Tactics · Learn
Combinations
A combination is a forced sequence: usually launched by a sacrifice: that ends in a concrete gain: mate or decisive material. It ties together the motifs you've drilled: a deflection sets up a fork, a clearance enables a mate.
How to spot it: when you sense the position is ripe (an exposed king, an overloaded defender, a loose piece), calculate the most forcing line to the end. Combinations reward the player who checks every check and capture.
How to spot it: when you sense the position is ripe (an exposed king, an overloaded defender, a loose piece), calculate the most forcing line to the end. Combinations reward the player who checks every check and capture.
Now spot it yourself
A real position: find the move. This is exactly what the drills in the app do, banded from beginner to expert.
How this lesson is made: this public explanation comes from the authored Strong Squares curriculum. Automated checks protect its chess data, source fields and learning flow. Independent chess-editor approval remains part of the private-preview release process. Read the teaching method.