The Winning Academy 40: Small combinations are the spice of chess

by Jan Markos
11/30/2024 – Chess fans revel in dazzling sacrifices and intricate checkmates, but the true essence of tactical mastery lies in the understated brilliance of "small combinations". Coined by José Raúl Capablanca, this term refers to concise, 2-3 move tactics, often easy to spot but just as easy to miss. Even grandmasters rely heavily on such calculations, scanning for subtle opportunities in every position. Dive into these examples to uncover the hidden gems of chess strategy and elevate your play.
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We all love beautiful attacking games, full of deep and unorthodox ideas. We adore sacrifices leading to elegant mating patterns. However, everyday chess tactics are usually much humbler.

Even professionals deal much more often with small tricks than grandiose and deep ideas. And they calculate "small combinations" far more often than long lines.

"Small combination" is a term coined by José Raúl Capablanca, and is used for a 2 or 3-move long tactic that is relatively simple to find, but also simple to overlook.

Being good at finding small combinations means being tactically alert. So, let us have a look at several examples. You can try to solve any of these positions yourself.

***

Anand-Navara, Gashimov Memorial 2019 - Black to move:

We have entered the game after Anand's move 41.Qe7?. In the previous time-trouble, GM Navara almost lost on time, reaching move 40 with a single second to spare. And yet, he saw the drawing combination instantly.

41...Rd1+!

The rook has to be taken, after 42.Ke3 White loses the knight. However, after the forced 42.Nxd1 Navara's queen is going to dance in an eternal pattern: 42…Qd4+ 43.Ke1 Qg1+ 44.Kd2 Qd4+ 45.Kc1 Qa1+ with a draw.

Anand saw all of this, and therefore the game ended instantly after 41…Rd1+. Of course, Black was very lucky, as after a normal continuation, White's three extra pawns would give him excellent winning chances.

