Between-move (Zwischenzug): Chess Tactics
Between-move (Zwischenzug / Intermediate Move)
Definition
A between-move, borrowed from the German word Zwischenzug, is a tactical resource in which a player deliberately inserts an unexpected move—usually a check, capture, or strong threat—before playing the obvious or expected reply. The idea is to seize the initiative, gain material, or improve the position while the opponent’s intended continuation is put on hold.
How It Is Used in Chess
- Interrupting sequences: When an opponent attacks or captures, instead of immediately recapturing or responding defensively, you interject a forcing move that changes the evaluation of the position.
- Checks and double attacks: A majority of Zwischenzüge are checks because they compel a reply, but threats such as a fork or skewers can also serve the purpose.
- Defensive resource: Sometimes the between-move allows a player who seems lost to achieve perpetual check or even turn the tables.
Strategic & Historical Significance
The Zwischenzug motif grew in prominence during the hyper-modern era (1920s–30s) when players like Richard Réti and Aron Nimzowitsch advocated dynamic, flexible play. It is now a staple of modern tactical training and a hallmark of strong players’ calculation skill.
Illustrative Examples
1. Classic Example: Capablanca vs. Tartakower, New York 1924
Position after 22...Qxd4:
[[Pgn|1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be6 12. Qa4 c5 13. Qa3 Rc8 14. Bb5 a6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Be2 Nd7 18. Nd4 Qf8 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. e4 d4 21. f4 Qe7 22. e5 Qxd4|fen|r1r3k1/3nqpp1/p4p1p/2p1P2B/Q2pP2P/P7/PP2BPP1/2R3K1]]White’s pawn on e5 is hanging. Instead of 23. Rfd1? (recapturing), Capablanca uncorked the between-move 23. Rcd1! hitting the queen and d4 simultaneously. After 23…Qe3+ 24. Qxe3 dxe3 25. Rd6, White won the pawn and eventually the game.
2. Tactic-packed Example: Kramnik vs. Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999
After 28…Bxe2, many expected 29. Nxe2. Instead Kramnik played the startling 29. Qg6!!—a zwischenzug that threatened mate on h7 and forced Topalov’s reply. Only after the complications resolved did Kramnik recapture, emerging with a winning attack.
3. Everyday Puzzle
Consider a simpler position: White: King g1, Queen d1, Rooks a1,f1, Knights
f3,d4, Bishop c4, pawns on usual squares; Black: King g8, Queen d8, Rooks
a8,e8, Knight f6, Bishop c5, pawns normal. Black just played 1…Nxe4?
Instead of recapturing (2. dxe4), White plays 2. Bxf7+!—a
between-move check that drags the king into the open. 2…Kxf7 3. Ne5+ forks
queen and king, winning material.
Why Between-moves Work
- Tempo gain: A forcing move makes the opponent respond on your terms.
- Unexpectedness: Humans (and sometimes engines) can misevaluate sequences when an in-between move exists.
- Improved piece placement: The Zwischenzug often places a piece on an attacking square before recapturing.
Tips for Spotting Zwischenzüge
- When calculating captures, always ask: “Do I have a forcing move first?”
- Checks, threats of mate, and double attacks are prime candidates.
- Stay alert in sharp openings like the Sicilian, Grünfeld, or King’s Gambit where tempo is vital.
Fun Facts & Anecdotes
- The literal translation of Zwischenzug is “in-between move,” but some early English texts called it an “intermezzo”, borrowing from music.
- World Champion Garry Kasparov once quipped that a good Zwischenzug “turns the chessboard into a minefield—your opponent doesn’t know which next step will blow up the variation.”
- Computer engines, which calculate exhaustively, rarely miss Zwischenzüge; spotting them consistently is considered a hallmark of grandmaster calculation for humans.
Key Takeaways
A between-move is a tactical gem that can shift the momentum of the game in one precise, often surprising, stroke. By mastering the concept, players add a powerful weapon to their tactical arsenal, capable of rescuing bad positions or converting promising ones into decisive victories.