Combinations

Chess combinations are usually credited to ineffable flair, the gift of great players like Alekhine and Tal. There is truth in that, but for the spectator, beauty can also be a numbers game: watch enough games and brilliancies are bound to turn up. The Olympiad in Samarkand was a treat on that score. With 206 teams in the Open section and 189 in the Women’s event, there were around 8,500 games over 11 rounds, and plenty of dazzling finishes. Few players could make a combination look as organic as Wesley So does in the following game. He follows an ambitious pawn sacrifice with energetic play, then crowns it with a stunning queen sacrifice.

Wesley So (USA)–Jesper Thybo (Denmark)

Fide Olympiad, Samarkand, September 2026

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 O-O Nf6 5 d3 h6 6 c3 d6 7 Re1 O-O 8 Nbd2 Bb6 9 h3 Ne7 10 a4 a5 11 d4 Nc6 12 Ra3! Re8 Grabbing the pawn yields a dangerous initiative. For example, 12…exd4 13 cxd4 Nxd4 14 Nxd4 Bxd4 15 Rd3 Be5 16 Nf3 Qe7 17 Nh4 with ideas of Nh4-g6 and f2-f4. 13 Ba2 exd4 14 cxd4 Nxd4 15 Nxd4 Bxd4 16 Rd3 Bc5 17 e5 Qe7 18 Nf3 dxe5 19 Rxe5 Be6 20 Bxe6 fxe6 21 Nh4 b6 22 Qe2 Rad8 23 Rg3 Rd5 24 Bxh6! Rxe5 25 Qxe5 Bd6 (see diagram) 26 Qxe6+!! A stunning blow. 26…Qxe6 27 Rxg7+ and Nh4-g6 mate follows after either 27…Kf8 or 27…Kh8. Kh7 White must remain circumspect. For example, the careless 25 Rxg7+? Qxg7 26 Bxg7 Rxe6 turns the tables. 27 Qf5+ Kg8 28 Qe6+ Kh7 29 Qf5+ Kg8 30 f4! 30 Rxg7+? is another trap White must avoid: 30…Qxg7 31 Bxg7 Re1 mate! The advance of the f-pawn blocks the crucial diagonal of the Bd6. Qe1+ 31 Kh2 Bf8 32 Bxg7! Avoiding another ambush: 32 Qxf6? Qxg3+! 33 Kxg3 gxf6 and Black wins. Bxg7 33 Rxg7+ Kxg7 34 Qg6+ Kf8 35 Qxf6+ Kg8 36 Nf5 Black resigns

A ‘windmill’ tactic is typically carried out by a rook and bishop which alternate in giving checks, while the rook hoovers up material. The same motif is much rarer with a knight and bishop, though it occurred in Bobby Fischer’s celebrated ‘Game of the Century’ against Donald Byrne in 1956. In Wei Yi’s sparkling game below, a queen is the target.