Intermezzo Chess Puzzles — Rated 1600

10 in-between moves rated between 1600 and 1799, averaging 1659. 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 1600-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 1600 is one that players around 1600 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 1600

  1. Intermezzo puzzle 1, rated 1682h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 1682 · Black to play after Bxd3
    Show solution

    Qxb2+ Kxb2 Nxd3+ Kb3 Nxe1

  2. Intermezzo puzzle 2, rated 1622a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 1622 · White to play after Nxd3
    Show solution

    Rxe7+ Kd8 Qxd3

  3. Intermezzo puzzle 3, rated 1615a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 1615 · White to play after Nxe5
    Show solution

    Nxf6+ Qxf6 fxe5 Bxe5 Rxf6

  4. Intermezzo puzzle 4, rated 1721a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 1721 · White to play after Rxc1
    Show solution

    Bxf7+ Kh8 Qxc1

  5. Intermezzo puzzle 5, rated 1727h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 5 · rated 1727 · Black to play after Rxd5
    Show solution

    Nxe1+ Kf1 exd5

  6. Intermezzo puzzle 6, rated 1737h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 1737 · Black to play after fxe3
    Show solution

    Rc2+ Qxc2 Nxe3+ Kf3 Nxc2

  7. Intermezzo puzzle 7, rated 1602a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 1602 · White to play after Nxb5
    Show solution

    Rxa8 Rxa8 Nxb5

  8. Intermezzo puzzle 8, rated 1632h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 1632 · Black to play after cxd4
    Show solution

    Qxd2 Bxd2 Bxd4+ Kf1 Bxa1

  9. Intermezzo puzzle 9, rated 1613h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 1613 · Black to play after Nxa5
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ Bxf3 bxa5

  10. Intermezzo puzzle 10, rated 1643a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 1643 · White to play after Nxc7
    Show solution

    Bxb7 Rb8 Bxc7 Rxb7 Rd8+ Bf8 Bd6

Train intermezzo puzzles at your rating →

Related puzzle sets

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 1600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 1600 is one that players rated around 1600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 1659, so they suit 1600-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.