The Art of Tactical Combinations: When to Strike and When to Wait
Dear Chess Friends!
I'm excited to share highlights from my recent workshop "Tactical Combination", where we explored the beautiful and complex world of chess tactics. Whether you're an attacking player or prefer solid positions, understanding combinations will transform your game.
Watch the full workshop here, and let's dive into 4 legendary combinations that reveal when to launch an attack and when to hold back.
What Makes a Tactical Combination Work?
As chess legends like Botvinnik and Kotov taught us, a combination is a sequence of forcing moves that leads to advantage. Understanding when to strike requires recognizing:
- Weaknesses in the opponent's camp (exposed kings, undefended pieces)
- Poorly placed enemy pieces that can't defend critical squares
- Advanced passed pawns that create threats
- Superiority of forces in the decisive sector of the board
Common Combination Types:
- Mating attacks - direct threats to the king
- Material gains - winning pieces or pawns
- Stalemate escapes - saving drawn positions
- Strategic exchanges - improving your position
4 Legendary Combinations: Beauty and Precision
1. Alekhine vs. Bogoljubow (1934)
- 48.g4!? - Alekhine intensifies the situation, creating combinational chaos
- 56.f6+! - The humble pawn delivers the fatal blow
- Lesson: Sometimes you must create complications to find winning chances
2. Steinitz vs. Von Bardeleben (1895)
- 22.Rxe7+!! - Immortal combination with an invulnerable rook
- 24.Rg7+! - The rook wanders through the king's residence fearlessly
- Lesson: When you have superiority in the attack zone, strike mercilessly
3. Spassky vs. Polugaevsky (1961)
- 30...Rxf3+! - Polugaevsky's only chance to complicate
- 34.Kh5? - Spassky's critical error in time pressure
- Lesson: The hardest part is carrying an attack through to victory
4. Ree vs. Gligoric (1975)
- 33...f3! - Deadly blow that distracts the queen
- 35...Nxf2! - Brilliant knight sacrifice in a practical game
- Lesson: Even strong players can get confused by unexpected blows
Key Combination Elements
| Element | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Sacrifices | Clear defenses and open lines |
| Checks | Force the opponent's responses |
| Captures | Eliminate key defenders |
| Prophylaxis | Prevent opponent's counterplay |
"A combination is like a beautiful mathematical proof - every move must be forced and every variation must be calculated to perfection."
When NOT to Start a Combination
- When your king is exposed - secure your position first
- When you lack sufficient forces in the attack zone
- When the opponent has strong counterplay that you can't control
- When simple positional moves maintain your advantage safely
How to Train Your Combinational Vision
- Solve tactical puzzles daily on various themes
- Study classic games with famous combinations
- Analyze your own games for missed tactical opportunities
- Practice calculation by working through complex variations
If you would like to participate in our next event in live, you can register here: https://chesslance.com/masterclass/
Your participation is absolutely free.
Have you ever missed a winning combination in your games? Share your experience in the comments - I'll help you understand what went wrong!
Best Regards,
FM Viktor Neustroev
