Zwischenzug – the intermediate move

by Efstratios Grivas
1/15/2024 – The term was first used by Fred Reinfeld and Irving Chernev, in 1933. It is a chess tactic in which a player, instead of playing the expected move (commonly a recapture), first interposes another move posing an immediate threat that the opponent must answer, and only then plays the expected move. Leading chess trainer and analyst, GM Efstratios Grivas, tells us how this tactical manoeuvre works.

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Concept

An intermediate move, also known as a "Zwischenzug" (the term is German) or an "intermediate move." It is also known as an intermezzo or in-between move. It is a tactical manoeuvre used to disrupt an opponent's expected sequence of moves. 

So, a zwischenzug is a chess tactic in which a player, instead of playing the expected move (commonly a recapture), first interposes another move posing an immediate threat that the opponent must answer, and only then plays the expected move. It involves making an unexpected move that creates a new threat or complicates the position before responding to the opponent's previous move.

The zwischenzug has a high degree of 'initiative' and can change the situation to the player's advantage, such as by gaining material or avoiding what would otherwise be a strong continuation for the opponent.

Example

Sharjah, January 2024
Black to play

Black has a winning position, but goes for 1...Rxh4? An extremely bad move, expecting White to play 2.Qxh4, when Black retains a material advantage. However, White has a zwischenzug: 2.Qd8+ Kh7 3.Qxh4+ Kg8 4.Qxg3 and White has won a rook, leaving him with the somewhat better position.

As with any fairly common chess tactic, it is impossible to pinpoint when the first zwischenzug was played. Here are some rather old examples of zwischenzug:

The earliest known use of the term zwischenzug did not occur until after all of these games. According to chess historian Edward Winter, the first known use was in 1933. Fred Reinfeld and Irving Chernev, annotating the next game, called Black's 27th move 'an important zwischenzug'.

Max Euwe-Gyula Breyer, Vienna 1921
Black to play

Instead of simply taking the bishop Black played 27...Nge3!, winning a piece: 28.Rf3 Kxd8 29.h3 Rg3 30.Rxg3 Nxg3+ 0-1.

Here are some more examples of zwischenzug:

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
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1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 e5 4.dxe5 Nxe5 5.f4 Nc6 6.e5 Ng8 7.Bc4 d6 8.Nf3 Bg4 9.0-0 Qd7 10.Qe1 0-0-0 11.Ng5 dxe5 12.Kh1 f6 13.Nf7 Na5 14.Nxd8 Nxc4 15.Qe4 Nd6 16.Qb4 Be7 17.fxe5 fxe5 18.Nxb7 Nxb7 19.Rf8+ Bxf8 20.Qxf8+ Qd8 21.Qxg7 Nf6 22.Bg5 Rg8 23.Qh6 Rg6 24.Qh4 Nd6 25.Rf1 Nf5 26.Qxg4 Nxg4 27.Bxd8 (D)
27...Nge3! Winning a piece! 28.Rf3 Kxd8 29.h3 Rg3 30.Rxg3 Nxg3+
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Euwe,M-Breyer,G-0–11921B00Wiener SK Meisterturnier10
Mieses,J-Reshevsky,S-0–11935B15Kent County CA Premier7
Steiner,L-Helling,K-0–11928C89Berliner SG 100th Anniversary2
Kerchev,Z-Karastoichev,E-0–11965E62BUL-Ch4
Carlsen,M2870Anand,V27751–02013D31FIDE-Wch5
Anand,V2505Adams,M23601–01987D42Lloyds Bank Open7
Romanishin,O2570Vazquez Igarza,R24961–02005E07Rome Petra Open5

The zwischenzug can be quite useful in 'simple' endgames as well:

Kramnik-Aronian, Yerevan rapid 2007
White to play

White played 44.Kd3! bxc4 45.Kc2! A great zwischenzug! 45...Rg1 46.bxc4 White stays with huge three-pawn advantage.

Conclusion

The zwischenzug can be one of the most powerful tools in the chess tactical arsenal! Calculating better than your opponent is always a great resource and one that will most likely get you closer to a win.

Use the power of the zwischenzug!

Eftratios Grivas

Eftratios Grivas is a Greek grandmaster, senior trainer, FIDE arbiter and organiser. His full CV was provided in part one of this series.


Efstratios (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.

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