---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Once there is the slightest suggestion of…"
description: "\"Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and in..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png"
---

#  Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational…

![“Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and interesting it will help you to get better results.” quote by Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png)

> “Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and interesting it will help you to get better results.”

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Slight hints of combos invite creative moves, improving results.

**In simple terms:** Small possibilities spark creativity and better outcomes.

Key Takeaway

Seek unusual moves when combos appear.

Themes

creativity strategy chess improvement

Mood

analytical strategic

Type

educational inspirational

When to use this quote

- chess tournaments
- problem solving
- team brainstorming

Key Concepts

tactics pattern recognition innovation

Questions to Reflect On

- When should you prioritize safety over creativity?
- How do you balance originality with reliability?

A Different Perspective

Overemphasis on novelty can ignore solid fundamentals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Possibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/possibility/) [Suggestions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suggestions/)

## Related quotes

> [The great thing about making a film on a submarine is that it's kind of like making a play. You've got this limited environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-macdonald/the-great-thing-about-making-a-film-on-a-submarine-is-that-it-s-kind/)

[Kevin Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-macdonald/)

> [It's about going to the ball and making a play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-jackson/it-s-about-going-to-the-ball-and-making-a-play/)

[Edwin Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-jackson/)

> [I'm a free safety. The one responsibility I have is making the play, really. So I take those chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-ha-clinton-dix/i-m-a-free-safety-the-one-responsibility-i-have-is-making-the-play/)

[Ha Ha Clinton-Dix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-ha-clinton-dix/)

> [A person might be able to play without being creative, but he sure can't be creative without playing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-hanks/a-person-might-be-able-to-play-without-being-creative-but-he-sure-can/)

Kurt Hanks

> [In this age of over-connectivity, the first thing that vanishes is our ability to put down the device and play, be creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randi-zuckerberg/in-this-age-of-over-connectivity-the-first-thing-that-vanishes-is-our/)

[Randi Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randi-zuckerberg/)

> [My parents would tell us to go outside and play or to do creative stuff, but television was very limited. So we used our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-brett/my-parents-would-tell-us-to-go-outside-and-play-or-to-do-creative/)

[Jan Brett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-brett/)

> [Play is not only our creative drive; it's a fundamental mode of learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-elkind/play-is-not-only-our-creative-drive-it-s-a-fundamental-mode-of/)

[David Elkind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-elkind/)

> [ I don't enter into particulars with \[Ennio Morricone\]. I give him the feeling and the suggestions of the characters. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sergio-leone/i-don-t-enter-into-particulars-with-ennio-morricone-i-give-him-the/)

[Sergio Leone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sergio-leone/)

> [A word refers to something in the real world and so, in a way, does a photo. It's not the thing itself, but it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-barry/a-word-refers-to-something-in-the-real-world-and-so-in-a-way-does-a/)

[Robert Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-barry/)

> [Eventually it became clear that our emotions, attitudes, and thoughts profoundly affect our bodies, sometimes to the degree of life or death. Soon mind-body…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-dossey/eventually-it-became-clear-that-our-emotions-attitudes-and-thoughts/)

[Larry Dossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-dossey/)

> [Then there are some minor points that strike me as suggestive - for instance, the position of Mrs. Hubbard's sponge bag, the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/then-there-are-some-minor-points-that-strike-me-as-suggestive-for/)

[Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/)

> [Democracy is the suggestion box for slaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/democracy-is-the-suggestion-box-for-slaves/)

[Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/)

> [I spend a long time casting, but once I've cast a film there's a reason why I selected those people. So I'm hands-on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-spend-a-long-time-casting-but-once-i-ve-cast-a-film-there-s-a/)

[Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/)

> [Nothing evades our attention as persistently as that which we take for granted... the decades roll on without even a suggestion that perhaps the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-brady/nothing-evades-our-attention-as-persistently-as-that-which-we-take/)

Marion Brady

> [Our sweetest experiences of affection are meant to be suggestions of that realm which is the home of the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/our-sweetest-experiences-of-affection-are-meant-to-be-suggestions-of/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

