Chess Combinations

Chess combinations are a wonderous sight when they work. There is nothing in the game of chess that brings greater satisfaction (besides "checkmate") than when a combination that you have devised works. It may take some time early in your chess career before you realize how combinations are actually formed. After you discover how the different pieces and pawns have combined their powers to mass an attack on a certain position, you will find yourself looking for more and more ways to form different combinations.

Morphy, Lasker, Fischer, Tal, Kasparov and other masters were great combination players. A study of their games will greatly enhance your combinations skill.

What are chess combinations?

Irving Chernev said:

What is a combination? A combination is a blend of ideas – pins, forks, discovered checks, double attacks – which endow the pieces with magical power. It is a series of staggering blows before the knockout. It is the climatic scene in the play appearing on the board. It is the touch of enchantment that gives life to inanimate pieces. It is all this and more – A combination is the heart of chess (Chernev 1960).

A combination is a series of moves, usually beginning with a sacrifice, that leaves the opponent few options and results in a noticable advantage. You often have to see several moves ahead before starting the combination.

Forks, pins, skewers, discovered attacks, undermining, etc is part of the tactics of initiating a combination. A combination is usually at least three moves long, but the longer it takes to recover your sacrifice, the more impressive the combination seems.

The scheme of a game is played on positional lines; the decision of it, as a rule, is effected by combinations.(Richard Reti)

"It is a mistake to think that combination is solely a matter of talent, and that it cannot be acquired"-- RETI

"A thorough understanding of the typical mating combinations makes the most complicated sacrificial combinations leading up to them not only not difficult, but almost a matter of course."

-- TARRASCH

"The pleasure of a chess combination lies in the feeling that a human mind is behind the game, dominating the inanimate pieces with which the game is carried on, and giving them the breath of life."

-- RETI

“The combination player thinks forward; he starts from the given position, and tries the forceful moves in his mind”(Emanuel Lasker)

“Adequate compensation for a sacrifice is having a sound combination leading to a winning position; adequate compensation for a blunder is having your opponent snatch defeat from the jaws of victory”(Bruce A. Moon)

“Combinations have always been the most intriguing aspect of Chess.The masters look for them, the public applauds them, the critics praise them. It is because combinations are possible that Chess is more than a lifeless mathematical exercise. They are the poetry of the game; they are to Chess what melody is to music. They represent the triumph of mind over matter”(Reuben Fine)

You Must Familarize Yourself With Chess Combinations

Chess Combinations are a part of chess tactics and you must familarize yourself with them. You may be really good at chess strategy and planning your game, but you need to know how to employ tactics for your strategy to become effective.

Study games of the masters who are great at combinational play. Select games from players who excelled in the different phases of chess tactics and combinations.

Just to name a few: Garry Kasparov, Alexander Alekhine, Bobby Fischer, Tal, Frank Marshall, and Emanuel Lasker are all great combination players.

A study of their games will greatly enhance your combinational skills and you will be on your way to becoming a better chess player and win more games. That is our goal as a player isn't it? To win more games? And of course, have more fun at doing it.

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