Intermezzo Chess Puzzles — Rated 800

10 in-between moves rated between 800 and 999, averaging 949. 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 800-rated players. Puzzle ratings work like player ratings: a puzzle rated 800 is one that players around 800 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 800

  1. Intermezzo puzzle 1, rated 885a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 1 · rated 885 · White to play after Qxd4
    Show solution

    Bxc6+ bxc6 Qxd4

  2. Intermezzo puzzle 2, rated 979h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 2 · rated 979 · Black to play after Qxd4
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ Bxf3 Qxd4

  3. Intermezzo puzzle 3, rated 920a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 3 · rated 920 · White to play after Rxf2
    Show solution

    Nxg6+ fxg6 Rxf2

  4. Intermezzo puzzle 4, rated 950h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 4 · rated 950 · Black to play after Qxg5
    Show solution

    Nxf3+ Bxf3 Qxg5

  5. Intermezzo puzzle 5, rated 914a8b7c6d5e4f3g2h1
    Puzzle 5 · rated 914 · White to play after Qxd4
    Show solution

    Bxc6+ bxc6 Qxd4

  6. Intermezzo puzzle 6, rated 922h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 6 · rated 922 · Black to play after Rxb2
    Show solution

    Rc1+ Kh2 Bxb2

  7. Intermezzo puzzle 7, rated 977h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 7 · rated 977 · Black to play after Rxg7
    Show solution

    Qxd1+ Kh2 Rxg7

  8. Intermezzo puzzle 8, rated 974h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 8 · rated 974 · Black to play after Qxd5
    Show solution

    Bxc3+ bxc3 Qxd5

  9. Intermezzo puzzle 9, rated 992h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 9 · rated 992 · Black to play after Qxc5
    Show solution

    Rxd1+ Kg2 Rxc5

  10. Intermezzo puzzle 10, rated 976h1g2f3e4d5c6b7a8
    Puzzle 10 · rated 976 · Black to play after Rxc7
    Show solution

    Qxc2+ Kh3 Rxc7

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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 800 mean?

Puzzle ratings work like player ratings. A puzzle rated 800 is one that players rated around 800 solve roughly half the time. The puzzles on this page average 949, so they suit 800-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.