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Winning combinations
Forcing sequences that win material, found by world-class players.
Advanced · Tactics · 19 steps. On Chess Castles, Chess Guru reads each step aloud in English, Hindi or Marathi while the moves play on the board, and you can practise any position against the engine. With games of Humpy Koneru, Bobby Fischer, Mikhail Tal, José Raúl Capablanca, Paul Morphy, Nihal Sarin.
Step 1
A combination is a series of forcing moves, checks, captures and threats, that wins something in the end. The first move often looks strange or even gives material away. Follow the whole line to see why it works.
Step 2
V Varshini vs Humpy Koneru, Maharashtra TCh-IND League KO, Pune 2016. Humpy Koneru is one of India's greatest players and twice Women's World Rapid Champion. Humpy Koneru plays Black here. Look at the queen on e4: what can it do?
Step 3
Moves: 36...Qg4+
Humpy Koneru starts the combination with the queen from e4 to g4. It pins the pawn on g5. It gives check.
Step 4
Moves: 36...Qg4+ 37.Kf2 Rf7+ 38.Bf4 Rxf4+ 39.Qxf4 Qxf4+
The moves: 36...Qg4+ 37.Kf2 Rf7+ 38.Bf4 Rxf4+ 39.Qxf4 Qxf4+. At the end of the line, Humpy Koneru has won the queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
Step 5
Bobby Fischer vs Marcos Haskins, Denver simul, Denver simultaan 1964. Bobby Fischer from the USA became World Champion in 1972. Bobby Fischer plays White here. Look at the rook on h8: what can it do?
Step 6
Moves: 38.Rd8+
Bobby Fischer starts the combination with the rook from h8 to d8. It gives check.
From the game Bobby Fischer – Marcos Haskins, Denver simul, Denver simultaan 1964.
Step 7
Moves: 38.Rd8+ Kxd8 39.h8=Q+ Kc7 40.Nxf7 Kc6 41.Qd8
The moves: 38.Rd8+ Kxd8 39.h8=Q+ Kc7 40.Nxf7 Kc6 41.Qd8. The pawn reaches the last rank and becomes a queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Bobby Fischer – Marcos Haskins, Denver simul, Denver simultaan 1964.
Step 8
Mikhail Tal vs Rosenberg, USSR 1953. Mikhail Tal, the "Magician from Riga", became World Champion in 1960 with daring attacks. Mikhail Tal plays White here. Look at the rook on b3: what can it do?
Step 9
Moves: 33.R3b2
Mikhail Tal starts the combination with the rook from b3 to b2. It attacks the knight on a2.
From the game Mikhail Tal – Rosenberg, USSR 1953.
Step 10
Moves: 33.R3b2 Nc3 34.Kxc3 Rh3 35.Rd2 Rxf3+ 36.Kb4
The moves: 33.R3b2 Nc3 34.Kxc3 Rh3 35.Rd2 Rxf3+ 36.Kb4. At the end of the line, Mikhail Tal has won the knight. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Mikhail Tal – Rosenberg, USSR 1953.
Step 11
José Raúl Capablanca vs Gracie Sq CC, New York, New York, NY 1931. José Raúl Capablanca from Cuba was World Champion from 1921 to 1927, famous for simple, clear play. José Raúl Capablanca plays White here. Look at the pawn on f5: what can it do?
Step 12
Moves: 37.f6+
José Raúl Capablanca starts the combination with the pawn from f5 to f6. It gives check.
From the game José Raúl Capablanca – Gracie Sq CC, New York, New York, NY 1931.
Step 13
Moves: 37.f6+ Rfxf6 38.Nh5+ Kf8 39.Rxf6+ Rxf6 40.Qxf6+
The moves: 37.f6+ Rfxf6 38.Nh5+ Kf8 39.Rxf6+ Rxf6 40.Qxf6+. At the end of the line, José Raúl Capablanca has won the rook. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game José Raúl Capablanca – Gracie Sq CC, New York, New York, NY 1931.
Step 14
Paul Morphy vs Augustus Mongredien, Parijs m 1859. Paul Morphy from New Orleans was the best player in the world in the 1850s. Paul Morphy plays White here. Look at the queen on c7: what can it do?
Step 15
Moves: 22.Qxf7+
Paul Morphy starts the combination with the queen from c7 to f7. It captures the pawn on f7. It pins the pawn on a7. It gives check.
From the game Paul Morphy – Augustus Mongredien, Parijs m 1859.
Step 16
Moves: 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 23.Qxe8+ Rxe8 24.Rxa1 Re2 25.f3
The moves: 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 23.Qxe8+ Rxe8 24.Rxa1 Re2 25.f3. At the end of the line, Paul Morphy has won the queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Paul Morphy – Augustus Mongredien, Parijs m 1859.
Step 17
Nihal Sarin vs L Tristan, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023. Nihal Sarin from Kerala became a grandmaster at 14. Nihal Sarin plays White here. Look at the pawn on g5: what can it do?
Step 18
Moves: 46.g6
Nihal Sarin starts the combination with the pawn from g5 to g6.
From the game Nihal Sarin – L Tristan, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023.
Step 19
Moves: 46.g6 Kc2 47.g7 d3 48.g8=Q d2 49.Qg6+
The moves: 46.g6 Kc2 47.g7 d3 48.g8=Q d2 49.Qg6+. The pawn reaches the last rank and becomes a queen. Now try it yourself: press Practice and play this position against the engine.
From the game Nihal Sarin – L Tristan, Titled Tuesday (online) 2023.
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More lessons in Tactics
- Knight forks: The jumping knight attacks two pieces at once. See the forks Gukesh, Anand, Divya and other stars played.
- Double attacks: Queens, bishops, rooks and even pawns can attack two things at once.
- Pins: Freeze a piece in front of its king, then win it.
- Skewers: Attack the big piece; when it moves, take the one behind it.
- Discovered attacks: Move one piece out of the way and another one attacks.
- Double check: Two pieces give check at once: the king must run.
- Queen sacrifices: Giving away the strongest piece to force checkmate.
- The Greek gift sacrifice: Bishop takes h7 with check, and the attack on the king begins.
Next lesson: Passed pawn power