In the game of
chess, the term
combination refers to a
calculated series of moves, involving the interaction of several
pieces, usually leading to a significant
material change. The involvement of the pieces is active, and may take the form of capturing or threatening to capture an opponent's piece or pieces. Some pieces may also participate in a combination by interposing themselves on a
line of attack, or
discovering an attack by other pieces. When a combination occurs, it generally manifests itself as a
forceful series of moves, and blood is usually drawn.
The combination falls within the realm of tactics, just as position play falls within the realm of strategy. But when a master plays there is an intimate relationship between the two, neither of which exists independant of the other. Proper understanding of combination play, and an ability to calculate combinations, is neccessary to an understanding of the nature of position play. Conversely, no combination is valid that does not arise from positional considerations. A queen sacrifice leading to mate can not be achieved unless the sacrifice is justified by the position, and the player who has a better understanding of position play is most likely to achieve the sort of advantage that can lead to such winning combinations.
Emanuel Lasker in his famous Manual of Chess, described how a combination arises from a the position, as follows:
"In his analysis of the position the Chess-player
has to see through the maze of variants in order
to ascertain whether on not by forceful moves the
game may be brought at once to a conclusion. He
makes these investigations often, he makes them
always when the hostile forces have approached
each other for mortal combat. Otherwise, he might
let slip a favourable opportunity or fail in
vigilance and lose thereby in a moment of inattention
what he has gained in an hour of concentration."
Not every imagined sequence of moves that goes into the calculation of a combination will materialize on the board. In fact, most variations, and potential combinations, occur only within the mind of the player. Again, from Lasker's Manual of Chess:
"Nevertheless, ordinarily his work is merely
prophylactic. Ordinarily, his labor remains a mere
attempt, his investigation is ordinarily not made
visible by his deed. The move that he chooses
reflects none of his preparatory work because it
is seldom that the net of variants contains a
satisfactory solution."
Only occasionally does the player's investigation lead to a
brilliant and
decisive idea that can be demonstrated over the board.
Lasker again:
"In the rare instances that the player can detect
a variation or net of them which leads to a
desirable issue by force, the totality of these
variations and their logical connections, their
structure, are named a 'combination.' And he who
follows in his play such a chain of moves is said
to 'make a combination.'"