COMBINATIONS

 Solving combinations from actual play can, as well as being enjoyable
 in its own sake, can be a good way to improve your chess understanding
 and skill. There are many books on this theme, but having puzzles on
 disk has a number of advantages over a book. Firstly, a diagram on
 screen can be much larger than those in a book. Also, moves can 
 actually be played on the screen, there is no need for a chessboard.
 Also, there is no temptation to cheat, or any chance of accidentally
 seeing the answers. Scores can also be calculated easily.

 Solving combinations helps develop different skills:
   -the ability to recognise signposts of a combination
   -quickness of sight of the board
   -seeing ahead moves

 The program positions vary considerably in difficulty and tend to get more
 difficult towards the end of a section. In some positions the combination
 will follow through to mate or a capture of material, in other cases the
 combination will finish when the remaining moves are fairly mundane.
 (They will either be obvious captures or useless interpositions to checks
 etc.) Some of the moves may be much harder to find than others.

 The defender will generally be playing fairly plausible moves, but in
 some cases will not be playing the best defence. This will often be to
 show an important feature of the combination.

 In a few positions there may be several winning moves. In these cases
 only one move will be taken as correct. In these cases you will have to
 persevere.

 Combinations will include opening, middlegame and endgame positions, but
 the vast majority will be middlegame combinations. All kinds of positions
 will be included.

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