Desperado and Zwischenzug are both chess tactics that involve sacrificing a piece. However, they differ in terms of their timing and purpose.
Desperado is a sacrifice made when a piece is already under attack and is likely to be captured in the next move. The purpose of a desperado sacrifice is to gain some sort of compensation or advantage in return for the lost piece. It is a tactical resource used to create complications and counterplay in a position where the player is otherwise at a disadvantage.
For example, imagine a scenario where a player’s rook is attacked by a queen. Instead of simply allowing the rook to be captured, the player might sacrifice the rook in order to create threats against the opponent’s king or to gain control of important squares on the board. The desperado sacrifice can be seen as a last-ditch effort to turn the tables and create counterplay.
On the other hand, Zwischenzug, which means “in-between move” in German, is a move that is played in between a sequence of expected moves. It is usually an unexpected and surprising move that interrupts the natural flow of moves. The purpose of a Zwischenzug is to disrupt the opponent’s plans and force them to reconsider their next move.
For example, let’s say there is a sequence of moves where a player plans to capture a knight with a bishop. However, before the capture takes place, the opponent plays a surprising in-between move, such as a check or a capture of their own. This unexpected move forces the player to reassess their plan and come up with a new strategy.
The main difference between desperado and Zwischenzug is the timing and purpose of the sacrifices. Desperado sacrifices are made when a piece is already under attack and aim to create counterplay, while Zwischenzug sacrifices are unexpected moves played in between a sequence of expected moves to disrupt the opponent’s plans. Both tactics require tactical awareness and calculation, but they serve different strategic purposes in a game of chess.