A class of low‐&bgr; stellarator magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibria with &bgr;∼(a/R0)2is introduced, and the corresponding toroidal shift is calculated. It is shown that an apparent paradox exists with regard to the problem of position control in that a vertical field is capable of shifting vacuum flux surfaces, but produces no net body force on a current‐free stellarator. This paradox is resolved by an analysis of the transient response of the plasma and demonstrates how the vertical field can be used as a means of position control.