The translation of this particular chess term is common enough that I am going to not translate it for you. If you don't know it and are that curious, a simple Google search will give you the answer. I don't think I have ever seen this term without a translation immediately following it.
This weekend is going to be a busy one. So much so that I decided to not go to the show at Rack'Em tonight in favour of getting to bed before midnight (I have ten minutes!).
So with this preoccupation on the commotion around me, it may be a good time to J'adoube. What life doesn't need this once in a while? Socrates said that the "unexamined life is not worth living."
My life though reads like a novel. Right down to the dramatic irony thing. I will say something and in a day or two something will happen to underscore or prove my point. It has always been this way.
Remind me to release happy thoughts into the air from now on.
I will win the lottery. I will win the lottery.
At any rate, as I go to bed at this terribly early hour my thoughts are focused on J'adoube. I am well overdue to make adjustments to my life.
And I need more Black Territory. It's time to push to the center board and the midgame.
Showing posts with label center board. Show all posts
Showing posts with label center board. Show all posts
Friday, April 15, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Zugzwang
There just comes a time where either way you are screwed. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Zugzwang occurs when a player has no move that will not worsen his or her position. The player must make a move, but every possible move places the player in danger. It's a matter of determining the lesser of the bad options, taking it, and working towards strengthening your position in the future.
I recently had to pay some bills that were the ex's. My name was on em, even though they were her debts. I am not in a position where I can afford to be so generous even if I really wanted to, but my options were essentially pay the bills or destroy my credit.
Zugzwang. No matter what option I took it was going to hurt. I paid the bils. This is not the first time and it probably won't be the last.
Tonigt I went out to volunteer with some of the students I work with. In order to do this I had to miss a major rock show with a beautiful young woman. My zugwang options were to either miss the concert or fail the students. I chose to do my volunteer work with the students and guess what?
I had a great time. I was reminded tonight why I do this volunteer work. I had been growing disheartened about it all but I am thrilled to have been able to work with amazing students and to hang out with them afterwards. And the woman? I will see her at another show tomorrow. She was one of the new pawns the other night, perhaps she can make the center board tomorrow night?
Sometimes it looks like zugzwang, but there are those few times that doing the right thing makes everything work out in the end.
Zugzwang occurs when a player has no move that will not worsen his or her position. The player must make a move, but every possible move places the player in danger. It's a matter of determining the lesser of the bad options, taking it, and working towards strengthening your position in the future.
I recently had to pay some bills that were the ex's. My name was on em, even though they were her debts. I am not in a position where I can afford to be so generous even if I really wanted to, but my options were essentially pay the bills or destroy my credit.
Zugzwang. No matter what option I took it was going to hurt. I paid the bils. This is not the first time and it probably won't be the last.
Tonigt I went out to volunteer with some of the students I work with. In order to do this I had to miss a major rock show with a beautiful young woman. My zugwang options were to either miss the concert or fail the students. I chose to do my volunteer work with the students and guess what?
I had a great time. I was reminded tonight why I do this volunteer work. I had been growing disheartened about it all but I am thrilled to have been able to work with amazing students and to hang out with them afterwards. And the woman? I will see her at another show tomorrow. She was one of the new pawns the other night, perhaps she can make the center board tomorrow night?
Sometimes it looks like zugzwang, but there are those few times that doing the right thing makes everything work out in the end.
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