Explanation

Sometimes you can capture an opponent's piece, but capturing it comes with a disadvantage, for example, your opponent may have other threats, or the piece that can make the capture may currently be pinned. An intermediate move is a move that you play instead, which changes the situation so that you can make the capture later without that disadvantage.

Intermediate checks are special intermediate moves that give check. Here, you'll explore other types of intermediate moves. Remember that with intermediate checks, the opponent always must defend against the check, but with other intermediate moves this is not the case. To be effective, an intermediate move should be a forcing move, such as a capture, an attack, or a threat.

In the first diagram, the white bishop is attacking the black knight, but the black bishop is also attacking the white knight. White can solve this garbage collection with the intermediate move indicated by the arrow - running away with the knight and counterattacking the black bishop: 1.Nb6. After this intermediate move, White has two attacks, and Black can't defend against both threats

In the second diagram, the white rook is attacking the black queen, but the black rook is also attacking White's queen. White can solve this garbage collection with the desperado move indicated by the arrow. The white queen captures the black rook, and if Black recaptures, White can still capture the black queen, having won a rook in the process: 1.Qxb6 cxb6 2.Rxd7.

In the third diagram, White could capture the black knight with the pawn, but the pawn is pinned by the black rook against White's rook. White can unpin with the intermediate move indicated by the arrow: 1.Rd4. White now has two attacks: The rook attacks the bishop, and the unpinned pawn attacks the knight. Black cannot defend against both threats.

Examples

White can capture the unprotected bishop on h3 with the bishop on f1.
However, Black is also threatening to capture the unprotected knight on a5 with the queen on d2.
1.Bxh3? Qxa5 would just be an exchange of pieces.
Instead of capturing immediately, White can win with the intermediate move 1.Nb3!
The knight counter attacks the queen, and after the queen runs away, White can pick up the bishop, for example 1...Qc3 2.Bxh3.
Note that Black isn't able to run away with the queen and protect the bishop at the same time. If there wasn't a pawn on h6, Black could play Qh6 and protect the bishop.

White can capture Black's queen with gxh4.
However, Black is also attacking White's queen with the rook on f3.
1.gxh4? Rxd3 would just be an exchange of pieces.
Instead of capturing immediately, White can win with the intermediate move 1.Qxf3!
The rook is protected, but if Black recaptures with 1...Bxf3, White can win the queen back with 2.gxh4.

This kind of move where a piece is lost, but captures something else before it is taken is called a desperado move. Don't confuse this with the desperado sacrifice which results in stalemate if the piece is captured.

Sometimes intermediate move can include other motifs, as in the following example:

White can capture Black's queen with 1.axb5?.
However, Black could then capture White's queen as well with 1.Rxe4, and White would have gained nothing.
1.Qxe8? does not work, because Black can recapture with the queen, which would be no longer attacked on e8.
Instead of capturing immediately, White can win with the intermediate move 1.Rb8!
White is pinning the rook, and attacking it a second time.
If Black captures the rook with 1...Rxb8, the rook is deflected from attacking the queen, and White wins with 2.axb5.
And if Black protects the rook with 1...Rff8, White can win with 2.axb5 Rxe4 3.Rxf8+.

How to spot an intermediate move

When you can capture an opponent's piece, don't just grab it. Instead:

1. Look for existing threats from your opponent.
2. Consider whether your intended move might create tactical opportunities for your opponent.

If either of these exist, consider an intermediate check or move.

Related motifs

An intermediate check is an intermediate move which is a check. An intermediate move can sometimes be a counter attack, and intermediate check is always a counter attack on the king.