COMBINATION - Easy (Morphy-NN, Paris, 1858)

Morphy-NN, Paris, 1858

White to move

Clue #1

Think #1 - Is my King safe?

1. Bc5+ - The only way to attack the white King. But Nxc5 is not a problem.

Think #2 - How to attack the black King ?

1. Rxh6+ - gxh6 is forced (then the Pawn in h6 is unprotected).

2. Qd2 (or Qe3) - Mate threat (Rxh6+ gxh6 Qxh6#) so Black team must defend on the King side (Bf8 or Kh7) 

3. Qh5 - Same threat and forced moves for Black team.

...

Clue #2

Think #3 - Which black pieces are under fire?

1. Bd7 - Attacked once, defended once

2. c7 - Attacked once, defended once

3. g7 - Attacked once, defended twice

3. h6 - Attacked once, defended once

...

COMBINATION - Easy (Neumann-Maillet, Berlin, 1865)

Neumann-Maillet, Berlin, 1865

White to move

Clue#1

Think#1 - Is my king safe?

1. Nxf3+ - But Qxf3 is perfect

Think#2 - How to attack the black King?

1. Bf7+ - But Dxf7 works fine

Think#3 - Which black pieces are under fire?

1. d6 - Attacked twice, defended twice

2. Ne5 - Attacked once, defended three times

3. Ng8 - Attacked once, defended once (so if 1. Bxg8 Rxg8, the Rook is unprotected and can be aimed at).

...

Clue#2

Think #4 - What are the black weaknesses?

1. Qa4 - Targeted by Ba3

2. d5 - Pined by Ba3

3. Ra8 - Unprotected piece

4. d5 - Weaken square. Bc4 or Qd1 could fork Ra8 and Ng8

5. c6 - Weaken square. The light Bishop or the Queen could fork Ra8 and Ke8

COMBINATION - Easy (Gaprindashvili-Dlugy, Bruxelles, 1987)

Gaprindashvili-Dlugy, Bruxelles, 1987

White to move

Clue #1

Think #1 - Is my King safe?

1. ... Bxg2 - The only way to threat the white King but 2. Rxg2 Db7+ 3. Rg1 and white team is fine.

Think #2 - How to attack the black King?

1. Nxe7+ - Qxe7 and the black Queen is now unprotected

2. Nh6+ - Rh8 is carefull but gxh6 works fine
3. Qg4 - Mate threat by Qxg7 even if g6 or exf5 look fine

...

Clue #2

Think #3 - Which are the black pieces under fire?

1. Be7 - Attacked once, defended once by the Queen. After Qxe7, the Queen is unprotected.
2. Bd5 - Attacked once, defended twice, by Dd7 and e7 but if Qxd5, Nxe7 do a royal fork!

...

Clue#3

Think #4 - What are the black weaknesses?

1. Qd7 - Unprotected piece

...

Solution

1. Rxd5! - The black Queen cannot take because of the fork by Cxe7! (Think #3).

1... exd5 - The only move...

2. Qg4 - Mate threat (Think #2)

2... g6 - The only way to defend (2... Bf6 3. exf6 is not better)

3. Nh6+! - The unprotected black Queen (Think #4) is died!