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The Vugar Gashimov Memorial 2019 was the strongest tournament I have ever played. Facing three world champions on three consecutive days is something very unusual, at least for me. This game is far from perfect, but it is nevertheless very interesting. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 This came as a surprise. I had believed this move to be fairly innocuous, but perhaps the things are a bit more complicated. g6 Black also has several other ways how to question White's last move, including 6...e5 and 6...Nc6 . 7.f3! This move caught me unaware, as I had never seen it before. I was no longer that happy about having played 6...g6, as I am not such a big fan of the Sicilian Dragon. White's bishop is not ideally placed on d3, but a7-a6 is not the most useful move either. Bg7 7...Nc6 8.Be3 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.b3 8...Bg7 might transpose and leaving the bishop on f8 is hardly better. 7...e5 8.Nde2 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2 Nxd4?! I hoped to develop counterplay on the queenside while not giving White targets on the kingside, but this backfires. White's bishop stands on d4 quite well after the exchange on d4. The principled reaction was 9...0-0 10.0-0-0 d5! I believe 11.Nxc6 11.h4!? Ne5!?∞ looks good for Black. 11.Kb1!? 11...bxc6 to be the critical continuation. White has a wide choice, but none of his options leads to a clear advantage. On the other hand, it is certainly NOT a kind of position which I would like to play without any preparation. 12.Bh6!? 12.Bc4 e6 13.Bb3∞ 12.e5!? Nd7 13.f4 9...Bd7 10.0-0-0 looks good for White, as a7-a6 is not that useful. 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.g4 11.0-0-0!? 11...b5?! This move increases Black's difficulties. My original idea was 11...Qa5! . I rejected it because of 12.Qe3?! , as I failed to notice that Bd4-b6 could be countered with Bg7-h6!. White also has other attractive options like 12.a3!? or 12.h4 Qb4 13.Ne2! I saw a nice motif 13.0-0-0?! Qxd4 14.Bb5+ Nd7!= . 13...Qxd2+ 14.Kxd2 12...Rc8 12...b5? 13.Bb6 Qb4 14.0-0-0! and there is no good remedy against 15.a3. In fact, 12...0-0!? 13.h4 Nd7 is also playable. Black's queen could then join the defence if needed. 12...Qb4? 13.a3! Qxb2 14.Na4 Nxg4 15.Bxb2 Nxe3 16.Bxg7+- 13.a3 0-0 14.Bb6 Bh6! (Komodo) This is the key. Black liberates his queen and maintains reasonable chances after 15.Qf2 Qe5 16.Bd4 Qa5∞ . 12.h4 Qa5 13.a3 h6 My original intention was 13...Rb8 , but 14.h5! looked threatening. Indeed, Black has big problems after Nxh5 15.b4! I was considering something like 15.gxh5? Bxd4 16.Bxb5+ axb5 17.Qxd4 , which is just double-edged. 15...Qc7 16.Bf1‼ (Komodo) Rc8 17.Ne2! (This is why the bishop did not go to e2.) Nf6 18.g5 Nh5 19.Rxh5! gxh5 20.Bxg7± . The fact that an efficient computer suggests 13...0-0 14.h5 Rfc8 is an indication that there is something wrong with Black's position. 14.0-0-0 Rb8 15.g5! Nh5 16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.gxh6 Nh5 18.Qg5! I missed this move from afar. Now Black has no counterplay. Moreover, his king, knight and e7-pawn are all poorly placed. f6! Normal moves promised nothing good. True, if I had spotted 20.Qg1! before my move, it would have taken me more time. 19.Qxg6+ Bf7 20.Qg1! b4 This is objectively wrong, but 20...Qb6!± was not an attractive option. Few people are playing Sicilian Najdorf to end up a pawn down without any compensation. 21.axb4?! This was a bit too safe. I saw 21.Qa7! 0-0 22.axb4 Qxb4 23.Kd2± , but White has various improvements, including 23.Rhg1+ Kh8 24.Qxe7! Qxb2+ 25.Kd2 Rbc8 26.Ne2! Qb4+ 27.c3 Qb2+ 28.Ke1 , when he is winning. Such lines might appear simple on the monitor, but it is much more difficult to make correct decisions at the board. 21...Qxb4 22.Kd2 Nf4 22...Rxh6 23.Qe3± 23.Qe3 Nxd3 The alternative 23...e5 24.Ra1! It is easy to miss 24.Bxa6?! d5! 25.exd5 Bg6! with black counterplay. 24...d5 25.exd5 Nxd5 26.Qe4 is rather bad for Black. 24.Qxd3?! It was stronger to play 24.Kxd3! , the point being Qc4+?! 25.Kd2 Rxb2?! 26.Rb1! Rxb1 27.Rxb1± . 24...Rxh6 Suddenly Black has some compensation. 25.Qxa6 Kf8?! The strongest move was 25...d5! I rejected it in view of 26.Qa4+ 26.exd5? Bxd5 might already be dangerous for White. 26...Qxa4 27.Nxa4 , but dxe4 27...Bh5!? 28.fxe4 Rb4 29.Nc3 Rxb2 is only marginally worse for Black, as White's pawns are rather weak. 25...Qd4+?! 26.Qd3 Qxd3+ 27.cxd3 Rxb2+ 28.Ke3± also leaves White a pawn up, but this time his position looks quite compact. I rejected 25...Qc5!? on account of 26.b3?! , missing The accurate move 26.Ra1! maintains White's advantage. 26...Rg6! . 26.Ra1! My main idea consisted in 26.Qd3?! d5! 