It has always been recognized that chess is an art, and its best practitioners have been described as artists. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The placing of the centre pawns determines the "topography" of a game of chess. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
In analysing complicated variations one must examine each branch of the tree once and once only. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The placing of the center pawns determines the 'topography' of a game of chess. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
... My achievements in the field of chess are the result of immense hard work in studying theory ... — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Sit there for five hours? Certainly not! A player must walk about between moves, it helps his thinking. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The rise of the Soviet school to the summit of world chess is a logical result of socialist cultural development. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Drawing general conclusions about your main weaknesses can provide a great stimulus to further growth. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Once we have chosen the right formation in the centre we have created opportunities for our pieces and laid the foundation of… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
It is better to follow out a plan consistently even if it isn't the best one than to play without a plan… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
If you study the classic examples of endgame play you will see how the king was brought up as soon as possible… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Experience and the constant analysis of the most varied positions builds up a store of knowledge in a player's mind enabling him… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The masters and grandmasters can be divided into three groups - the inveterate time trouble merchants, those who sometimes get into trouble,… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Once in a Moscow chess club I saw how two first-category players knocked pieces off the board as they were exchanged, so… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
If your opponent is short (on time), play just as you played earlier in the game. If you are short keep calm,… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
If a chess statistician were to try and satisfy his curiousity over which stage of the game proved decisive in the majority… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
After a great deal of discussion in Soviet literature about the correct definition of a combination, it was decided that from the… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Once upon a time supporters of the Steinitz-Tarrasch school had a very high opinion of a queen-side pawn majority. Modern strategy on… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
I soon realized that it is not enough for a master simply to analyse variations scrupulously just like an accountant. He must… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
I cannot think that a player genuinely loving the game can get pleasure just from the number of points scored no matter… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
In order to become a grandmaster class player whose understanding of chess is superior to the thousands of ordinary players, you have… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
If you can play the first ten or fifteen moves in just as many minutes, you can be in a state of… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
I can remember a case where Capablanca worked out an impressive combination, but then chose to make a simple move in answer… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The study of typical plans is something that the leading grandmasters devote a great deal of time to. I would say that… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
There is no doubt that the reason for my awful oversight was over-confidence that sapped my sense of danger. So that is… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Just as the pianist practices the most complicated pieces to improve the technique of his fingers, so too a grandmaster must keep… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
In choosing an opening plan players think most of all of harmonious development for the pieces, but sometimes leave the development of… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Here is a definition which correctly reflects the course of thought and action of a grandmaster: - The plan in a game… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The proponents of Steinitz' theory - Tarrasch and his supporters - tried to express Steinitz' teaching in the form of laconic rules,… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The main thing that develops positional judgement, that perfects it and makes it many-sided, is detailed analytical work, sensible tournament practice, a… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Go through detailed variations in your own time, think in a general way about the position in the opponent's time and you… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
You will already have noticed how often Capablanca repeated moves, often returning to positions which he had had before. This is not… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
I can remember a case where Capablanca worked out an impressive combination, but then chose to make a simple move in answer to which… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
There is no doubt that the reason for my awful oversight was over-confidence that sapped my sense of danger. So that is where to… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
In analysing complicated variations one must examine each branch of the tree once and once only. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
All candidate moves should be identified at once and listed in one's head. This job cannot be done piecemeal, by first examining one move… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Just as the pianist practices the most complicated pieces to improve the technique of his fingers, so too a grandmaster must keep his vision… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
I cannot think that a player genuinely loving the game can get pleasure just from the number of points scored no matter how impressive… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
The placing of the centre pawns determines the "topography" of a game of chess. — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
I soon realized that it is not enough for a master simply to analyse variations scrupulously just like an accountant. He must learn to… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
After a great deal of discussion in Soviet literature about the correct definition of a combination, it was decided that from the point of… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions where the… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
If you study the classic examples of endgame play you will see how the king was brought up as soon as possible even though… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
In choosing an opening plan players think most of all of harmonious development for the pieces, but sometimes leave the development of the queen… — Alexander Kotov Copy Share Image
