Chess Tactics Guide : Intermezzo / Zwischenzug (In-between Move)

This particular Chess Tactic, known either as Intermezzo (popular in America) or Zwischenzug (more common in Europe), aims to deceive your opponent with a surprise move made in the build up to your main line of attack.

The literal translation of both terms is “in-between move” or “intermediate move”, as that’s precisely what happens, you make an intermediate move prior to your main move.

Intermezzo Chess Tactic

Three examples of the Intermezzo / Zwischenzug / In-between Move tactic being used …

1) Example 1

The expected move: Black’s d5-Pawn (red square) to capture White’s Be4.

The Intermezzo: Black’s Qd8 (yellow square) to h4 (green square).

The purpose: Black’s Qh4, pins White’s f-Pawn, preventing it from advancing, while Be4 can’t move because of Qh4xf2#.

2) Example 2

The expected move: Black’s Qb6 (red square) to capture White’s Bc4, also checking White’s Ke1.

The Intermezzo: Rc8 (yellow square) to Rc1+ (green square).

The purpose: Exchange Rooks … before capturing White’s Bb4 (with Qb6xb4).

3) Example 3

The expected move: Black’s Ra8 (red square) to capture White’s dark-Bishop on b8.

The Intermezzo: Nf6 (yellow square) to d5 (green square).

The purpose: Move the Knight to a more-advanced square … before capturing White’s dark-Bishop (with …Rxb8).