27.exd5 Rh5 with counterplay. 26...d5 26...Rg6!? 27.Ra4! Qc5 28.exd5 Rxb2?! It is hard to get enthusiastic about 28...Bxd5! 29.Nxd5 Qxd5+ 30.Qd3 The alternative 30.Kc1!? Qxf3 31.Re1 is also favourable for White. 30...Qxd3+ 31.Kxd3 Rxb2 , but perhaps it is sometimes better to be objective. Or should one rather remain optimistic and hope for better days? Some questions are too difficult to give a universal answer. 29.Qa7! Qd6 29...Rb6 30.Rb1 f5!± was another gloomy option. 30.Qe3 It might have been more precise to play 30.Kc1! . 30...Rg6?! Black could have got a surprisingly good compensation by means of 30...Rh5! . Black can meet both 31.Kc1 and 31.Ra8+ with 31...Rb8. He regains one pawn and gets some compensation for the other one. 31.Kc1 Rb8 31.Ra8+?! 31.Kc1! was the right way to maintain White's advantage. 31...Kg7? After the game I was surprised to learn that 31...Rb8! 32.Rxb8+ Qxb8 is equal, for instance 33.h5 Rg2+ 34.Kc1 Qb4 with sufficient counterplay. I was trying to develop an attack to get a compensation. The rook swap looked counterintuitive in this respect. 32.Kc1! Qb4 The rook sacrifice on c2 does not work yet, but 33...Rg2 has already become a serious threat. Here I was left with 52 seconds for 8 moves without increment! Not having played with the "traditional" time control for about a decade, I lost the feel for time a bit. With an increment, even one minute is not that little, but here... It also mattered that I got surprised early in the opening, soon got into problems and had to choose between various inferious positions, which is usually not easy. 33.Ra4? "Natural" moves like 33.Qd2 or 33.Rh2 were winning, while 33.h5?? Rg2 34.h6+ Kh7 would have turned the tables and 33.Ra2? Rxa2 34.Nxa2 Qa5 would have blown White's advantage. 33...Rb1+! 34.Nxb1 Qxa4 I played the last two moves very quickly, unlike the next one. 35.Qxe7 It would have been great to see this move in advance. Rg2 35...Qf4+ 36.Nd2 Rg2 37.Rd1 Qd4 , threatening 38.-- Rxd2! 39.Rxd2 Qa1# , was a serious alternative. 36.Qe4 Qa7! Threatening 37... Rg1+ 38.Rxg1 Qxg1+ 39.Kb2 Qb6+ 40.Ka2 Qa5+! with a perpetual. 37.Re1! I spent almost all the remaining time on the following move, but still failed to find a good reply. Rg1? Here I was left with 6 seconds per 3 moves. I saw White's strong reply, but had to play something. 37...Qc5! gives Black a surprisingly good compensation. It is not easy to make a good move for White, now. Black should hold after 38.h5 (There is nothing better.) Bxd5 39.Qe7+ Qxe7 40.Rxe7+ Kh6 with a likely draw. Still, it is not easy to find a silent move like 37...Qc5! when being three pawns down. 38.Nc3! Qa1+ 39.Kd2 Rg2+ Three seconds! 40.Re2 40.Kd3 Qa6+ 41.Ke3! should allegedly also be winning. 41.Qc4?? Rd2+ 40...Rg1 One second! Passing the time control was my first success in this game, but it could have remained the last one. Objectively the position is winning for White, but he still needs to demonstrate it. It should not be a problem for a player of Vishy Anand's stature, but perhaps he had not been fully acclimatised or warmed up, yet. He spent about 10 minutes on the next move, but sometimes it happens that you miss something rather simple even after a long think. (Or am I speaking only for myself?) 41.Qe7? This move neutralizes the main threat (41... Qc1+ 42.Kd3 Bg6) but it allows a little combination. In post-mortem we looked at 41.h5?! , but Bxh5 42.Qe7+ Bf7± (threatening 43...Rd1+!) is not completely clear. My engine pleads for 41.Qc4! , showing lines like Bg6 42.Ke3!? Qc1+ 43.Kd4 Qf4+ 44.Kc5 Qc7+ 45.Kb4 Qb8+ 46.Qb5 Qf4+ 47.Kb3 , when White should prevail. I find this variation both pretty and bizzare. Pretty bizzare, in fact. That said, 41.Qb4! is much simpler and also good enough for a win. White remains three (passed) pawns up and Black's king is not safe, either. 41...Rd1+! I found this move almost immediately after 41.Qe7 but still spent half a minute triple-checking (sic!) the lines, as I could not believe my luck. White offered me a draw soon after my move, as the perpetual was inevitable. 41...Rd1+! 42.Nxd1 Qd4+ 43.Ke1 Qg1+ 44.Kd2 Qd4+ 45.Kc1 Qa1+= One chess enthusiast called this motif a Christmas tree. There was indeed something wrong in my timing in this game, which was played at the end of March! And not only in this one, as on the next day I ended up with less than a minute after move 31! I would like to mention that Vishy Anand showed quite an interesting idea in the opening, then he outplayed me and was on the verge of winning. I was admittedly lucky in this game, but tenacity and resourcefulness often pay off, even though mostly against less prominent opponents. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anand,V2779Navara,D2739½–½2019B72Gashimov Memorial 6th1

