Intermezzo Chess Puzzles — Rated 2000

10 in-between moves rated between 2000 and 2199, averaging 2093. 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 2000-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2000 is one that players around 2000 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 2000

  1. Intermezzo puzzle 1, rated 2107a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2107 · White to play after Be6
    Show solution

    Nf6+ gxf6 Rg4+ Kh8 Qxf6#

  2. Intermezzo puzzle 2, rated 2159a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2159 · White to play after Nxa7
    Show solution

    Rc3+ Qc6 Nxa7+

  3. Intermezzo puzzle 3, rated 2027h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2027 · Black to play after Qxc3
    Show solution

    Nf3+ gxf3 Qg5+ Kh1 Bxf3#

  4. Intermezzo puzzle 4, rated 2189h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2189 · Black to play after Bxg6
    Show solution

    Nxf1 Rxf1 Qxg6 Qxg6+ Kxg6

  5. Intermezzo puzzle 5, rated 2039a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2039 · White to play after Nxe4
    Show solution

    Nxc6 bxc6 Nxe4

  6. Intermezzo puzzle 6, rated 2160h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2160 · Black to play after hxg4
    Show solution

    Qh4+ Kg2 Bxg4

  7. Intermezzo puzzle 7, rated 2065a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2065 · White to play after Nxc6
    Show solution

    Rxf7+ Kxf7 dxc6 e3 Kg1

  8. Intermezzo puzzle 8, rated 2060a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2060 · White to play after Rxc6
    Show solution

    Qa6 h6 Rxc6 Rxc6 Qa8+

  9. Intermezzo puzzle 9, rated 2052h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2052 · Black to play after Bxd5
    Show solution

    Rb1+ Kg2 Nxd5

  10. Intermezzo puzzle 10, rated 2075a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2075 · White to play after Qxb4
    Show solution

    Rxd8+ Kxd8 axb4

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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 2000 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2000 is one that players rated around 2000 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2093, so they suit 2000-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.