com.
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