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Lesson
#7
Unlock That
Combination
Have you ever used a combination lock? They are
used to lock up bicycles and a lot of other things. The keys to the lock are
numbers. Usually, you have three keys. I still remember a combination I used to
have for a locker. It was 14-16-8. I would turn clockwise until I reached 14
then counterclockwise to 16 and clockwise to 8. I’d pull, the lock would open,
and I’d get my valuables out.
Chess has many hidden valuables that you can only get at by a combination
lock. In chess the keys aren’t numbers — they are
key ideas. What makes chess so interesting and challenging is that the key
ideas keep changing. So the chess master is always on the look-out for the best
key ideas.
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White to move
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Usually one idea is not enough to unlock the combination. It often takes two
or more. Here is an example with white to move.
Before trying to
solve the puzzle, let’s list the key ideas for white in this position. A key
idea is usually a move or a possible move that doesn’t quite work yet. Also,
key ideas usually involve moving your active pieces or making a piece highly
active. In the above example the three key ideas are:
- Find a way to chase the black king with our queen.
- Open up the game by sacrificing our bishop on f7.
- Get our rook more active by taking the c7 pawn
If you found these keys you are halfway home. Now try the keys in different
combinations. I mean try them in different orders. You see, if you found a
move that looks promising it may be better played second or third rather than
first.
Also, did you notice that black has some threats? 1. … Qe1+ would at
least draw by perpetual check. We will need to unlock our combination quickly.
We can’t allow black to have any free moves. This means that every move in
this combination needs to be a check.
Now go ahead and try the different "combinations" of the above
three ideas. There is one combination that will unlock the safe and give you a
winning game.
Have you unlocked it? The winning combination is 2-3-1 which skewers the
black queen! In other words: 1. Bxf7+ Kxf7 2. Rxc7+ Qxc7 3. Qh7+ and 4.
Qxc7.
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White to move
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That was fun! It is amazing what you do if you find the right keys first
and then try them in different orders!
Here is another puzzle with white to move (see the diagram on the right).
Let’s find the key ideas together and then you’ll be on your own to
unlock this combination.
- We would love to play the fork Nf6+. Too bad the bishop is guarding that
square.
- Second, it would be nice to activate our rook with Rb8+. Unfortunately,
black can play Rc8 to block it.
- Also, can’t our queen do something useful? Perhaps she could help our
rook with some kind of back rank attack.
There. Have fun unlocking this one. The answer is at the end of this
article.
Do you remember seeing the movie "Searching for Bobby Fischer"?
In the movie, Josh’s coach told him not to make the move until he saw the
entire combination. The coach kept saying "don’t move until you see
it."
Look deeper. Find the keys ideas. Then try them out in different orders
before you move. You will then be able to unlock the combination and play many
beautiful chess games. Your treasures await.
Answer: Unlock the combination with 3-2-1. In other words, 1. Qxc5!
dxc5 2. Rb8+ Bf8 3. Nf6+ Kg7 Nxd7 wins the queen. The best try for black is 1.
… Qxg4. White should win with 2. Rb8+ Bf8 3. Qc8! (not 3. Qxd6 Qe4+ with a
likely perpetual check). Then, if 3. …Qxc8 4. Rxc8 a3 5. Rxc4 Bg7 6. Rc8+!
Bf8 7. Ra8 with a winning endgame.
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(c) 2001 Ross Stoutenborough
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