## More by Alexander Kotov

> [I can remember a case where Capablanca worked out an impressive combination, but then chose to make a simple move in answer to which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/i-can-remember-a-case-where-capablanca-worked-out-an-impressive/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/there-is-no-doubt-that-the-reason-for-my-awful-oversight-was-over/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [In analysing complicated variations one must examine each branch of the tree once and once only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/in-analysing-complicated-variations-one-must-examine-each-branch-of/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/all-candidate-moves-should-be-identified-at-once-and-listed-in-one-s/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [Just as the pianist practices the most complicated pieces to improve the technique of his fingers, so too a grandmaster must keep his vision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/just-as-the-pianist-practices-the-most-complicated-pieces-to-improve/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [I cannot think that a player genuinely loving the game can get pleasure just from the number of points scored no matter how impressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/i-cannot-think-that-a-player-genuinely-loving-the-game-can-get/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [The placing of the centre pawns determines the "topography" of a game of chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/the-placing-of-the-centre-pawns-determines-the-topography-of-a-game/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [I soon realized that it is not enough for a master simply to analyse variations scrupulously just like an accountant. He must learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/i-soon-realized-that-it-is-not-enough-for-a-master-simply-to-analyse/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [After a great deal of discussion in Soviet literature about the correct definition of a combination, it was decided that from the point of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/after-a-great-deal-of-discussion-in-soviet-literature-about-the/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/anyone-who-wishes-to-learn-how-to-play-chess-well-must-make-himself/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [If you study the classic examples of endgame play you will see how the king was brought up as soon as possible even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/if-you-study-the-classic-examples-of-endgame-play-you-will-see-how/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [In choosing an opening plan players think most of all of harmonious development for the pieces, but sometimes leave the development of the queen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/in-choosing-an-opening-plan-players-think-most-of-all-of-harmonious/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [Experience and the constant analysis of the most varied positions builds up a store of knowledge in a player's mind enabling him often at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/experience-and-the-constant-analysis-of-the-most-varied-positions/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [Once in a Moscow chess club I saw how two first-category players knocked pieces off the board as they were exchanged, so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/once-in-a-moscow-chess-club-i-saw-how-two-first-category-players/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

> [Bobby Fischer is the greatest Chess genius of all time!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/bobby-fischer-is-the-greatest-chess-genius-of-all-time/)

[Alexander Kotov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

[Explore all 39 Alexander Kotov quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/)

## More Boards quotes

> [One of the worst things to come out of the Consumer Protection Board's misleading claims is the impression that government resources are to hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-lesko/one-of-the-worst-things-to-come-out-of-the-consumer-protection-board/)

[Matthew Lesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-lesko/)

> [I am somewhat influenced by the years that I've spent trying to actually get things done, whether it was reforming education in Arkansas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-am-somewhat-influenced-by-the-years-that-i-ve-spent-trying-to/)

[Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/)

> [Cows are a lot smarter across the board than bulls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/cows-are-a-lot-smarter-across-the-board-than-bulls/)

[Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/)

> [Some guys need to see things on a grease board, ... I like when you can see it in your mind. And that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peyton-manning/some-guys-need-to-see-things-on-a-grease-board-i-like-when-you-can/)

[Peyton Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peyton-manning/)

> [I am formally accountable to the steering board of the PIC, and I meet with nine ambassadors from the PIC every week. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paddy-ashdown/i-am-formally-accountable-to-the-steering-board-of-the-pic-and-i-meet/)

[Paddy Ashdown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paddy-ashdown/)

> [You are also asked to take an oath, and that's the oath of service. The oath of service is not to secrecy, but to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/you-are-also-asked-to-take-an-oath-and-that-s-the-oath-of-service-the/)

[Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/)

> [When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, does he trouble his head whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/when-his-highness-sends-a-ship-to-egypt-does-he-trouble-his-head/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [Perhaps we have failed as human beings. Perhaps we have embarrassed ourselves to the natural world. We have been rigorous and willful in all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sufjan-stevens/perhaps-we-have-failed-as-human-beings-perhaps-we-have-embarrassed/)

[Sufjan Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sufjan-stevens/)

> [Once scouting fully opens its doors to all who desire the same experience that so fully enriched me as a young person, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-spielberg/once-scouting-fully-opens-its-doors-to-all-who-desire-the-same/)

[Steven Spielberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-spielberg/)

> [Politicians should be dedicated to the welfare of the people, but sometimes politics becomes like a game of chess, in which the sole aim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/politicians-should-be-dedicated-to-the-welfare-of-the-people-but/)

[Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/)

> [This world is not a platform where you will hear Thalberg-piano-playing. It is a piano manufactory, where are dust and shavings and boards, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/this-world-is-not-a-platform-where-you-will-hear-thalberg-piano/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [He is nothing more than one of my pawns. However, he is not a normal pawn. He is a pawn that can get across…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yana-toboso/he-is-nothing-more-than-one-of-my-pawns-however-he-is-not-a-normal/)

[Yana Toboso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yana-toboso/)

> [Corporations are totalitarian institutions. Board of directors at the top of managers give orders, everyone follows orders… At the very bottom of command, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/corporations-are-totalitarian-institutions-board-of-directors-at-the/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Our current use of time is not rational. There is therefore no point in seeking marginal improvements in how we spend our time. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-koch/our-current-use-of-time-is-not-rational-there-is-therefore-no-point/)

[Richard Koch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-koch/)

> [When I was in college, I lost my scholarship one year. I had enough money for tuition, but not room and board. So I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/when-i-was-in-college-i-lost-my-scholarship-one-year-i-had-enough/)

[Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/)

Browse all 1,220 Boards quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves. Apart from making your play creative and interesting it will help you to get better results.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Alexander Kotov"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-of-combinational-possibilities/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Boards"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-of-combinational-possibilities/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b31/alexander-kotov-16700_boards_once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-o_3012747.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Once there is the slightest suggestion of combinational possibilities on the board, look for unusual moves…” — Alexander Kotov",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Alexander Kotov",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-kotov/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Once there is the slightest suggestion...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-of-combinational-possibilities/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-kotov/once-there-is-the-slightest-suggestion-of-combinational-possibilities/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
