ChessRanger
Endgame

Triangulation

Losing a tempo with the king (taking three moves to reach a square two allow) to put the opponent in zugzwang.

In king-and-pawn endings the player NOT to move is often the one who is lost. Triangulation is how the winning side hands the move to the opponent: the king walks a little triangle to reach the same square a move later, arriving with the opponent to move.

It only works when one side has a spare king route and the other does not — which is exactly the imbalance that creates zugzwang.

Why it matters

It is the practical tool for winning king-and-pawn endgames where you hold the opposition but need to pass the move to break through.

The mistake everyone makes

Rushing forward and giving the opponent the tempo, so that you are the one in zugzwang instead of them.

Related terms

Zugzwang
A position where every legal move worsens your position — but passing is not allowed, so you must move.
Opposition
Kings facing each other with one square between them; the side NOT to move usually holds the advantage.
Lucena position
The fundamental winning technique in rook endgames — 'building a bridge'.

See Triangulation in your own games

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