Learn How to Use an Intermezzo: Decisive Material Gain
This chess endgame puzzle is a classic example of an intermezzo, also called a zwischenzug: instead of recapturing immediately, you insert a forcing move that changes the order of operations. The key idea is to use a check or other forcing move to keep the opponent’s king tied down while winning material. In practical classical chess, these tactics often decide simplified positions because loose pieces and active rooks can be exploited at once.