A German word (now anglicised) for a position where whoever has the move would obtain a worse result than if it were the opponent's. It is sometimes called reciprocal or mutual zugzwang to differentiate it from a squeeze (a position where only one player would be at a disadvantage on account of having the move).

The position shown is a zugzwang. Whoever has to move next will lose the pawn and cannot stop the opponent's promotion, and will thus lose the game.