***

In the second example, White is worse once again.

Jakovenko-Leko, Tal Memorial 2007 - White to move:

Jakovenko is a pawn dawn. The e4-knight is taboo, as 44.Kxe4?? d2+ wins. So, what should he do? Try to block the dangerous d3-pawn and hope for the best? Well, the Russian GM found another solution.

He decided to cut the Gordian knot with 44.Bxd3!. Now after 44...Rxd3+, White has 45.Kxe4. Funnily enough, the discovered check with the rook is less dangerous as it would have been with the pawn.

Therefore, Leko played 44…Bxd3, but after 45.Ne1! it became clear that there is no one to protect the d3-bishop. White drew without problems.

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.h3 Avoiding the Marshall attack. Bb7 8...d6 9.c3 is a transposition into the classical Ruy Lopez. 9.d3 Re8 This order of moves has become popular in the last few years. Black refrains from playing d7-d6 immediately, hoping to get the d7-d5 thrust without losing a tempo. 10.Nc3 Another, an even more popular approach here is 10.a3 10...h6 Typical prophylaxis against a possible knight/bishop move to g5. 10...Bb4 played by Anand a couple of times, and by Leko himself as well, in one of the games of his match against Kramnik in Brissago. 11.Ng5 Rf8 12.a3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Na5 14.Ba2 c5 he could only have been thinking about equalizing. 15.f4 exf4 16.e5 Nd5 17.Bxd5 Qxg5 18.Bxb7 And here the opponents agreed to a draw, Kramnik-Leko, 2004. 11.a4 11.a3 Bc5 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.c3 Bc5 15.Ne3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Qf3 Bxe3 18.Bxe3 Qd6 19.Rad1 Rab8 20.d4 e4 21.Qg3 1/2-1/2 Leko,P (2763)-Adams,M (2719)/Dortmund 2005/CBM 108 11.Nd5 Na5 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Nh4 Nxb3 14.Nf5 Qe6 15.axb3 d5 16.Qf3 dxe4 17.dxe4 Kh7 18.Qg3 Rg8 19.f3 Ne8 20.Bd2 Nd6= 1/2-1/2 Anand,V (2779)-Leko,P (2749)/Morelia/ Linares 2007/CBM 117 (26) 11...b4 12.Nd5 12.Ne2 Na5 13.Ba2 Bf8 14.Ng3 d5 15.Bd2 Rb8 16.Qe2 c5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Qe4 Nc6 20.Nf5 Re6 21.Qg4 Kh8 22.Qc4 Na5 23.Qe4 Nc6 24.Qc4 Na5 25.Qe4 Nc6 1/2-1/2 Svidler,P (2750)-Leko,P (2741)/Moscow 2006/CBM 116 12...Na5 13.Nxe7+N It would have been interesting to see what Leko prepared after 13.Ba2, the move that Svidler beat Leko with. 13.Ba2 Bc5 14.Bd2! Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Qf6? Interesting is 16...c6 17.Rxe5 17.Nxe5?! Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Rxe5 19.Rxe5 Qf6+ 20.Qf3 Qxe5 and only White might have problems here. 17...Rxe5 18.Nxe5 Qf6 19.Nf3 cxd5 Gershon 17.c3! bxc3 18.Bxc3 Qb6 19.Rxe5! Bxf2+ 20.Kh1± 1-0 Svidler,P (2738)-Leko,P (2763)/San Luis 2005/CBM 110 (31) 13...Rxe7 It was also possible to recapture with the queen. 13...Qxe7 14.Ba2 d5 15.exd5 Qd6 16.Nh4 b3! 17.cxb3 Bxd5 18.Bd2 Nc6 19.Nf5 Qd7 with good compensation for the pawn. 14.Ba2 d5 The point of black's opening strategy. 