Combination

A combination is a concrete sequence that exploits a feature of the position to achieve a defined objective, such as checkmate, an attack on the king with no legal answer; winning pawns or pieces; turning a pawn that reaches the far end into another piece; or a series of checks, direct attacks on the king, that forces a draw, a game with no winner. The opponent's replies are forced or tightly restricted, so the sequence can be calculated move by move.

Forcing moves demand an urgent response, especially checks, captures, and direct threats. A combination may join several tactical ideas, meaning concrete resources that work through immediate threats, and often includes a sacrifice, an intentional offer of pawns or pieces, but such an offer is not required. Sometimes the key is a quiet move, which gives no immediate check or capture and removes the only defense before the forcing play continues.

Combination and calculation

1. Define the result you are seeking and the moves worth calculating to impose it.
2. For each one, choose the opponent's best defense rather than the reply most convenient for your idea.
3. Continue until you reach a position you can evaluate clearly, such as checkmate, won pawns or pieces, or a lasting improvement.
4. Check intermediate replies, including zwischenzüge, moves that demand an answer before the expected action, because they may change the planned move order.

A single tactic may be completed in one move; a combination normally connects several. It is also different from a plan: a plan guides long-term decisions and allows many routes, while a combination depends on concrete details and exact move order.