Zwischenzug

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This article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves.

The zwischenzug (German for "intermediate move", pronounced [ˈtsvɪʃənˌtsuːk]) is a common chess tactic in which a player, instead of playing the expected move (commonly a recapture of a piece that the opponent has just captured) first interpolates another move, posing an immediate threat that the opponent must answer, then plays the expected move. Ideally, the zwischenzug changes the situation to the player's advantage. Such a move is also called an intermezzo, intermediate move, or in-between move.

Contents

[edit] Examples

Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 f8 g8 kd h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 b7 qd c7 d7 e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 pd h6
a5 pd b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5 rd
a4 b4 c4 d4 ql e4 f4 g4 h4 rl
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 rd h3 pl
a2 b2 c2 d2 e2 f2 g2 pl h2
a1 b1 c1 d1 e1 f1 bl g1 kl h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Black moves 1. ...Rxh4, White's next move is a zwischenzug

The diagram shows an example. It is Black's turn to move and Black moves

1. ... Rxh4

expecting White to play 2. Qxh4, when Black retains a material advantage. However, White has a zwischenzug:

2. Qd8+

which is followed by

2. ... Kh7
3. Qxh4+ Kg8
4. Qxg3

and White has won a rook, leaving him with a winning position.[1]

[edit] Tartakower-Capablanca

Tartakower-Capablanca, New York 1924
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 rd b8 bl c8 bd d8 qd e8 kd f8 g8 h8 rd Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 d7 e7 f7 pd g7 pd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 nd g6 h6
a5 b5 c5 d5 e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 b4 bd c4 pd d4 pl e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 d3 e3 f3 g3 h3
a2 pl b2 pl c2 d2 e2 bl f2 g2 pl h2 pl
a1 rl b1 nl c1 d1 ql e1 f1 kl g1 nl h1 rl
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Position after 9. Bxb8.

Another example occurred in the game Tartakower-Capablanca, New York 1924,[2] which Irving Chernev christened "the Immortal Zwischenzug Game." In the position at right, Tartakower (White) has just played 9. Bxb8, thinking he has caught Capablanca in a trap: if 9...Rxb8, 10.Qa4+ and 11.Qxb4 wins a bishop. However, Capablanca sprang the zwischenzug 9...Nd5!, protecting his bishop and also threatening 10...Ne3+, forking White's king and queen. After Tartakower's 10.Kf2 Rxb8, Capablanca had regained his piece and went on to win in 20 more moves. Note that after 10.Bf4 (instead of 10.Kf2), Black would not play 10...Nxf4??, which would still allow 11.Qa4+, winning a piece. Instead, after 10.Bf4 Black would play a second zwischenzug, 10...Qf6!, attacking the bishop again, and also renewing the threat of 11...Ne3+. After a move like 11.Qc1, Black could then either take the bishop or consider still a further zwischenzug with 11...Bd6 or 11...g5.

[edit] Mieses-Reshevsky

Mieses-Reshevsky, 1935
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Image:chess zver 26.png a8 b8 c8 d8 e8 rd f8 g8 kd h8 Image:chess zver 26.png
a7 pd b7 pd c7 d7 e7 f7 pd g7 bd h7 pd
a6 b6 c6 d6 e6 f6 g6 pd h6
a5 b5 pl c5 d5 qd e5 f5 g5 h5
a4 pl b4 c4 pd d4 e4 f4 g4 h4
a3 b3 c3 pl d3 e3 f3 nl g3 pl h3
a2 b2 c2 ql d2 e2 f2 pl g2 h2 pl
a1 b1 c1 rl d1 e1 f1 g1 kl h1
Image:chess zhor 26.png
Position before 29. Nd4

A zwischenzug occurred in this game between Jacques Mieses and Sammy Reshevsky. From the position in the diagram, play continued:

  • 29. Nd4 Bxd4
  • 30. cxd4

White must have expected 30... Qxd4 31. Qxc4 Re1+ and then 32. Kg2 gets him out of trouble, but Black has a zwishenzug:

  • 30... Re4!

Making a double attack on the d-pawn and preventing the capture of his own pawn. Now if 31. Qxc4, 31... Re1+ forces 32. Rxe1 and White loses his queen (Chernev 1965:211).

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/6551/zwis.htm Tutorial
  2. ^ http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1076242 Tartakower-Capablanca

[edit] References