15.Nh4!? A standart knight move, but this time it is connected with some sacrifices. White can't win the Pe5: 15.exd5?! Bxd5 16.Nxe5 Bxa2 17.Rxa2 Qd5 15...dxe4 16.Nf5 Rd7 17.Re3! 17.Bxh6? gxh6 18.Qd2 Qf8 19.Nxh6+ Kh7 20.Nxf7 Rxf7 21.Bxf7 Qxf7 22.Qxb4 Rg8! and Black's counterattack is crushing. 17...b3! Both players had a lot to calculate in this position. 17...exd3 18.cxd3 18.Rg3? d2 19.Rxg7+ Kh8 20.Bxd2 Rxd2 21.Qe1 Ne4 22.Bxf7 Rxf2 23.Bg6 Rxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Qg5+ 25.Kh2 Qf4+ 26.Kg1 Ng5-+ 18...Be4 18...b3 19.Bxb3 Be4 20.Nxh6+ gxh6 21.Rg3+ Kf8 22.Bxh6+ Ke8 23.Bc2 19.Rxe4 Nxe4 20.Qg4 Ng5 21.h4 b3 22.hxg5 h5 23.Qe2 bxa2 24.Qxe5 Qf8 25.Qxa5 18.Rg3 White's threats are dangerous, Leko has to be careful. g6 18...bxa2? 19.Rxg7+ Kh8 19...Kf8 20.Qd2 20.Bxh6 20...Ng8 21.Qxa5 Qf6 22.Qb4++- 20.Bxh6 20.Qd2? Ng8 21.Qxa5 Qf6-+ 19.Nxh6+ Kg7 20.Nf5+ Kg8?! Leko didn't take the risk of playing for a win by 20...Kf8; he passes the decision about the repetition of moves to Jakovenko. 20...Kf8 21.Qd2 21.Bh6+ Kg8 22.cxb3 Rxd3 23.Qe2 Nh5 21...gxf5 22.Qxa5 22.Qh6+? Ke7 23.Bg5 Qh8-+ 22...bxa2 23.Qxe5 23.Bh6+ Ke8 24.Qxe5+ Qe7 23...Qe7 24.Qxf5 Rd5 25.Qf4 Ke8 21.Nh6+ Kg7 22.Nf5+ Kg8 23.cxb3! Correctly continuing the fight! Rxd3 24.Rxd3 Qxd3 25.Ne7+ 25.Bg5 Qxd1+ 26.Rxd1 gxf5 27.Bxf6 Nc6 28.b4 Nxb4 29.Bc4 25...Kg7 26.Qd2! Qxd2 27.Bxd2 Re8 28.Nxg6? Jakovenko got tempted to grab the pawn and lost all the benefits of his position. It was better to make a somewhat unhuman move 28.Bb4! followed by Ra1-c1 with initiative for White. 28...Nc6 29.Nh4 Nd4 Black's knight has occupied a dominant outpost in the centre, while its white counterpart is poorly placed on the side of the board. Black is at least not worse. 30.Be3 Bc8 31.Rd1 31.Kh2?! Rh8 32.g3 Nf3+ 33.Nxf3 exf3 31...Rh8 32.Bxd4 exd4 33.g3 Rd8 34.b4 Bxh3?! Probably Leko should not be in a hurry to regain the pawn. 34...d3 35.Bc4 Nd5 Despite being a pawn down, Black is better thanks to strong central pawns and White's misplaced knight. 35.Bc4 Bg4 36.f3! exf3 37.Rd3 Now, White's knight will come back into the game. Still, White is clearly on the defensive. f2+ 38.Kxf2 c5 39.Nf3 39.bxc5? Ne4+ 40.Kf1 Nxc5 39...Bf5 39...Ne4+ 40.Kg2 Rb8 41.Rb3 Bxf3+ 42.Rxf3 Rxb4 42...Nd2 43.Rxf7+ Kg6 44.Bd5 Rxb4 45.b3 Nxb3 46.Rc7= 43.b3 Ng5 44.Rf5= 40.Rd1 Bc2 41.Rc1 Ne4+ 42.Ke2 d3+ 43.Ke3 cxb4 44.Bxd3!       This little combination makes White's defensive task easier. Bxd3 44...Rxd3+ 45.Kxe4 Rc3+ 46.Kd4 Rxf3 47.Rxc2 Rxg3 48.Kc5 b3 49.Rf2= 45.Ne1 Bf1 45...Nxg3 46.Nxd3 Nf5+ 47.Ke4 Kf6 48.Rc6+ Kg5 49.Nc5 White's activity is sufficient to hold the balance. 46.Kxe4 Rd2 47.Rb1 Bc4 48.b3 Be6 49.Ke3 Rd8 50.Rb2 Rc8 51.a5 Bf5 52.g4 Re8+ 53.Kf4 Rxe1 54.gxf5 Jakovenko defended very well through the last 20 moves. The rook endgame which has arisen is completely equal. Ra1 55.Rg2+ Kf8 56.Rc2 Rxa5 57.f6 Kg8 58.Rg2+ Kf8 59.Rc2 Ke8 60.Re2+ Kf8 61.Ke4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Jakovenko,D2710Leko,P2755½–½2007C88Moscow Tal Memorial 2nd5

***

Sometimes even the best miss little combinations.

