Chess lesson # 25: Taking your game to the next level with Tactical Combinations | Chess tactics

We finally have a strong and well organized opening course for White and one for Black. With these and the FREE beginner to master level playlist from this YouTube channel, it’s all about consistency over an extended period of time 😎💪 ⬇️

Chess 4 All: A combination is a forcing variation, that normally includes a sacrifice, to benefit the player executing it. This class is the beginning of a new level for your game in general, but more specifically it has to do with tactics because combinations are made up of different tactical ideas such the fork, pin, skewer, and others that you have not learnt yet. When I first learned this concept, I did not memorize the whole definition and I do not expect you to either. As long as you understand the idea and are able to identify the patterns and use them in your games, it all will be fine. However, when it comes to the definition of “combination” in Chess, there are two parts you really need to keep in mind. The word “forcing” is crucial. Whatever we do has to be forcing our opponent to follow a specific variation. Also, the “sacrifice” portion is extremely important because although I never thought combination must involve a sacrifice, you have to be open to the idea that sometimes, we have to sacrifice pieces. And I stress this, because I see how many of my students ignore moves that involve the sacrifice of a piece. It looks so counterintuitive that they just don’t even look into them. Now, you have to get in the habit of considering and analyzing even moves that seem bad.

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Benefits of Playing Chess:
​- Promotes brain growth
- Increases problem-solving skills
- It exercises both sides of the brain
- Raises your IQ
- Sparks your creativity
- Teaches planning and foresight
- Teaches patience and concentration
- Optimizes memory improvement
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Chess is an intellectual battle where players are exposed to numerous mental processes such as analysis, attention to detail, synthesis, concentration, planning and foresight. Psychological factors are also present on and off the board; playing Chess stimulates our imagination and creativity. Every single move a player makes is the result of a deep analysis based on the elements presented on the battle field.

Chess in its essence teaches us psychological, sociological and even moral values. In a Chess game, both players start with the same amount of material and time. The fact that the white pieces move first is considered to be practically irrelevant —especially because a player typically plays one game as white and one game as black. Consequently, the final result of the battle solely depends on each player. It doesn’t matter if you win by taking advantage of your opponent’s mistakes or by simply avoiding mistakes yourself. Truth is that Chess is an extremely individual sport and our defeats can only be blamed on ourselves and no one else. And this, in the end, only benefits us because we learn to be and feel responsible for our actions and never come up with excuses to justify ourselves.

We also learn that when it comes to our victories on the board, our opponent's mistakes play a more significant role than our own skills. Let’s not forget that a Chess game without any mistakes would be a draw. This way, Chess provides us with another valuable life lesson: be humble at all times.

About National Master Robert Ramirez:

With an outstanding background as a professional Chess player and over 8 years of teaching experience, Robert Ramirez brings both his passion and his expertise to the board, helping you believe & achieve!

[NMRobertRamirez]

We finally have a strong and well organized opening course for White and one for Black. With these and the FREE beginner to master level playlist from this YouTube channel, it’s all about consistency over an extended period of time 😎💪 ⬇

[ericf]

You are so underrated. You are by far the best chess coach I’ve seen. Thank you so much. God Bless

[navidhaidari]

So happy finding out about these videos.

[travisloewen]

Love the lessons. I first found your videos on the King's Indian Defense, liked them so much that I watched your Pirc and Czech defense videos.

I've since decided that I wanted to watch your lessons from the beginning because I found that I lacked middle game ideas and needed to build up to those videos. Even the basic videos have certainly helped me approach my games differently. I've got a 72/14/14 w/l/d percent in the last 7 days. Thank you so much!

[meltdown]

Thank so much for these videos!
And don't worry ur vids are very clear, concise and easy to follow, having lots of fun so far! :)

[AmitKumar-zetv]

Recently I also discovered that sacrificing can be so much useful sometimes. You fulfilled the idea sir. Thank you...

[singaravelm]

NM Robert. . . I am so grateful to you for these wonderful videos. Now into my retirement. I have taken up Chess which I stopped playing seriously, 37 years back. Your videos have pumped in a mental agility which i did not know I was still capable of. I am going to watch every video of yours and learn more and more. Thank you so much!

[danvitale]

This lesson was great, today I am playing against a computer, and in high levels, the computer protect all its pieces all the time, impossible to go through without "Combinations", sacrificing pieces...this lesson is opening my eyes because if you decide to don't lose anything on that games, you just get tired and lose at the end, thank you Robert for your efforts on these lessons, not easy to find around.

[shawnhorton]

Another first-rate instructional video. You make me look at the board in an entirely new way. No wonder all likes and zero dislikes! Fantastic!!

[jesusolivera]

The quality of all your videos are amazing. I’ve been learning so much and I’m starting to fall in love with the game. Thanks for doing what you do.

[FelipeNovaesRocha]

That your all content, playlists and videos are AMAZING! yoU ARE amazing Robert Ramirez!! Thank so much for that. <3

[Lightning_boy]

This guys the best coach ever❤. I just had my oppenent resign because i learnt combinations from you tysm❤❤

[DanielVancura-lits]

I wish I had access to training like this when I was ten and first fell in love with Chess. I'm 40 now and could be a lot better.

[Lssj]

Dude thank you so much. Im trying to teach my friends and family as well and the more I pause each of your videos and really watch and do them myself the more I feel like I can pass on those lessons

[whskeybud]

dude idk if you’ll even see this message but you’re the fucking man! i picked up chess about 2 months ago and was getting nowhere really but i realized i was watching all these more advanced principles and somehow stumbled upon this playlist. i watched literally 4 or 5 of the beginner/understanding videos and just went on a 13 games win streak. i’m not amazing by any means but it all makes so much more sense now and i have a solid foundation now. cant wait to progress through this entire course! you are much appreciated, god bless!

[ammygaming]

best chess learning channel on the internet....i wish i could donate you something in my capability...thank you soo much sir for your knowledge.I fold my hands and bow down to you...thank you soo much...i cant wait to finish all the lessons and become atleast 2000 elo player.

[austinwachira]

Combinations. Nice Technique! Thanks, Coach!

[zBrain]

Still really enjoying this series. Even though I am not a beginner, I feel like going through the review of my fundamentals and basic tactics will hopefully help me find things faster and maybe calculate some variations quicker or more accurately.

[michaelallport]

For sure. I will be returning to this lesson for review.

[bhanubanerjee]

Simplest explaination for forcing moves and sacrifices