Lesson #4: How to Find Cominations/Series?

Hello everyone,

Please read this blog carefully. THIS BLOG WILL HELP YOU A LOT.

Today we are going to explore how to find tactical combinations that can either make you win or draw.

So let's get started.

Look at this puzzle. Solve it.

Ok.

I am quite sure that almost every single one of you can solve it.

So you can clearly see now that we have a motif: back rank checkmate.

Go back to the position.

What is wrong with black that caused it to  lose?

If we look carefully, you will see that all the pawns are directly in front of black's king, blocking its way. There's not enough pieces to guard against the attack.

So we can see that black's back rank is weak, and that we can exploit it.

This is the characteristics of the back rank mate.

So now, let's look at this puzzle. Solve it.

So you can see how we spotted that black's bank rank is completely sealed, meaning that the king couldn't escape unless a pawn is moved forward. So we noticed a potential weakness and see how we can exploit that. When we check our requirements for combinations, we have it.

In conclusion, there're four steps:

1. Observe and analyze the position. Find strength and weaknesses in each side. Flip the board if necessary.

2. After finding weaknesses, think: under what circumstances would you be able to exploit them?

3. Develop the tactical combination (if possible) to exploit the weakness.

4, Execute your tactic.

So now let's look at this problem.

Did you find the solution? If not, scroll down for the analysis.

1. Weaknesses. Black's back rank is weak and white's doubled rooks mean that white may exploit the back rank.

2. We would have to deflect the queen away to remove the defenses of the rook. The f3 bishop protects our rook, so we can just go and exploit black's weaknesses.

3. So we shall start with 1. Qa7! (black's queen can only go to a5 or else it will lose) and then 1... Qa5.

Keep deflecting. 2. Qxa6. 2... Qc7 is forced.

So now what? How do we keep deflecting?

3. Qa7 +-. Black's queen has nowhere to go. White won.

You can see that deflection is a huge motif found in deflection. IT IS VERY NECESSARY TO LEARN MOTIFS AND TRY TO FIND CANDIDATE MOVES (basically moves that seem tempting) and EVALUATE THOSE MOVES TO DECIDE WHAT TO PLAY. Again, MOTIFS ARE IMPORTANT (as seen in Korchnoi's pin).

So now let's put everything to use. Use these four steps, motifs, and candidate moves to solve this puzzle.

I did the analysis and the four-step analysis on the puzzle itself.

So this is it. You can see that motifs and these four steps to grasping any position is important! Strategy is important, but so are tactics!

Keep practicing puzzles and learning! I hope you improve very quickly.

Thank you! If you have any experience (e.g. You are a titled player), please comment down in the comments and share your experience and tips. Even if you aren't, please share your comments. They are very valuable. I will edit this blog and put the good suggestions in there (I will be sure to give you credits).

Thanks! Have a nice day!