Kramnik-Krasenkow, Corus Wijk aan Zee 2003 - White to move:

In this symmetrical queenless middlegame, White's pieces are a bit more active. Can he turn this advantage into something more tangible?

Kramnik did not find the correct solution. He played 15.Nd3, keeping a tangible positional advantage. To be fair, we must admit that he later won anyway.

However, much simpler was to gain material at once with 15.Nxf7 Rxf7 16.Rxe7! (My guess is that Kramnik missed this move. After the exchange sacrifice, Black is deprived of the …Ne7-d5 defensive resource.) 16…Bxe7 17.Ne5, earning a healthy pawn.

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1.e4       Kramnik nowadays regularly plays 1.e4. Is this a deception before his match against Leko?! e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 Open Ruy Lopez? No, thanks... 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.Bb3 0-0 6...Ba7 7.Nbd2 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.Nf1 d5 - Y.Gonzales-F.Gomez, CUB-ch Holguin City 2002 CBM 89 7.0-0 7.Nbd2 can also be met by the push in the [+]. d5 8.Qe2 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Ne4 Ba7 10.0-0 - 7.0-0 8...Be6 9.0-0 9.h3 Nh5 10.Nf1 h6 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.d4 Nf6 13.dxe5 Nxe4 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Re8= Rybak-Jaracz, POL-ch (Women) 1994 9...Re8 10.Re1 h6 11.h3 Qd7 12.Nf1 dxe4 This exchange followed by the occupation of the d <-> equalizes easily. 13.dxe4 Bxb3 14.axb3 Rad8 15.b4 Ba7 16.Ng3 Qd3= Zaichik-A.Ivanov, World op Philadelphia 2000 7...d5 8.exd5 8.Nbd2 Ba7 9.h3 9.exd5 Nxd5 - 8.exd5 9.Re1 Re8 10.exd5 - 8.ed 9...Re8 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 Qe7 11.Nh2 Be6 12.Qf3 Bxb3 13.axb3 Rad8 14.Nc4 White has some pressure on the light squares, especially on f5, but the d <-> is in Black's hands. h6 15.Re1 Qe6 16.Nf1 Rd7 17.Ng3 Rfd8 18.Nf5 Rd3 19.Qe2 Kh7 20.Rf1 b5 21.Nce3 Bxe3 22.Bxe3 R3d7 1/2:1/2 Beshukov-J.Geller, Krasnodar 2001 10.Re1 h6 11.Qe2 dxe4 12.dxe4 Nh5 13.Nf1 Qf6 14.N3h2 Nf4 15.Qf3 Ne7 /\ Neg6 16.Be3 Neg6 17.Bxa7 Rxa7 18.Ne3 Nh4 19.Qg3 c6∞ Varini-Mikac, Portoroz op 1997 8...Nxd5 9.h3 against Bg4. 9.Nxe5 is harmless. Bxf2+ 10.Rxf2 Nxe5 11.Qh5 Nxd3 12.Rxf7 Be6 13.Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.Be3 Nxe3 15.Bxe6+ Kh8 16.Qe2 Qf4 17.Nd2 Rd8 18.Nf3 c5 19.b3 h6= Lakos-Jaracz, EU-ch U20 Girls 1995 9.Nbd2 Ba7 9...Bg4!? is the real question. 10.h3 Bh5 11.Ne4 Ba7 12.Re1 f6 /\ Bf7 neutralizing the pressure on the a2-g8 /^. 12...Bg6 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Bf7 15.Qd2 Qe7!? 15...h6 16.d4 f5 17.Nc5 e4 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Ne7 (Svidler-Ernst, Peer Gynt Gausdal 1991) 20.Bxf7+ Rxf7 20...Kxf7 21.e6+ 21.Nd7 10.Nc4 10.Re1 Nf4!? looks crisper. 10...Re8 11.Nc4 - 10.Nc4 11.d4 again allows the pin by Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Nf1 e4 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Nh2 Qd6 16.Ng4 Nf4 17.Bxf4 Qxf4 18.Ne3 Na5 /\ c5 freeing the passive B. 19.Bc2 c5 20.d5 Rad8 21.Qg4 Qxg4 22.hxg4 b5 23.Rad1 Bb8 24.Nef5 Bxg3 25.Nxg3 Nc4= Dolmatov-Salov, SU-FL Irkutsk 1986 10.Ne4 Kh8 11.h3 h6 12.Ng3 Be6 13.Re1 Qd6 14.Nh4 14.Qe2 Rfe8 14...Rad8 15.Qf3 (Tkachiev-A.Ivanov, New York op 1995) Nde7= fighting for >< f5 and targeting >< d3. 10...f6 10...Re8 11.Re1 11.Ng5 h6 11...f6!? 11...Bg4?! 12.h3 Bh5 is simply met by 13.g4 and >< e5 falls. Bg6 14.Ncxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5± 11...Qf6?! runs into 12.d4! e4 12...Bg4 13.Ncxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Rxe5 16.Rxe5 Qxe5 17.Bd2± 13.Ncd2 Bf5 14.Bxd5 exf3 15.Bxf3± with a clear P up for White, Svidler-Steingrimsson, Gausdal Int 1991. 12.d4 This is now stronger than before because of the pin on the e <->. exd4 12...e4 13.Nfd2 f5 14.Ne3 Nce7 15.f3± successfully blowing up Black's [+], Gerthold-Zoebish, AUT 1998. 