What is Zwischenzug (in-between move) in chess?
An unexpected move inserted before the 'expected' recapture.
Instead of recapturing immediately, you play a more forcing move first - a check or bigger threat - and recapture afterward, often winning extra material.
Spot zwischenzug (in-between move) in your own games
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- DeflectionForcing a defending piece away from the square or piece it protects.
- DecoyLuring an enemy piece (often the king) to a bad square.
- OverloadingGiving one defender too many jobs so it can't cover them all.
- Removing the defenderCapturing or chasing away the piece that guards an important target.
- BatteryTwo pieces lined up on the same file, rank, or diagonal to multiply their force.
- WindmillAlternating checks from a rook and bishop that force the king back and forth while picking off material.