Contents Introduction. Compilation of technical terms used in the book Part 1: Thedouble attack. 11 The interrelations between strategy and tactics 11 Three stages of attack. 14 Methods of defence . 18 The second assault wave 24 An excursion into the past 26 The fork . 29 The discovered check . 32 The double check .. 37 The two-fold attack on a defended piece 39 The two-fold attack on tWO targets 42 The two-fold attack in conjunction with a pin .. 46 The mutual two-fold attack 50 The double attack . 54 Defence against the double attack 57 Forcing the double attack. 64 1. The attack 64 2. Zugzwang 67 3. The exchange . 69 The sacrifice . 70 Decoy attack 77 The two-fold double attack. 80 Particulary strong moves 85 The double attack in the opening .. 93 The double attack in the end-game 99 Studies of double attacks 109 Sample games 117 Summarizing remarks on the double attack 133 Exercises for independent study 137 Solutions 151 Part 2: The combination 157 Co-ordination of piece moves 157 The mechanism of the mating attack. 164 Individual COntacts 171 1.The attacking contact 172 2.The restricting contact, . 172 3.The queening threat . 172 4.The protective contact . 174 5.The interposing contact . 174 6. Refuting the queening threat 174 The co�ordinated attack 178 1.The cornered king . 179 2.The king on the edge 182 Contacts and combinations in the double attack . 188 1. One piece attacks or threatens to attack two objects . 189 2. Two pieces attack or threaten to attack an object 193 3.Two pieces attack tWO objects . 195 Contacts and combinations with passed pawns 199 What is a combination? .. · 206 Various means of applying force . · 212 1.The attack 212 2.The threat · . 215 3. The exchange · . 217 4.Zugzwang · 219 Kinds of sacrifice . · 221 chissification of combinations 230 Winning combinations · 235 1.Combinations against the king · 235 2. Combinations against pieces and pawns · 238 3.Queening combinations. · 239 Drawing combinations · 240 1.Perpetual check · . 241 2.The stalemate · . 242 3.The-blockade .. · . 245 4. Perpetual pursuit . · 247 5. Building fortifications . · . 249 6.Balance of forces leading to a draw . · . 253 The attack on the king · 255 The importance of concrete calculation of variants · 262 Sample games · 268 Exercises for home study . · 305 Solutions .. · 318 Index of names · 323 Index of games · 326 Introduction have enhanced the strategy of the middle game, because many differ­ ent types of middle game positions, which are characterized by a gen­ eral plan or a general strategy, have been analysed extensively and in depth.Tactics, on the other hand) We are witnessing at present an un­ are dominated by chiefly a matter dreamt-of upswing in the evolution sizing up a concrete situation, of the theory of chess in general and which makes it difficult to arrive at of the theory of openings in particu­ generalizations. lar.Each year, fresh tomes devoted Of course no one can maintain that to the study of various opening the theory of tactics has been mark­ games or particular opening sys­ ing time.Attempts are made to clas­ tems or even opening variants ap­ sify combinations and work out pear on the book shelves.Nowa­ ways of facilitating the calculation days the analyses of some openings of intricate combinations.And yet continue deep into the middle game on the whole the development of and even extend to the end-game. the theory of the middle game lags Not quite so explicit, but still very perceptibly behind the other two thorough is the study of the end­ phases of the game. games.Dozens of positions, which The explanation commonly given is were once blank spots on the map that the middle. game is the most in­ of the end-game, have been ana­ volved and \lifficult phase of the lysed in detail, assessed and in­ game.It is by no means easy to un­ cluded in textbooks on the end­ derstand it and its laws. That is pre­ game. cisely why the middle game-more Turning to the theory of the middle than any other phase-calls for a game we find that the progress circumspect approach, for easily made here is by no means as impres­ comprehensible principles and for a sive, the development of this phase gradual transition from the simple being characterized mainly by a to the complex. rapid growth in the volume of data. Anyone who has taken an interest Books on the middle game usually in engineering knows that one must contain hundreds of positions, but first familiarize oneself with the de­ unlike their predecessors) the prog­ tails of a machine before trying to ress made here is reflected chiefly understand how it works. And yet it by an inreasing number ofexamples is in the study of the