13.Nd6! 13.Rxe8+ Qxe8 13...cxd6 14.Bxd5+ Kh8 11.d4 11.Ne3 Be6= 11.Be3!? Be6 11...Nxe3 12.fxe3 Kh8 12...Be6 13.Ncxe5 Bxe3+ 14.Kh1 13.d4 Now Black has problems with his entombbed B on a7. Bg4 14.Qe1 e4 15.Nfd2 15.Nh4 Ne7! 15...Qd7 16.Qf2 Berzinsh-Jirka, Friendship 2001 15...b5 16.Na3 f5 17.Qg3 Qd7 18.Bd1 Bxd1 19.Raxd1 and the d4 P in the [+] keeps the black pieces passive. 12.Bxa7 Rxa7 13.Ne3 Kh8= 11...exd4 12.Re1!? 12.cxd4 Be6 Black can blockade the isolani on d5. 13.Re1 Bf7 14.Ne3 Nce7= Belmonte-Bulgarini, Santiago 1994 9...Nb6?! The N is usually badly placed here. 9...Ba7 10.Re1 Be6 10...Re8 is again met by the standard plan 11.d4! e4 12.Ng5 Bf5 12...e3 13.Bxe3 Rxe3 14.Rxe3 Nxe3 15.Qh5+- 13.Nxf7! (Felgaer-Jirka, Yerevan 2000) Qd7 13...Kxf7 14.Qh5++- 14.Qh5!± 10...Qd6 11.Nbd2 11.Qe2 Bf5!?∞ 11...Nf4 12.Nc4 12.Ne4 Qxd3 12...Qxd3 12...Qg6 13.Bxf4 exf4 14.Nce5± 13.Bxf4 Qxd1 14.Raxd1 exf4 15.Nce5 and White has a lead of development. Nxe5 16.Nxe5 16.Rxe5 16...Bf5 17.Nxf7 Rxf7 18.Re7 Bg6 19.Rdd7 Raf8 20.Rxc7 11.Qe2!? 11.Ng5 Bf5 12.Qf3 Nde7∞ 11...Re8 11...f6 12.d4 12.Ng5 10.Re1! 10.Ng5 Bf5 11.Ne4 Be7∞ 10...h6 10...a5!? /\ a4 is met by 11.a4 securing the a2-g8 /^ for the B. 11.Nbd2 a4 12.Bc2 Re8 11.Nbd2 ≤11.Nxe5 is always answered by Bxf2+! 12.Kxf2 Nxe5 13.d4 Qh4+ 14.Kf1 14.Kg1 Nd3 14...Ng6 15.Qf3 Be6! 16.Re4 16.Qxb7 Rae8 16...Qd8= 11...Qxd3 12.Nxe5 Qg3 13.Qf3 Qxf3 14.Ndxf3 White has now serious threats against >< f7. Ne7?!
TUTO 14...Nxe5 was the lesser evil, although after 15.Nxe5 Bd6 16.Ng6 Rd8 17.Ne7+ Kf8 18.Nxc8 Raxc8 19.Be3 White has a strong ^^ in an open position. 15.Nd3 missing the "small combination a la Capablanca" 15.Nxf7! Rxf7 16.Rxe7! 16.Ne5? Bxf2+ 17.Kf1 Ned5 18.Re2 18.Nxf7 Bxe1 18...Bc5+-+ 16...Bxe7 17.Ne5± winning a P. 15...Bd6 16.Bf4 Ng6 By this way Black can finish his development, but the weakness of d6 remains a long-lasting one. 17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Re4 /\ Rd4 18.Nb4 activating the N was the alternative. a5 19.Nd5± 18...a5 18...Bf5 19.Rb4± 19.Rd4 Rd8 20.Rd1 d5 20...a4 21.Bc2 a3 22.b3± 21.Nc5± Ne7 22.a4 Re8 23.R4d2 Nd7 23...Nc4 24.Bxc4 dxc4 Black has changed the P structure, but now the penetration on the d <-> is nasty. 25.Rd8 Bf5 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Nxb7+- 24.Nxd7 Bxd7 25.c4!? White usually fights against the isolated P not exchanging it, but this activates the white pieces dramatically. 25.Re1 Kf8 26.Nd4± looks more thematic, although >< a4 may pose some problems for White. 25...dxc4 26.Rxd7 cxb3 27.Rxb7 Rab8 28.Rdd7 The penetration on the 7-th rank wins a P at least. Nc6 28...Rxb7 29.Rxb7± 29.Rxf7 Rxb7 30.Rxb7 Re4 31.Rxb3 Rxa4 If Black can exchange the pawns on the <<, the _|_ is drawish. 32.Rb6 Rc4 33.g3 33.b3 Rc2 34.Kh2 Rc3 35.Rb7 33...a4 34.h4 Nd4 35.Ne5 35.Kg2 Nxf3 36.Kxf3 35...Rc5 36.Rb8+ Kh7 37.Nd7 Rb5 38.Ra8 Ne2+ 39.Kg2 Rxb2 40.h5 Even in endgames there are chances for a mating ->! 40.Rxa4 Nc3 41.Ra7 Nd1 40...Nc3 41.Ne5 /\ Ng6 and mate! Rb5 42.f4 Ne4 42...Rd5 43.g4 /\ Ng6 43.g4! White concentrates only to the >>. 43.Ng6 allows Black to sacrifice the exchange. Rxh5 44.g4 Kxg6 45.gxh5+ Kxh5 46.Rxa4 Nd6 46...Nf6 47.Kf3 Kg6 48.Ra5 47.Kf3 43...Nf6 43...Rb2+ 44.Kf3 44.Ng6+- Ng8 The N is now more or less paralyzed. 45.Nf8+ Kh8 46.Ng6+ Kh7 47.Kf3 Rb3+ 48.Ke4 a3 49.Nf8+ Kh8 50.Ng6+ Kh7 51.g5! hxg5 52.fxg5 Rb4+ 53.Kf5 Rb5+ 54.Kg4 Rb4+ 55.Kf5 Rb5+ 56.Kg4 Rb4+ 57.Nf4 a2 58.Rxa2 Ne7 59.Ra8 Ng8 and the N has to return again! 60.Ra7 Kh8 61.Ra8 Kh7 62.Rf8 Kh8 63.Kf3 Rb3+ 64.Ke4 Rb4+ 65.Ke5 Rb5+ 66.Nd5 Ra5 67.Rd8 Kh7 68.g6+ Kh8 69.h6! Ra7 70.Ne3 gxh6 71.Nf5 Total domination! Ra5+ 72.Kf4 Ra4+ 73.Kf3 Ra3+ 74.Kg4 Ra4+ 75.Kh5 Ra7 76.Rf8 Rb7 77.Kh4 Rb4+ 78.Kg3 Rb6 79.Ne7 Kg7 80.Rf7+ and mate! 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kramnik,V2807Krasenkow,M26331–02003C54Corus4

