Intermezzo Chess Puzzles — Rated 2200+

10 in-between moves rated between 2200 and 3500, averaging 2377. 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 2200+-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players around 2200+ 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 2200+

  1. Intermezzo puzzle 1, rated 2204a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 2204 · White to play after gxh6
    Show solution

    f6 Bxf6 Qxh6 e4 Rxf6 Qxf6 Qxf6

  2. Intermezzo puzzle 2, rated 2475a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 2 · rated 2475 · White to play after Bxd3
    Show solution

    Bxe5 Qxe5 Qxd3 Qxe1 Rxe1

  3. Intermezzo puzzle 3, rated 2395a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 2395 · White to play after Rxb6
    Show solution

    g4+ Kg6 Kxb6 e4 fxe4 h5 gxh5+

  4. Intermezzo puzzle 4, rated 2267a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 4 · rated 2267 · White to play after Bxg3
    Show solution

    Qe8+ Kh7 hxg3

  5. Intermezzo puzzle 5, rated 2693a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 2693 · White to play after Rxg2
    Show solution

    Nf7+ Kg7 Rxg2+ Kxf7 Rxg8 Kxg8 b4 Kg7 b5 cxb5 axb5

  6. Intermezzo puzzle 6, rated 2269h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 2269 · Black to play after f4
    Show solution

    Rxf4+ exf4 Bd4+ Qe3 Qxf4+ Kg2 Bxe3 Rxe3 Qxe3

  7. Intermezzo puzzle 7, rated 2366a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 7 · rated 2366 · White to play after g6
    Show solution

    Rxg6+ fxg6 Qxe6+ Kf8 Rxg6 Ne7 Rf6+ Qxf6 Qxf6+

  8. Intermezzo puzzle 8, rated 2263a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 2263 · White to play after Bxe3
    Show solution

    Qxe6 fxe6 fxe3 Kg6 e5 Kf7 Kf3

  9. Intermezzo puzzle 9, rated 2291a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 2291 · White to play after Nxf5
    Show solution

    Rf1 Kg7 Bxf5

  10. Intermezzo puzzle 10, rated 2550a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 10 · rated 2550 · White to play after Nxg5
    Show solution

    Nxd5+ cxd5 Qxg5+ Kf7 Qf4+ Kg6 Qd6+ Kf5 Qxd5+

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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 2200+ mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 2200+ is one that players rated around 2200+ solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 2377, so they suit 2200+-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.