Zwischenzug or in-between move is a move that does not react to e.g. the opponent's threat, but rather creates a new e.g. threat as a response. For example, white has a Nc3 and black plays b5-b4. Instead of moving away the Nc3, white can reply g4-g5 and hit a black knight on f6. Another in-between move would be to deliver a check with Bf1-b5+ to a black Ke8. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwischenzug)
Questions tagged [zwischenzug]
4 questions
18
votes
1 answer
What are the origins of the words 'zwischenzug' and 'zugzwang'?
I've heard chess analysts use the words Zugzwang (being forced to make a bad move) and Zwischenzug (making an intermediate move which improves the outcome of the next move) in commentary.
Does anyone know how these German words found their way into…
Totero
- 1,738
- 1
- 13
- 19
8
votes
1 answer
Why Qxd5 instead of Rxd5?
This puzzle on chesstempo caught my eye. We play as Black:
[FEN "1r1r2k/p4pp/2q/2p1p2P/P1P1Pn/B3NP/4Q2P/R6K w - - 0 1"]
1. Nd5
The White queen is under attack, yet one shall not rush and capture it. The White may fork the Black king and queen and…
Zhiltsoff Igor
- 463
- 2
- 11
5
votes
4 answers
Why and when should one make a zwischenzug (in-between move)?
I know enough German to know that the term "zwischenzug " means "in-between move." Another translation I've seen is an "interpolative" move. Why make such a move?
An example is when a rook wants to go to the seventh rank. First, it goes to the…
Tom Au
- 12,464
- 34
- 62
-8
votes
2 answers
Josh Waitzkin chessmaster mastery quiz - order of check vs trade in bishop and knight endgame
Update: The computer aspect of this can be answered with showing more lines such as in the lichess engine where Bxh3 is strongly preferable to a5+.
Note: See this meta post. In re the answer of Brian Towers♦, not sure if the following is relevant,…
BCLC
- 1
- 1
- 15
- 42