***

Sometimes a little tactic helps a player to achieve his strategical goals.

Aronian-Miroshnichenko, European Championship Antalya 2004 - White to move:

White is undoubtedly better. His army is well-organized, and he controls the centre. Black's only chance to hold equality is to block the d5-pawn, putting a piece on the dark d6-square.

Of course, Aronian wanted to avoid this scenario. And he found a simple yet beautiful resource. White played 27.d6!, opening the centre. The tactical justification is obvious. After 27…Qxd6 28.Nf5+ Bxf5 29.Qxd6 exd6 White can take the unprotected rook with 30.Rxe8.

Aronian won a nice game.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c6 13.Re1 Rc8 14.Rb1 Very modest move, that tries to sidestep all possible problems along the a1-h8 diagonal. 14.Bf4 cxd5 15.exd5 Nac4 15...Nbc4 16.b3 Nb2 17.Qd2 Nac4 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qd3 Nb2 20.Qd2 20.Qe3! Nc4 21.Qe4 f5 22.Qd3 Nb2 23.Qd2 Nc4 24.Qd1 Nb2 25.Qb3 Bxd4 26.d6+ e6 27.Nd5!? 27.Nb5 Bxb5 28.Qxb5 Rc5 29.Qb3 Qd7∞ 27...Ba4 28.Qxb7 Rb8 28...Nd3 29.Ne7+ Rxe7 30.dxe7 Qe8 29.Ne7+ Kf7 30.Qf3± 20...Nc4 21.Qd3 Nb2 22.Qd2 1/2-1/2 Banusz, T-Boros,D/Budapest 2003/(22) 16.b3 Nd6 16...Bg4 17.Qxg4 Bxd4 18.Rac1 Nd6 19.Bd2 Bf6 20.h4 Qd7 21.Qb4 Nf5 22.Ne4 Nxd5 23.Nxf6+ Nxf6 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Bg5 b6 25...Nd5!? 26.Qa5 b5= 26.g4 Nd4 27.Qxe7 Qxe7 28.Rxe7± 1-0 Miton,K-Bobras,P/Lubniewice 2003/ (46) 17.Qd2 Na8 17...Bf5 18.a4 a6 19.Rac1 Qd7 20.h4 Bh3 21.Bh1 h5 22.Kh2 Bg4 23.Bg2 Nf5 24.Nxf5 Bxf5 25.d6 exd6 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.a5 Nc8 28.Nd5 Kf8 29.Bh6 1-0 Miton,K-Kempinski,R/ Warsaw 2003/ (36) 17...Nf5 18.Nde2 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Qxd8 Rexd8 21.Rac1 Rd7 22.Ne4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Nd4 24.Nxd4 Bxd4 25.Bb8 a5 26.Ba7 1-0 Filippov,V-Nedev,T/Istanbul 2003/ (54) 18.Rad1 18.Be5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qa5 20.Re3 Nc7 21.a4 Na6 22.Rae1 Qb4 0-1 Tkachiev,V-Ye Jiangchuan/Shanghai 2001/ (48) 18...Qa5 19.Ne4 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 Nc7 21.Bxd6 exd6 22.Rf1 Bb5 23.Nxd6 Bxf1 24.Bxf1 Nxd5 25.Nxc8 Rxc8 26.Nf5 gxf5 27.Rxd5 1-0 Rogozenko, D-Ftacnik,L/Hamburg 2004/ (62) 14...cxd5 15.exd5 Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 16...Na3 17.Bxa3 Rxc3 18.Bb2 Rc8 19.Rc1 17.Bb2 Na8 17...Nf5 18.Nxf5 Bxf5 19.Rc1 Bh6 20.f4 Bg7= 18.Nce2 Qa5 19.a4 Nc7 19...Nb6?! 20.Bc3! Qc5 20...Rxc3 21.b4 Qxa4 22.Nxc3 Qxd1 23.Rexd1 Rc8 24.Nce2 21.Rc1 Bg4 22.Qd2 Bxe2 23.Rxe2 Bxd4 24.Bb2 Bxb2 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Qxb2± 20.Bc3 Qb6 21.Qd2 Nf5 Black can not fully equalize with advance of the e pawn, since white bishop on g2 would become too strong. 21...e5 22.dxe6 Nxe6 23.a5 Qd8 24.Nxe6 Bxc3 24...Bxe6 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Nd4 25.Nxc3 Bxe6 26.Nd5 22.Nxf5 Bxf5 23.Bxg7 23.Rbc1 Bxc3 23...Qxb3? 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Nd4 Qxa4 26.Nxf5+ gxf5 27.d6 exd6 28.Rxe8 Qxe8 29.Bxb7+- 24.Rxc3 Rcd8= 23...Kxg7?! Aronian was conciously taking a big risk, since tempting 23...Bxb1!? looks like a good move. 23...Bxb1!? 24.Be5 24.Bb2 Bf5 25.a5 Qd6 26.Qd4 f6 27.Qxa7 Qb4 24...Bf5 24...Qxb3 25.Nd4 Qd3 26.Qh6 f6 27.Bf1 Qa3 28.Bxc7+- 25.Nd4 Bd7 26.a5 Qa6 24.Rbc1 Na6? 24...Qxb3? 25.Nd4+- 24...e5 25.d6 Red8 26.a5 Qa6 27.Qe3 Qxd6 28.Qxa7 25.Nd4 Bd7 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 26...Rxc8 27.Rxe7 Qd6 28.Qe3 Nb4 29.Ne6+ Kg8 30.Nf4± 27.d6‼       A true bold from the blue, black pieces are passive and badly coordinated. Qd8 27...Qxd6 28.Nf5+ Bxf5 29.Qxd6 exd6 30.Rxe8± 27...e5 28.Nb5 Bd7 29.Qe3! Qxe3 30.Rxe3± 28.Nb5 f6 28...Kg8 29.b4 exd6 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Nxd6 Qd8 32.Bd5 Be6 33.Bxb7± 29.Nxa7 exd6 30.Nxc8 Qxc8 30...Rxe1+ 31.Qxe1 Qxc8 32.Qe7+ Kh6 33.Bxb7 Qc1+ 34.Kg2+- 31.Rxe8 Qxe8 32.Qxd6 White is winning, since extra pawn and misserable location of the knight a6 give him massive advantage. Qe1+ 33.Bf1 Qb4 33...Nb4 34.Qd7+ Kh6 35.Qxb7+- 34.Qd7+ Kh6 34...Kh8 35.Qf7 Qd6 36.Bc4 Qd8 37.Qxb7+- 35.Qf7 f5 35...Qb6 36.Qf8+ Kh5 37.Qg7+- 36.h4 Nb8 37.Qc4 Nc6 37...Qxc4 38.Bxc4 g5 39.hxg5+ Kxg5 40.Bd5 b6 41.b4+- 38.Qxb4 Nxb4 39.a5 Nc6 39...Kg7 40.Bg2+- 40.b4! Fine small combination in the endgame. Black will be left with position that is impossible to hold. 40.a6 bxa6 41.Bxa6 Kg7 42.Bc4± 40...Nxb4 41.Bg2 b6 41...Nc6? 42.Bxc6 bxc6 43.a6+- 42.axb6 Kg7 43.Bf1 Nc6 43...Kf6? 44.Bb5 Ke7 45.b7+- 44.Bb5 Nd8 45.Bc4 Nc6 45...Kf6 46.Bd5 Ke5 47.b7+- 46.f4 Kf6 47.b7 h6 48.Kf2 g5 49.Bb5 Nb8 50.hxg5+ hxg5 51.Ke3 gxf4+ 52.Kxf4 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2645Miroshnichenko,E25991–02004D76EU-ch 5th5

***

Grandmasters calculate at almost every moment of the game. Their brains (often subconsciously) scan for hidden tactical possibilities, tricks and traps. If you want to improve your game, you should try to do the same.

In almost every position there are more tactics than expected. It is up to the player to find the hidden chances.

In this video course, kings will play a role of strong and active pieces. We will explore how Kings can be helpful in defence and prophylaxis, or even in attack!

Links

Jan Markos is a Slovakian chess author, trainer, and grandmaster. His book Under the Surface was the English Chess Federation´s 2018 Book of the Year. His last book, The Secret Ingredient, co-authored with David Navara, focuses on the practical aspects of play, e.g. time-management over the board, how to prepare against a specific opponent, or how to use chess engines during the training process. Markos was the U16 European Champion twenty years ago. At present he helps his pupils from several countries to achieve similar successes. Apart from focusing on the royal game, he is also the author of several non-chess books, focused on critical thinking, moral dilemmas, and phenomenology.
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