In this case you would have to show that the engine understands that Re5 loses. Showing that it prefers Kf7 doesn't mean a lot. That could be coincidence.
Bonus question: are there situations where zugzwang is NOT mutual? I have always been stumped by that 'mutual' attribute. Chess players seem passionate about the difference, but never come up with a convincing example of zugzwang that isn't mutual.
In this case you would have to show that the engine understands that Re5 loses. Showing that it prefers Kf7 doesn't mean a lot. That could be coincidence.
Bonus question: are there situations where zugzwang is NOT mutual? I have always been stumped by that 'mutual' attribute. Chess players seem passionate about the difference, but never come up with a convincing example of zugzwang that isn't mutual.
If I had some couple of connected Crays under my hands,
I'd check (or would have checked ?!) the position deeper,
probably down to the depth 70.
Best,
mvk wrote:Bonus question: are there situations where zugzwang is NOT mutual? I have always been stumped by that 'mutual' attribute. Chess players seem passionate about the difference, but never come up with a convincing example of zugzwang that isn't mutual.
In chess, a zugzwang is a position where the side to move would be better off if it could pass. KRvK is won by bringing black in zugzwang.
In chess, a mutual zugzwang is a position that is lost for white if it is white's turn to move and the position if lost for black if it is black's turn to move.
That wikipedia page isn't very helpful. Or it is inconsistent. For example, it also says:
There are three types of chess positions:
1. both sides would benefit if it were their turn to move
2. only one player would be at a disadvantage if it were his turn to move
3. both players would be at a disadvantage if it were their turn to move.
Case 2 doesn't seem to exist. After all, if hypothetically it is good for one side to pass once, then the same must be equally true for the other side.
In this case you would have to show that the engine understands that Re5 loses. Showing that it prefers Kf7 doesn't mean a lot. That could be coincidence.
The definitions I gave came from the wikipedia page and clearly show the difference, so I do not see how the page is not helpful.
Think a moment about the KRvK example. Passing is not going to change the outcome, if black can only pass once. The idea is that black would draw if it could pass whenever it wants, and that the current position is one where black would want to pass. That white could then also pass would only get the game to a draw earlier.
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