What an intermezzo is
An intermezzo is a move that is inserted into an expected sequence of moves, usually to create a threat that the opponent must answer first. The word comes from Italian and means “in between.” In chess it is more often called by its German name, zwischenzug, which also means “in-between move.”
The typical situation is an exchange. One side captures, and the other side is expected to recapture. Instead of recapturing, the second player plays a different forcing move, often a check, and only recaptures afterward. If this in-between move gains something, the original sequence now ends more favorably.
Other names
You will see the same idea called zwischenzug, intermezzo, or simply an in-between move. These terms mean the same thing in chess.
A simple example in words
Imagine you capture an opponent’s knight with your bishop, and the opponent plans to recapture your bishop. Before doing that, your opponent gives a check with a rook. You have to deal with the check, and in doing so you may lose the chance to save something else. When the check is over, the opponent recaptures, and now they are ahead.
The details differ from game to game, but the pattern stays the same: an expected reply is delayed by a stronger one.
Why it works
The player who makes the intermezzo takes advantage of a move order that the opponent assumed to be fixed. Chess is not a sequence of automatic recaptures, and the opponent has to answer whatever threat is on the board.
It works because the in-between move usually creates a bigger problem than the one it delays. Common aims are:
- Winning material that would otherwise not be won.
- Gaining a tempo, meaning an extra move to improve the position.
- Breaking up a defense that was holding.
- Improving the position of a piece before the exchange is completed.
Types of in-between moves
- Check. The simplest kind, because a check must be answered right away.
- Attack on the queen or another major piece. The opponent must move the piece or defend it; see how to capture a queen for how that pressure works.
- Threat of checkmate. The opponent has to stop it before doing anything else.
- A capture with a bigger threat. Taking a different piece instead of recapturing can leave the opponent worse off.
How to look for one
Most intermezzos begin with a pause. When you are in the middle of an exchange and about to make an automatic recapture, stop and ask whether there is a forcing move first.
- List the checks available to you.
- List captures and threats that the opponent would have to answer.
- For each, imagine the position after the opponent answers, and ask whether your original recapture is still available and now better.
This is the same checks, captures and threats routine described in our guide to the best tactics for chess. The wider move-by-move routine is in how to think in chess.
Defending against an opponent’s intermezzo
When you plan a sequence, do not stop calculating after your opponent’s expected reply. Ask what else they could play instead. This is especially important when a piece of yours is loose, as in hanging pieces, because an in-between check or attack may leave it with no time to be saved. Many blunders come from assuming the opponent will follow your script, which is part of why you keep blundering.
Common mistakes
- Recapturing automatically. The most common reason to miss an intermezzo is not looking for anything else.
- Playing an in-between check that does not help. A check that only drives the king to a better square can backfire. Make sure the move improves your position or worsens your opponent’s.
- Forgetting that the original threat remains. If you delay a recapture, check that the piece you want to capture cannot escape or be protected during the interruption.
Related questions
What does intermezzo mean in chess? It means a move inserted between two expected moves, usually a forcing one, that changes the outcome of a sequence.
Is it different from a zwischenzug? No. They are the same concept under two names.