Critical moment (chess term)

Critical moment

Definition

In chess vocabulary a critical moment is a position in which the fate of the game hinges on the next move or very short sequence of moves. An inaccurate decision at such a juncture can instantly flip a winning position to lost, or vice-versa, while an accurate decision often secures a lasting advantage.

Typical signals that a critical moment has arrived

• Sharp tactics suddenly appear (exposed king, loose pieces).
• A decisive pawn break can change the pawn structure forever.
• An important trade is possible (e.g., entering an endgame).
• You must choose among several plausible plans with different long-term consequences.

Practical usage

• Commentators highlight a critical moment to alert viewers: “This is where the game will be decided.”
• Annotated games often mark the key move with “!!” preceded by the note “Critical moment — find the only move that keeps the advantage.”
• Players in post-mortems frequently say “I spent most of my time at the critical moment on move 23.”

Historical examples

1. Fischer – Byrne, New York 1956 (“Game of the Century”)
   After 16…Ba6, the 13-year-old Bobby Fischer unleashed 17.Be6!!, sacrificing his queen to force a mating net. This single move is universally cited as the critical moment of the game.
2. Kasparov – Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 1999
   On move 24 Kasparov played 24.Rxd4!!, a breathtaking queen sacrifice that transformed an equal middlegame into a winning attack.
3. Carlsen – Karjakin, World Championship 2016, Game 10
   Down a point in the match, Carlsen found 50.Qh6! at the critical moment, turning near-certain drawishness into a win and eventually retaining his title.

Interesting facts & anecdotes

• The Soviet training maxim “Išči kritičeskij moment” (“search for the critical moment”) was drilled into generations of masters.
• World Champion Emanuel Lasker was famous for creating artificial critical moments, steering opponents into positions where one wrong choice would make them crack.
• Modern engines help humans identify critical moments; the spots where the evaluation graph suddenly spikes usually coincide with what grandmasters later single out as decisive.

Practical tips for over-the-board play

• Spend extra clock time only when the position truly demands it.
• When you suspect a critical moment, first look at forcing moves (checks, captures, threats).
• Re-evaluate material balance, king safety, piece activity, and pawn structure from scratch before choosing.
• If nothing is forced, favour the move that keeps the most options open.