zugzwang · forced
Ask PrometheusA thing that must act when each action within its reach moves it nearer a wall, and not acting is the one action out of reach.
Zugzwang (noun) means: A thing that must act when each action within its reach moves it nearer a wall, and not acting is the one action out of reach. It emerges from act, action, reach, motion: The rules demand a move, so the null action that would hold the position is taken out of reach; each action left keeps the thing inside the window but nearer its wall. No single threat does the damage; the obligation to act does. In the EmergenceLexicon it sits at computed level 14, chaining down to the four foundations (space, time, energy, pattern).
Examples
- In the chess position called a trebuchet, whichever side is to move must give up its pawn and loses, because the rules do not allow a player to pass. chess
Emergence
through: The rules demand a move, so the null action that would hold the position is taken out of reach; each action left keeps the thing inside the window but nearer its wall. No single threat does the damage; the obligation to act does.
- an obligation to act that is itself the wall
- a position that is safe only if left alone
- reach that is not empty and is worth less than none
Chain to foundations
full chain as text (241 steps)
- zugzwangL14
- actL3
- actionL4
- reachL13
- possibilityL12
- windowL7
- wallL8
- setL9
- enterL3
- actionL4
- motionL2
- nearL2
- spaceL0
- differenceL1
- wallL8
- windowL7
- choiceL9
Neighborhood
Concepts that depend on this one above; what it is built from below.
Relations
| contrasts-with | checkmate.other-set | zugzwang leaves actions inside the window, each one worse; checkmate leaves none inside |
| contrasts-with | watchful-waiting.declined | not acting is the reach watchful waiting uses and zugzwang removes |
| contrasts-with | doomed.inevitable | doomed: drift carries it to the wall; zugzwang: its own compelled action does |