--- title: "Zwischenzug in chess" url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/zwischenzug.md" canonical_url: "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/zwischenzug" last_updated: "2026-11-07" type: "reference" summary: "A zwischenzug, German for in-between move, interrupts a sequence both sides expect. Zwischenzug is the German word for an in-between move." related: ["https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fork.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/double-attack.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/combination.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md", "https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md"] --- # Zwischenzug in chess > **For AI agents:** the complete index of GeorgeLiChess pages is [llms.txt](https://georgelichess.com/llms.txt). Every page is also served as markdown at its URL plus .md. A zwischenzug, German for in-between move, interrupts a sequence both sides expect. Zwischenzug is the German word for an in-between move. A zwischenzug, German for in-between move, interrupts a sequence both sides expect: instead of recapturing or answering a threat at once, a player slips in a check or bigger threat first. Zwischenzug is the German word for an in-between move. Most players think in a simple rhythm: you [capture](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/capture.md), I recapture. A zwischenzug breaks that rhythm. Instead of making the move everyone expects, you insert another move first, one that forces a reply, and only then carry on with your original plan. The in-between move is almost always forcing. A check is the most common, because the opponent has to deal with it at once. A threat to a bigger piece, or a capture that creates a second threat, works too. The idea is that the extra move changes the position before the expected exchange is finished, so the exchange you were about to play now ends better for you, or the opponent's own plan no longer works. To spot one, stop before every automatic recapture and ask whether any check, capture or threat is available first. Then look at what that move would gain. Often it forks two pieces, drags the king to a bad [square](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/square.md) or wins a piece with tempo. To defend, do not assume your last move left the opponent with only one sensible reply. Before you capture or move a piece into danger, look for checks the other side could play in between. In the diagram White is to move. Black's queen on f7 attacks the [knight](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/knight.md) on f5, so the natural dxe5 would simply lose the knight to Qxf5. Instead White plays Nh6+, a check that must be answered. After Kg7 or Kf8, Nxf7 takes the queen and White collects the [bishop](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/bishop.md) next. After Kh8, Nxf7+ takes the queen with check and also attacks the bishop on e5. Also called: in-between move, intermezzo. ## Example position White to move plays the in-between check Nh6+ instead of dxe5. After Kg7 or Kf8, Nxf7 wins Black's queen for a knight, and after Kh8 the capture comes with check and also attacks the bishop on e5. Position (FEN): `6k1/pp3q1p/8/4bN2/3P4/8/5PPP/6K1 w - - 0 1` Compare it with [Double attack](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/double-attack.md). A double attack is one move that creates two threats at once, whether they come from a single piece or from two, and whether they aim at pieces or at checkmate. Compare it with [Legal's mate](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/legals-mate.md). Legal's mate is an opening trap in which White lets Black capture the queen and then checkmates with a bishop and two knights, punishing a Black player who takes the offered piece. A neighboring idea is [Relative pin](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/relative-pin.md). A relative pin is a pin in which the piece behind the pinned piece is more valuable but is not the king, so the pinned piece may legally move but would lose that piece. Knowing "Zwischenzug" helps most once you can spot it in a real game. A [first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md) with George Li starts from your own games and finds the tactics you keep missing. ## Related terms - [Fork](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fork.md) - [Double attack](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/double-attack.md) - [Discovered check](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md) - [Combination](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/combination.md) ## Guides that go further - [How to choose a chess coach](https://georgelichess.com/how-to-choose-a-chess-coach.md): What to decide first, the questions to ask, what a first lesson should show and the red flags to avoid. - [How much does chess coaching cost?](https://georgelichess.com/chess-coaching-cost.md): Published rates for private, group and subscription chess coaching, with the source and the date of each. - [The first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book/first-lesson.md): A game review, a read on your level and a written study plan from George Li. [Book your first lesson](https://georgelichess.com/book.md) and George Li reviews your games and builds a study plan around them. Questions about lessons: write to hello@georgelichess.com. ## Related - [Fork in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/fork.md) - [Double attack in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/double-attack.md) - [Discovered check in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/discovered-check.md) - [Combination in chess](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/combination.md) - [Chess terms: Tactics and combinations](https://georgelichess.com/glossary/category/tactics.md) - [Chess terms glossary: plain definitions](https://georgelichess.com/glossary.md)