--- title: "Triangulation in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/triangulation.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/triangulation" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "Triangulation is a way for a king to hand the move to the opponent. Kings cannot pass, but they can waste time on purpose." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/zugzwang.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mutual-zugzwang.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/corresponding-squares.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/reserve-tempo.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposition.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Triangulation in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. Triangulation is a way for a king to hand the move to the opponent. Kings cannot pass, but they can waste time on purpose. Triangulation is a way for a king to hand the move to the opponent: it makes a three-move loop over neighboring squares and returns to its starting square, while the enemy king, with less room, cannot copy the loop. Kings cannot pass, but they can waste time on purpose. If your king walks to a neighboring [square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md), then to a third square touching both, and finally back to where it started, three moves have gone by and the board looks exactly as before. The trick pays off when the opponent cannot spend the same three moves without leaving a post. Then the [starting position](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/starting-position.md) returns with the other side to move, which is the whole point when that position is a [zugzwang](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/zugzwang.md). Three conditions make it work. The loop squares must be safe and must not release any square your king is guarding. The defending king must be tied to a short list of squares, usually by your pawns or by its duty to watch an entry point. And the target position must really be lost for the side to move, so check that first. The diagram shows a classic use. White wants this exact position with Black to move and gets it with a walk that ends on e4 again. Related tools are the [reserve tempo](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/reserve-tempo.md), where a spare pawn move does the same job more cheaply, and [corresponding squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/corresponding-squares.md), which explain why the defender cannot keep pace. Typical errors are starting the loop when the defender also has room to mirror it, and choosing a loop that lets the enemy king slip through on the way. ## Example position White to move. Every first move except 1.Kd4 lets Black's king into d5 and loses. White wins by triangulating: 1.Kd4 Kb6 2.Ke3 Kc6 3.Ke4. White's king has used three moves and Black's two, so the diagram returns with Black to move, and once Black's king leaves c6, White's king heads for the kingside and wins the e6 pawn. Position (FEN): `8/8/2k1p3/1p2P3/1P2K3/8/8/8 w - - 0 1` A neighboring idea is [Trebuchet](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/trebuchet.md). The trebuchet is a mutual zugzwang in which two kings stand on either side of a pair of locked pawns, each beside the enemy pawn, so whoever must move loses a pawn and the game. Compare it with [Mutual zugzwang](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mutual-zugzwang.md). A mutual zugzwang is a position in which whichever player has to move is worse off, so each side would gladly pass, and the result depends entirely on whose turn it is. Endgame ideas like "Triangulation" are won or lost on small details, which a coach can check in your own games. The [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li is where that review starts. ## Related terms - [Zugzwang](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/zugzwang.md) - [Mutual zugzwang](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mutual-zugzwang.md) - [Corresponding squares](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/corresponding-squares.md) - [Reserve tempo](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/reserve-tempo.md) - [Opposition](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposition.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Zugzwang in Chess: Definition and Examples](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/zugzwang.md) - [Mutual zugzwang in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/mutual-zugzwang.md) - [Corresponding squares in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/corresponding-squares.md) - [Reserve tempo in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/reserve-tempo.md) - [Opposition in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/opposition.md) - [Chess terms: Endgames](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/endgames.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)