Zugzwang
This past week I fell down the chess rabbit hole. I spent a few hours reminding myself of the rules and how it all worked. I never could quite get into chess, but I want to start making more time for it. We will see how that goes.
However, while I was going down the rabbit hole, I discovered a term that really piqued my interest. Zugzwang. It is described by Google as: “a situation in which the obligation to make a move in one's turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage.” So essentially, you have to make a move, but no matter the move you make you will be in a worse position than you are currently in.
It is a funny concept. You have to choose. You don’t have the ability to skip a turn. You are going to choose an option that is going to put you at an extreme disadvantage. It is not negotiable.
How many zugzwangs exist in everyday life? It can’t possibly be isolated just to chess. Here is an example that came to my mind.
Example 1. You are someone that is trying to watch your weight and you do your best to avoid sugar. Someone comes up to you with a plate of freshly baked cookies and asks if you would like one. The real good type that you know will totally melt in your mouth. You see them and instantly you know what you want. But, you remember you are avoiding sweet things. You are presented with a choice. You either, say yes and cave to your sugary desires and regret it as soon as you finish, or you say no, and are left feeling a bit empty inside, wanting that cookie.
The best-case scenario is that you don’t get asked if you would want a cookie, but because you were you had to make a decision.
Zugzwangs feels like the trolley path decision. There is a trolley headed out of control towards a group of people and you have to choose who it hits. You have to make a decision. Not making a decision, is a decision in itself.