Zwischenzug (Intermezzo): The Surprise Weapon in Your Chess Arsenal

"When you see a good move, look for a better one." - Emanuel Lasker

 
Zwischenzug Chess Resources

Have you ever been outmaneuvered in chess, feeling like your opponent pulled a rabbit out of a hat?

That surprise move might have been a Zwischenzug (pronounced "tvee-SHEN-tsoog"), also known as intermezzo, a powerful chess tactic that throws a curveball into your opponent's plans.

  Instead of making the expected move, like capturing a piece, a Zwischenzug inserts an unexpected move that creates a new threat or disrupts your strategy. Mastering this tactic will transform you from a predictable player to a cunning strategist, allowing you to exploit unexpected opportunities and gain a significant advantage.

Zwischenzug Wikipedia page
 With explanations and examples

German "in-between move". An unexpected move tossed into an expected series of moves.

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BOOKS (FREE)

ZWISCHENZUG – GERMAN; INTERMEZZO; ITALIAN IN-BETWEEN MOVE - 2 Page PDF Handout - Couple Examples w/ 6 Puzzles

Chess Tactics and Combinations - 84 Page PDF - Exeter Chess Club - Short Violent Games of Chess Organized by Theme. (Page 34 Intermezzo)

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Zwischenzug Chess Articles 

Gain a comprehensive understanding of Zwischenzug with informative articles that explain the concept, showcase examples, and offer strategic insights.

• Chess Tactics Simplified: The Zwischenzug! - Nice Article with Examples at Bottom
  
  
• ZWISCHENZUG: THE TACTICAL PATTERN THAT CAN SAVE YOU - Article with examples
  
  
• Tactics 101: The Incredible Intermezzo (a.k.a. Zwischenzug) - Nice Article
  
  
• Zwischenzug: An Unexpected Tactic of Grandmasters - The Chess Journal Article
  
  
• Zwischenzug - Chess Kid Article w/ Embedded Video
  
  
• Zwischenzug – the intermediate move - Chessbase Article - Nice Explanation w/ 8 Annotated games with this tactic. (Nice)

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Annotated Game Databases

Analyze real-world applications of Zwischenzug by studying annotated games from renowned players, featuring both winning and defensive maneuvers.

 FM Asa Hoffman vs NM Jim West - From Jim West's Blog (Annotated by both players)

Chessgames.com

• Chess Games with a Zwischenzug - 43 games (Some nicely annotated games here)
• Chess Games with a Zwischenzug -  14 Games
• In-Between Move Tactic-- OTB Examples - 25 Games 

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Lichess Studys

Test your newfound knowledge and sharpen your tactical vision with interactive LiChess studies that present a variety of Zwischenzug scenarios.

• LiChess Zwischenzug Study - LiChess Basic Tactics Area 
  
  
• Zwischenzug - 9 Chapter Study w/ Instruction - Well Done
  
  
• Intermediate: Tactics Internalized - Zwischenzug - 5 Chapter Interactive Study
  
  
• In between/ Zwischenzug/ Intermezzo - 29 Chapter Study -  All Positions
  
  
• The Intermezzo Practice Set - 26 Chapter Interactive Study - Broken into Themes - Save, Sacrifice, Threaten and Trade

New to Lichess studies? These interactive tools allow you to explore chess concepts and variations move-by-move, perfect for testing your understanding and deepening your knowledge.

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Zwischenzug Puzzles

Put your skills to the test with challenging puzzles designed to hone your ability to identify and execute Zwischenzug opportunities.

ChessGo.in

• Intermezzo Puzzles - 72 Puzzles (Broken into 8 Pages - by Difficulty) Printable

LiChess Puzzles

• Intermezzo - 55,425 Puzzles
  
  

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Zwishenzug Video Lessons

Learn from the best! Renowned chess instructors take center stage in video lessons, offering clear explanations and practical guidance on mastering Zwischenzug.

• Zwischenzug – Winning with in-between moves - 20 Min - A very important tactical motif in the middlegame – the zwischenzug.
  
  
• The Volatility of In-Between Moves - 9 Min  IM John Bartholomew -  Game between IM Jha Sriram and GM Rajaram Laxman (from the excellent book "Mastering Chess Strategy" by GM Johan Hellsten)
  
  
• Chess Lesson # 44: Zwischenzug | Learn & Master In-between Moves | Intermezzo | Intermediate Moves - 14 Min NM Rober Ramirez - In this lesson, you will learn this tactic and then apply your knowledge by solving some exercises.
  
  
• Zwischenzug | Can you find the solutions to these five positions? - 15 min - GM Daniel King gives you five puzzle positions to solve. (New 6/20/2024)

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St. Louis Chess Club Videos

• Chess for Beginners with GM Ronen Har-Zvi (Intermediate Moves | Forcing Moves) - 32 Min - Discusses intermediate and forcing moves in chess, focusing on the concept of intermediate moves. He uses puzzles to illustrate how these moves can be used to gain material advantage.
  
  
• In-Between Moves and Zwischenzugs - WGM Jennifer Shahade -53 Min - Explores in-between moves in a lecture for intermediate level players.
  
  
• Zwischenzug | Puzzler's Paradise - IM Vitaly Neimer -  35 Min - International Master Vitaly Neimer presents puzzles with a theme of zwischenzug
  
  
• Intermezzo: Put Your Plans on Hold! | Beginner Breakdown -  61 Min - Talks about the Zwischenzug, also known as an "intermezzo" or "intermediate move," which describes a move that is played instead of and before the expected move and poses an immediate threat that the opponent must answer.

Game Video's w/ Analysis

Chess Tactics: Zwischenzug: Lichtenhein vs Morphy - 5 Min

Zwischenzug! || Nakamura vs Carlsen - 10 Min