patzer

Etymology

Of uncertain origin, but probably from German Patzer (“bungler”), from patzen.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpatsə/

Noun

patzer (plural patzers)

1. (chess, informal, pejorative) Synonym of woodpusher: a bad player.
   • 2004, Nigel Short, The Sunday Telegraph, 5 Sep 2004:

     If you have learned the principle that it is inadvisable to move the same piece twice in the opening you would probably imagine that these guys are patzers.

   • 2018 May 7, Oliver Roeder, FiveThirtyEight, "Trump Isn't Playing 3D Chess — He's Playing Ultimate Tic-Tac-Toe":

     [Trump's] proponents argue he's a grandmaster, and his detractors argue he's a patzer.