FoxyChess › Tactics › Intermezzo
Intermezzo
An in-between move. Instead of the recapture everyone expects, first play a stronger move, usually a check or a big threat, and recapture afterwards. Also called a zwischenzug.
How to spot it
Your opponent has just captured, and the obvious move is to take back. Before you do, look for a check or a bigger threat you can play first. If it's forcing, you can recapture a move later with interest.
A worked example
Black has just taken a knight on c3, expecting bxc3. Instead 1.Bxc6+! takes the pinned knight with check first; only after 1…bxc6 does White play 2.bxc3, a piece ahead.
Why it works
The exchange looks finished, but it isn't until you decide to finish it. An in-between move (zwischenzug) cashes in a check or a capture while the opponent's piece is still hanging, and the recapture is still there afterwards.
How to defend against it
Before you make a capture, check which checks your opponent has in reply. If a check exists, make sure your capturing piece is still safe after it has been answered.
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