Intermezzo Chess Puzzles — Rated 1000

10 in-between moves rated between 1000 and 1199, averaging 1152. Each position below is from a real game, with the solution given underneath — so you can check yourself immediately rather than guessing whether you were right.

An intermezzo — an in-between move, also called zwischenzug — inserts a more forcing move before making the move that seemed forced. Recapturing immediately is the instinct these puzzles are built to break: check whether a check or a bigger threat comes first.

These are pitched at 1000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1000 is one that players around 1000 solve about half the time, so if you are getting most of these you should move up a band.

Solving from a page is good for pattern recognition but not for tracking progress. The rated puzzle trainer serves puzzles matched to your own rating and adjusts as you solve, and the Mistake Trainer builds puzzles from positions you actually got wrong in your own games.

Intermezzo puzzles rated 1000

  1. Intermezzo puzzle 1, rated 1197h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1197 · Black to play after Bxd6
    Show solution

    Rxd4 Rxd4 Bxd6

  2. Intermezzo puzzle 2, rated 1160a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1160 · White to play after Bxe4
    Show solution

    Bxf6+ Kg4 Kxe4

  3. Intermezzo puzzle 3, rated 1102h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1102 · Black to play after Qxd5
    Show solution

    Bxc3+ bxc3 Qxd5

  4. Intermezzo puzzle 4, rated 1153a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1153 · White to play after Rxa6
    Show solution

    Qc8+ Kh7 Rxa6

  5. Intermezzo puzzle 5, rated 1167h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1167 · Black to play after Rxc8
    Show solution

    Qxd1+ Kg2 Rxc8

  6. Intermezzo puzzle 6, rated 1149a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1149 · White to play after Rxe2
    Show solution

    Qxa8+ Kh7 Rxe2

  7. Intermezzo puzzle 7, rated 1170h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1170 · Black to play after Nxd4
    Show solution

    Bb4+ Bd2 Qxd4

  8. Intermezzo puzzle 8, rated 1158a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1158 · White to play after Qxd4
    Show solution

    Bxc6+ bxc6 Qxd4

  9. Intermezzo puzzle 9, rated 1079a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1079 · White to play after Rxe4
    Show solution

    Qxf8+ Kh7 Rxe4

  10. Intermezzo puzzle 10, rated 1184a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1184 · White to play after Qxh1
    Show solution

    Rxg5+ Kh8 Rxh1#

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Frequently asked questions

What is a intermezzo in chess?

An intermezzo — an in-between move, also called zwischenzug — inserts a more forcing move before making the move that seemed forced. Recapturing immediately is the instinct these puzzles are built to break: check whether a check or a bigger threat comes first.

What does a puzzle rating of 1000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1000 is one that players rated around 1000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1152, so they suit 1000-rated players.

Are these intermezzo puzzles free?

Yes. Every puzzle on this page, including its solution, is free to view with no account. The rated trainer that tracks your progress and serves puzzles matched to your rating is part of Chess Ramp Premium.