Intermezzo (zwischenzug) chess puzzles
20 intermezzo (zwischenzug) puzzles from real games, ordered from easy to hard. Each has a hint and the full solution.
What is a intermezzo (zwischenzug) in chess?
An intermezzo, or zwischenzug, is an in-between move: instead of the expected recapture you first play a stronger forcing move, then recapture later.
How to spot a intermezzo (zwischenzug)
Before every automatic recapture, ask whether you have a check or a bigger threat first. The opponent must answer it, and the recapture will still be there.
Learn it first: In-between moves (zwischenzug) · Calculation under pressure · Finding the opponent’s resources
Intermezzo (zwischenzug) chess puzzles
Puzzle 1: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 8... Qxd4.
Puzzle rating 892
Hint
Show solution
9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxd4
FEN: r3kb1r/ppp2ppp/2n1pn2/8/2Pq4/5BP1/P3PP1P/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 0 9
Puzzle 2: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 26. Nxd6.
Puzzle rating 1062
Hint
Show solution
26... Rxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Nxd6
FEN: 6k1/1p5p/p2N2p1/2p1rn2/P7/2Pb4/1P5P/R3R1K1 b - - 0 26
Puzzle 3: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 25. hxg4.
Puzzle rating 1156
Hint
Theme: fork, intermezzo (zwischenzug), endgame tactic
Show solution
25... Rd1+ 26. Kh2 Nxg4+ 27. Kg3 Nxe3
FEN: 3r4/pp6/2p5/2k1n2p/4B1P1/2P1R3/P1P2PP1/6K1 b - - 0 25
Puzzle 4: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 22. Bxg4.
Puzzle rating 1199
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), attacking f2/f7, middlegame tactic
Show solution
22... Qxf2+ 23. Kd1 Bxg4
FEN: r1b2rk1/6b1/pq1p2p1/3Pp1N1/1p2P1B1/8/PP1QNP2/2R1K2R b K - 0 22
Puzzle 5: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Rxb6.
Puzzle rating 1281
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), hanging piece, middlegame tactic
Show solution
29. Rxc8+ Ne8 30. axb6
FEN: 2r3k1/4q1pp/pr2pn2/P2p1p2/1P6/4PN2/2R2PPP/1R4K1 w - - 0 29
Puzzle 6: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 37... Bxe3.
Puzzle rating 1420
Hint
Show solution
38. Rxb6+ Ka7 39. fxe3
FEN: 3r4/1k6/pp4p1/2P5/4p3/4b2P/P4PP1/1R4K1 w - - 0 38
Puzzle 7: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 13. dxc6.
Puzzle rating 1491
Hint
Show solution
13... Nxf3+ 14. Nxf3 Bxc6
FEN: r3kb1r/pbpq2pp/2P2p2/1B2p1N1/3n4/2N2Q2/PP3PPP/R1B2RK1 b kq - 0 13
Puzzle 8: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 21... Rxd1.
Puzzle rating 1546
Hint
Show solution
22. Qa8+ Kd7 23. Rxd1+
FEN: 2k4r/Qpp2p1p/2q1b1p1/8/2P5/2P1B3/P4PPP/3rR1K1 w - - 0 22
Puzzle 9: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 13... Nxe4.
Puzzle rating 1634
Hint
Show solution
14. Bxe7 Qxe7 15. Nxe4
FEN: 1r1q1rk1/p2bbpp1/2ppp2p/8/3Nn2B/2N3R1/PPP2PPP/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 14
Puzzle 10: White to move and mate in 2
White to move and mate in 2. The opponent just played 19... Bxd8.
Puzzle rating 1762
Hint
Theme: mate in 2, intermezzo (zwischenzug), middlegame tactic
Show solution
20. Bc5+ Ne7 21. Rxd8#
FEN: rn1b1knr/2N2pp1/2p4p/p3P3/8/4BNPb/qPP1BP1P/2KR3R w - - 0 20
Puzzle 11: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 20... Nxd5.
Puzzle rating 1837
Hint
Show solution
21. Qa8+ Kc7 22. Nxd5+ Kc6 23. Nxe7+
FEN: 2kr3r/Qp1bqp1p/p2p4/3n4/4P1pN/P1N3P1/1P4P1/n4K1R w - - 0 21
Puzzle 12: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 47... Qe7.
Puzzle rating 1883
Hint
Theme: clearance, intermezzo (zwischenzug), sacrifice
Show solution
48. Nxg6+ fxg6 49. Rf4+ Ke8 50. Qxg6+
FEN: 5k2/4qpb1/1p2p1p1/pP1p2Q1/3P1N1R/2P3P1/r4PK1/8 w - - 4 48
Puzzle 13: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 40. Rxa4.
Puzzle rating 1966
Hint
Theme: intermezzo (zwischenzug), advanced pawn, endgame tactic
Show solution
40... cxb2 41. Rb8 Nxa4
FEN: 2R5/2p2p2/3p1kp1/2n4p/R4P2/P1p3P1/1P3K1P/8 b - - 0 40
Puzzle 14: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 26. Nxd8.
Puzzle rating 2056
Hint
Show solution
26... Qe4 27. Qb5+ Kxd8 28. Bc7+ Kxc7 29. Qxc5+ bxc5
FEN: 3N3r/3k2pp/Bp2qn2/2bb4/P7/6BP/1Q3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 26
Puzzle 15: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 28... Nxb4.
Puzzle rating 2158
Hint
Show solution
29. Qf5 Re8 30. cxb4
FEN: 2r3k1/5ppp/Rp1q1n2/3pp3/1n6/1NP1P1P1/2QB1P1P/6K1 w - - 0 29
Puzzle 16: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 32... Be4.
Puzzle rating 2198
Hint
Theme: pin, deflection, intermezzo (zwischenzug)
Show solution
33. Rxe4 Qxe4 34. Bxf6+ Rxf6 35. Qxe4+
FEN: 8/4kp2/p3qnr1/P1b5/1pP1b2Q/5pP1/1BP4P/4RK2 w - - 2 33
Puzzle 17: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 14. Nxe5.
Puzzle rating 2264
Hint
Show solution
14... Bxe2 15. Qxe2 dxe5
FEN: r2q1rk1/pppnb1pp/3p4/P2PN3/2P2pb1/4B3/1P1NBPPP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 0 14
Puzzle 18: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 24. Qd4.
Puzzle rating 2405
Hint
Theme: fork, intermezzo (zwischenzug), sacrifice
Show solution
24... Bc5 25. Rxc5 Re1+ 26. Bf1 bxc5
FEN: 3q1bk1/p4p1p/1p4p1/3P4/3Q4/4r1P1/P5BP/1NR3K1 b - - 2 24
Puzzle 19: White to move and win
White to move and win. The opponent just played 13... Bxd4.
Puzzle rating 2468
Hint
Show solution
14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Bxd4 Ne5 16. Bxe5
FEN: r4rk1/pp1np2p/1qppp1p1/7n/3b4/2NBBP1P/PPPQ1P2/R3K1R1 w Q - 0 14
Puzzle 20: Black to move and win
Black to move and win. The opponent just played 20. Nd4.
Puzzle rating 2578
Hint
Theme: fork, deflection, intermezzo (zwischenzug)
Show solution
20... Bxe2 21. Nxe2 Qe4 22. Qxe4 Nxe2+ 23. Kh1 Rxe4
FEN: r3r1k1/pp2qpp1/2p4p/8/1P1N1nb1/P3P3/2Q1BPPP/3R1RK1 b - - 2 20