Chapter Three Aesthetics of Combinations. General Ideas. ground of a careful regard even for the weakest chess unit. And if several pieces or a strong piece (for example, the queen, rook) are sacrificed , then the contrast is redoubled. Seemingly absurd , reckless moves suddenly turn out to be strong ideas , instruments of triumph, victory . The outwardly weak - thanks to h idden meaning, triumphs over strength. Adroitness, ingenui ty , imagina tion, comes forth from the winner in a struggle against an opponent's more powerful armaments. In this l ies the individual beauty of the sacrifice. The sacrifice will often be surprising, and this suddenness upsets the usual humdrum ideas about the course of the stuggle and l ikewise takes the spectator into a world of magic adventure. There is even an extensive , separate termi nology , characterising the aesthe tics of chess combination. There arise the concepts of refined and even graceful combinations, pro ductions of rare beauty, immortal ideas, smooth mates , elegant finishes, etc . As far back as the last century special prizes for beautiful games were awarded in tourna ments. In chess literature there are a
Any h igher expression of harmony makes a deep aesthetic impression. It excites , creates ideas about the beautiful. Combinations in chess art repre sent a h igher expression of har mony of chess forces. Even combi nations s imple in structure are in themselves aesthetically already one in that all the initiator's pieces operating in them pour out their strength together, harmoniously conducting a combinative theme. The aesthetics of combinations are expressed also in methods of operation. Here , first and fore most, is advanced the concept of sacrifices. In what l ies the aesthe tics of sacrifices ? As is well known, from the very first steps we teach the beginner-enthusiast to have a careful regard for material. We give , as an instructive example, the case when, after losing a minor piece, the master resigns the game , considering further resistance to be fruitless. Even an extra pawn, j ust one pawn, frequently gives the possessor of it an easy victory. Therefore a voluntary giving up of a pawn or piece, or an exchange of a stronger p iece for one less strong , for example queen for rook or rook for knight etc . - is an event which contrasts with the strict back13
