Best 681 quotes in «chess quotes» category

Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.

Americans really don't know much about chess. But I think when I beat Spassky, that Americans will take a greater interest in chess. Americans like winners.

Analysis, if it is really carried out with a complete concentration of his powers, forms and completes a chess player.

An amusing fact: as far as I can recall, when playing the Ruy Lopez I have not yet once in my life had to face the Marshall Attack!

And the rigidity of the material with which we have to compose, is a more formidable opponent than Lasker or Capablanca. Because these lifeless opponents do not have any moments of human weakness!

An innovation need not be especially ingenious, but it must be well worked out.

A pawn, when separated from his fellows, will seldom or never make a fortune.

An isolated pawn spreads gloom all over the chessboard.

As a rule, pawn endings have a forced character, and they can be worked out conclusively.

A plan is made for a few moves only, not for the whole game.

As a rule, so-called "positional" sacrifices are considered more difficult, and therefore more praise-worthy, than those which are based exclusively on an exact calculation of tactical possibilities.

A sensation, hidden in the depths of my emotional memory, was suddenly revived: what if... What if for me The Variation is not dead? If The Variation is alive?!

A thorough understanding of the typical mating continuations makes the most complicated sacrificial combinations leading up to them not only not difficult, but almost a matter of course

As one by one I mowed them down, my superiority soon became apparent

As with Steinitz, Fischer's genius has often been concealed by controversies away from the board. Like Lasker, Fischer has raised chess to new financial heights despite frequent retreats from serious play. And, like Capablanca, Fischer is recognized by millions of non-players and has won the game many new enthusiasts.

Avoidance of mistakes is the beginning, as it is the end, of mastery in chess.

At that time two opposing concepts of the Game called forth commentary and discussion. The foremost players distinguished two principal types of Game, the formal and the psychological.

At the ches with me she (Fortune) gan to pleye; With her false draughts (pieces) dyvers/She staal on me, and took away my fers. And when I sawgh my fers awaye, Allas! I kouthe no lenger playe.

Barcza is the most versatile player in the opening. He sometimes plays P-KKt3 on the first, sometimes on the second, sometimes on the third, and sometimes only on the fourth move.

Before Geller we did not understand the King's Indian Defence.

Be a harsh critic of your own wins.

Black is now in desperate need of a good idea. Or, to put it standard chess notation, +-

Between rounds of speed chess I read enough of a programming manual to teach myself to write programs on the school's DEC mainframe in the language Basic.

Believe firmly that in chess there are no rules without exceptions.

Bobby Fischer has an enormous knowledge of chess and his familiarity with the chess literature of the USSR is immense.

Bobby is the most misunderstood, misquoted celebrity walking the face of this earth

Bobby Fischer is the greatest Chess genius of all time!

Botvinnik's right! When he says such things, then he's right. Usually, I prefer not to study chess but to play it. For me chess is more an art than a science. It's been said that Alekhine and I played similar chess, except that he studied more. Yes, perhaps, but I have to say that he played, too.

Botvinnik was a killer in chess.

But alas! Like many another consummation devoutly to be wished, the actual performance was a disappointing one.

But how difficult it can be to gain the desired full point against an opponent of inferior strength, when this is demanded by the tournament position!

Caissa, the goddess of chess, had punished me for my conservative play, for betraying my nature.

By this measure (on the gap between Fischer & his contemporaries), I consider him the greatest world champion

Chess is a cold bath for the mind

Campo, as everyone in chess recognized, had a 2600 rating as a politician.

Can you buy an entire chess set in a pawn shop?

Capablanca possessed an amazing ability to quickly see into a position and intuitively grasp its main features. His style, one of the purest, most crystal-clear in the entire history of chess, astonishes one with his logic.

Capablanca was snatched too early from the chess world. With his death we have lost a great chess genius, the like of whom we will never see again.

Chess is a beautiful mistress.

Chess is an art and not a spectator sport.

Chess is a sad waste of brains.

Chess is a time game, it’s a game of patience. That pretty much defines how I run the ball.

Chess is life in miniature. Chess is struggle, chess is battles

Chess is not only knowledge and logic

Chess is one long regret.

Chess mastery essentially consists of analyzing Chess positions accurately

Chess only appeals to quite a small minority. It does not have the cachet of a mainstream popular sport.

Chess-players are so unsociable, they are no company for any but themselves.

Chess and boxing have a lot in common, as both sports rely on the right strategy.

Chess and theatre often lead to madness.