Drawing general conclusions about your main weaknesses can provide a great stimulus to further growth. — 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
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
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
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
Sit there for five hours? Certainly not! A player must walk about between moves, it helps his thinking. — 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
The placing of the center pawns determines the 'topography' of a game of chess. — 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
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
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
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
