Combination Concept : Positional Play

The layman thinks that the superiority of the chess master lies in his ability to think out 3 or 4, or even 10 or 20, moves ahead. Those chess lovers who ask some outstanding players how many moves they usually calculate in advance, when making a combination, are always astonished when they reply, quite truthfully, “as a rule not a single one.” Formerly, in Anderssen’s time, the ability to make combinations was in fact the very essence of chess talent. Since then, however, the chess mind has further developed, and the power of accurately calculating moves in advance has no greater place in chess than, perhaps, skilful calculation has in mathematics.

Applying a simple mathematical formula we shall easily see how impossible, and on the other hand how objectless, it would be in general to try to work out in advance exact sequences of moves. Let us consider a position in which there is no distinct threat: an ordinary tranquil position. We shall certainly not be going too far if we assume that each side has every time on an average three feasible moves; that being the number to be take into account, generally speaking, in order to effect the calculation. If outstanding players want to work out, now, all the variations on the basis of the full move (i.e. one move by them and one by their opponent) for all the variations, they should have to consider already 3x3 = 9 different variations. On the basis of two full moves the number of possible variations already amounts to 3x3x3x3 = 81 their computation being at the most possible in correspondence games.

Should we further wish to calculate the number of variations of 3 moves of Black and White respectively we find that the number of such variations is represented by 3x3x3x3x3x3 = 729: in practice therefore scarcely possible of execution. Allowing we took the trouble to make the above calculations what would be the advantage to be derived therefrom? The computation of the variations would only have some sense if, from the resulting perspective positions, we could in the end discover which combination would be most favourable. We cannot assume, again in tranquil position, that after 3 moves so thought out, a clear result will be evident. Therefore from the point of view of the ordinary player, who thinks that in chess nothing counts but combinations, a further calculation is called for; and it is clear with what rapidity, exceeding that of all human calculation, the number of possibilities would increase after few moves.

Combinations in chess can only be made when the number of possibilities to be reckoned in advance is a limited one, that is to say when the moves of one player force the opponent to make moves already foreseen. This can happen either if a move contains a certain threat which can be parried by the opponent only in the way or at any rate only in a very few ways: for example if an opponent’s piece is exchanged, so that he in reply must take a piece, or again if check be called. A combination by one player involves therefore forced moves by the opponent. It is only in such cases that it is possible to calculate much in advance, as many as twenty, perhaps more moves, because the number of different variations is still very small.

Speaking generally the essential object of this work is to deal not with exact combinations but with all kinds of considerations relating to the development and evolution of the strategic mind and which dictate moves in chess. The method of playing chess by which we do not try to work out single moves in advance is known as positional play. Play by means of combinations and positional play are not opposed to each other, but rather mutually supporting. The scheme of a game is played on positional lines, the decision of it is, as a rule, effected by combinations. This is how Lasker’s pronouncement that play is the preparation for combinations is to be understood.