Intermezzo Chess Puzzles — Rated 600

10 in-between moves rated between 400 and 799, averaging 767. 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 600-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 600 is one that players around 600 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 600

  1. Intermezzo puzzle 1, rated 767h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 1 · rated 767 · Black to play after Rxf4
    Show solution

    Nxe2+ Bxe2 Rxf4

  2. Intermezzo puzzle 2, rated 788h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 788 · Black to play after Rxe5
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ Qxf3 Qxe5

  3. Intermezzo puzzle 3, rated 791a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 791 · White to play after Qxd4
    Show solution

    Bxc6+ bxc6 Qxd4

  4. Intermezzo puzzle 4, rated 790h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 790 · Black to play after Bxf6
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ gxf3 Qxf6

  5. Intermezzo puzzle 5, rated 776a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 776 · White to play after exf5
    Show solution

    Re8+ Kh7 Bxf5#

  6. Intermezzo puzzle 6, rated 787a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 6 · rated 787 · White to play after Rxg4
    Show solution

    Nxf6+ gxf6 hxg4

  7. Intermezzo puzzle 7, rated 789h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 789 · Black to play after Rxc7
    Show solution

    Rxe6 Rxe6 Rxc7

  8. Intermezzo puzzle 8, rated 650a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 8 · rated 650 · White to play after Nxe5
    Show solution

    Rxd8 Rxd8 Bxe5

  9. Intermezzo puzzle 9, rated 785a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 9 · rated 785 · White to play after Rxe6
    Show solution

    Rxf8+ Kh7 Rxe6

  10. Intermezzo puzzle 10, rated 743h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 743 · Black to play after Rxe5
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ Qxf3 Qxe5

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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 600 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 600 is one that players rated around 600 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 767, so they suit 600-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.