In chess, a combination is a sequence of moves, often initiated by a sacrifice, which leaves the opponent few options and results in tangible gain. At most points in a chess game, each player has several reasonable options from which to choose, which makes it difficult to plan ahead except in strategic terms. Combinations, in contrast to the norm, are sufficiently forcing that one can calculate exactly how advantage will be achieved against any defense. Indeed, it is usually necessary to see several moves ahead in exact detail before launching a combination, or else the initial sacrifice should not be undertaken.
In 1952/53, the editors of Shakhmaty v SSSR decided on this definition: A combination is a forced sequence of moves which uses tactical means and exploits specific peculiarities of the position to achieve a certain goal. (Golombek 1977)
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 climactic 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).
Example
A combination is usually built out of two or more fundamental chess tactics such as forks, pins, skewers, undermining, discovered attacks, etc. Thus a combination is usually at least three moves long, but the longer it takes to recoup the initial sacrifice, the more impressive the combination.
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White to play
The position shown is from G. Stepanov–Peter Romanovsky, Leningrad 1926, and begins a combination which illustrates several forks and skewers.[1] Black has just played
1... Rxf3+
Retreating with 2.Ke2 would allow 2...Nd4+, a royal fork attacking both White's king and queen and winning the queen. Similarly, 2.Kd2 would allow 2...Rf2+ (skewering the white king and queen) 3.Be2 Rxe2+! 4.Kxe2 Nd4+, again winning the queen. White accordingly chose
Black resigned. White still could not take the black rook without losing his queen, but the alternative 3.cxd5 exd5+ 4.Kxd5 Be6+ would leave White with no good defense. Taking the bishop with 5.Kxe6 allows the long-threatened fork 5...Nd4+, while taking the knight with 5.Kxc6 allows the skewer 5...Rc8+ followed by 6...Rxc2. Retreating with 5.Ke4 permits the black bishop to skewer the white king and queen with 5...Bf5+, so White has only one option left: 5.Kd6.
After 5.Kd6, Black would have played 5...Rd8+. White couldn't take the bishop or the knight for exactly the same reasons as before (after 6.Kxe6 Nd4+ 7.Ke7, Black comes out a rook ahead with 7...Nxc2 8.Kxd8 Nxa1), which leaves one legal move, namely 6.Kc7, but then 6...Rf7+ absolutely forces the white king to take the black knight, allowing the skewer 7...Rc8+ followed by 8...Rxc2.
combination, chess, chess, combination, sequence, moves, often, initiated, sacrifice, which, leaves, opponent, options, results, tangible, gain, most, points, chess, game, each, player, several, reasonable, options, from, which, choose, which, makes, difficult. In chess a combination is a sequence of moves often initiated by a sacrifice which leaves the opponent few options and results in tangible gain At most points in a chess game each player has several reasonable options from which to choose which makes it difficult to plan ahead except in strategic terms Combinations in contrast to the norm are sufficiently forcing that one can calculate exactly how advantage will be achieved against any defense Indeed it is usually necessary to see several moves ahead in exact detail before launching a combination or else the initial sacrifice should not be undertaken Contents 1 Definition 2 Example 3 See also 4 ReferencesThis article uses algebraic notation to describe chess moves Definition EditIn 1952 53 the editors of Shakhmaty v SSSR decided on this definition A combination is a forced sequence of moves which uses tactical means and exploits specific peculiarities of the position to achieve a certain goal Golombek 1977 Irving Chernev wrote 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 climactic 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 Example EditA combination is usually built out of two or more fundamental chess tactics such as forks pins skewers undermining discovered attacks etc Thus a combination is usually at least three moves long but the longer it takes to recoup the initial sacrifice the more impressive the combination abcdefgh8 877665544332211abcdefghWhite to play The position shown is from G Stepanov Peter Romanovsky Leningrad 1926 and begins a combination which illustrates several forks and skewers 1 Black has just played 1 Rxf3 Retreating with 2 Ke2 would allow 2 Nd4 a royal fork attacking both White s king and queen and winning the queen Similarly 2 Kd2 would allow 2 Rf2 skewering the white king and queen 3 Be2 Rxe2 4 Kxe2 Nd4 again winning the queen White accordingly chose 2 Ke4but after 2 d5 Black resigned White still could not take the black rook without losing his queen but the alternative 3 cxd5 exd5 4 Kxd5 Be6 would leave White with no good defense Taking the bishop with 5 Kxe6 allows the long threatened fork 5 Nd4 while taking the knight with 5 Kxc6 allows the skewer 5 Rc8 followed by 6 Rxc2 Retreating with 5 Ke4 permits the black bishop to skewer the white king and queen with 5 Bf5 so White has only one option left 5 Kd6 After 5 Kd6 Black would have played 5 Rd8 White couldn t take the bishop or the knight for exactly the same reasons as before after 6 Kxe6 Nd4 7 Ke7 Black comes out a rook ahead with 7 Nxc2 8 Kxd8 Nxa1 which leaves one legal move namely 6 Kc7 but then 6 Rf7 absolutely forces the white king to take the black knight allowing the skewer 7 Rc8 followed by 8 Rxc2 See also EditChess tactics Glossary of chess ZwischenzugReferences Edit Stepanov Romanovskij Bibliography What is a Chess Combination by Edward Winter Chernev Irving 1960 Combinations the Heart of Chess Thomas Y Crowell Co Golombek Harry 1977 Golombek s Encyclopedia of Chess Crown Publishing ISBN 0 517 53146 1 Hooper David Whyld Kenneth 1992 The Oxford Companion to Chess 2nd ed Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 866164 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Combination chess amp oldid 1137174856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
