Let’s have a look at the next diagram taken from a real game played in 2007. It is White’s turn to move.

   

Before reading further try to figure this out by yourself.

Looking at the candidate move 9.Nxe5 we have to conclude that we only have gained a pawn. The king is defending f7. This prevents the knight fork 10.Nxf7 attacking both the queen as well as the rook. More important: It is now Black’s turn to move and he can prevent our plan by playing 9…Qxd1.

Let’s have a look at the candidate move 9.Qxd8+. This move has to be followed by 9…Kxd8. After 10.Nxe5 it seems that Black is still able to defend f7 by 10…Be6, but after 11.Bxe6 fxe6 we can play a succesfull 12.Nf7+.
After 10…Ke8 the line 11.Nxf7 Rf8 12.Ng5 is interesting, and we have to look at the possible knight fork at c7 after a move like Nb5.

Try to find this kind of combinations in your own games. If a combination doesn’t seem to work try to rearrange the order of the moves.

The next lesson is about the Evergreen Game.

Original 4 Responses on CTL to “Finding combinations”

1. 
   THOMAS
   November 23rd, 2009 at 5:28 pm
   Whats preventing the knight fork 10.Nxf7 when white has support from the c4 knight? Also how is 12.Nf7+ possible when the king never moved?
2. 
   Chess Teacher
   November 24th, 2009 at 10:29 am
   @THOMAS
   White has support from the c4 knight, but please keep in mind that Black is only allowed to do one move at the time. Please note that f7 can be defended by playing …Be6.
   The mentioned move 12.Nf7+ is possible because the king has moved (and had to move after 9.Qxd8+) 9…Kxd8. Now after 10.Nxe5 the move 10…Be6 doesn’t help anymore, because of 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nf7+
3. 
   THOMAS
   November 24th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
   I concur.Excellent website dude.
4. 
   THOMAS
   November 24th, 2009 at 4:32 pm
   Of course I concur. Excellent Website.