middle game rather than by a more profound un­ that the basic principle of pegagog­ derstanding of this fascinating ics-the necessity of proceeding phase of the game. But the search from the simple to the complex-is for new opening systems and their constantly being violated. elaborati0n by chess practitioners As a rule one begins learning the middle game and chess tactics by Of the combina�ion it may be said trying out combinations. Unques­ with perfect truth that everybody is tionably, this is one of the most fas­ fascinated by It, that everybody un­ cinating and exciting aspects of derstands what it is, but that no­ chess. The mechanics of even the body seems to be able to give an ex­ most elementary combination are act definition of the term. extremely complex. It is advisable to The present book is an attempt to familiarize oneself thoroughly rescue the theoretical discussion with its elements before studying from this impasse. We have endeav­ the combination.When chess wri­ oured to establish a theoretical basis ters describe chess combinations that would enable us to pursue they usually stress the aesthetic and our study of the extremely diverse emotional aspects, namely the sacri� tactical manifestations. fice, the surprise effect and thCipar­ We have started by examining the adoxical element of the game.I most common and elementary situ­ Without a doubt these aspects �re ations arising from confrontations also important, because they bring between isolated pieces and con­ out the fascinating side of the game. sider possible methods of attack But it is even more important to un­ and defence. Then we gradually ravel the mystery of the complex proceed to examine the more com­ mechanics of the combination and plex facets of the game, making to show its main elements and how sure to preserve continuity by delv­ they function. ing deeper into positions that have And still the attempts made so far to already been analysed.We soon explain the combination mechanism reach the point at which we can ex­ have not yielded more than'a hand­ amine positions involving double ful of general and not very conclu­ attacks.If we regard the term sive concepts, such as harmony of "double attack" in a broader sense the pieces Or the concerted use of than has been done up to now by forces. Besides, the debate about theoreticians, namely nOt merely as what the term "combination" means a two-pronged attack, but as a com­ is still continuing.Different authors bination of attacks and threats, we have interpreted the term in differ­ notice that the double attack in one ent ways. The reader will recall that form or another is the basis of most a discussion launched by the Soviet intricate tactical operations. journal "Shakhmaty v SSSR" on the Considerable space is devoted to topic "What is a combination?" this topic to convince the student of failed to produce a good answer, al­ the truth of this Statement. We soon though it took up a good deal of realize that the double attack is a space in the periodical. very effective device not only for at­ But how is one to classifyand study tacking but also for defending one's combinations if there is no consen­ position. sus about the meaning of the term? The author is convinced that this 6 approach makes it easier to find kinds of combination of chessmen one's way through the mare of tac­ and squares on the board must be tical entanglements and provides a preceded by various contacts be­ key to understanding the problems tween them.And it is precisely these of the tactical game. combinations aimed at specific tar� The next important step is to find gets that form the basis for develop­ out the meaning hidden behind ing combinative possibilities. We such mysterious terms as "harmony believe that we can proceed, with of pieces" or" co·ordinated use of good prospects of success, not only forces".Our aim here is to uncover to acquainting the reader with the the meaning and the essence of each various combinations occurring in term. chess, but also to showing him how This enables us to introduce the to recognize them in their incipient term "elementary connections" stages and how to prepare them af­ which we have coined. We discover ter making a detailed study of the that any tactical operation no mat­ theory of contacts and their combi� ter how complex, can be described nations. in terms of different combinations In this work we have also been able of contacts.We soon realize that to answer a fundamental question the concerted use of forces boils that has occupied the minds of chess down to the co-ordinated use of theoreticians for many years, combinations of contacts, i.e.