Alexander Kotov

I can remember a case where Capablanca worked out an impressive combination, but then chose to make a simple move in answer…

— 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…

— Alexander Kotov

In analysing complicated variations one must examine each branch of the tree once and once only.

— 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…

— Alexander Kotov

Just as the pianist practices the most complicated pieces to improve the technique of his fingers, so too a grandmaster must keep…

— Alexander Kotov

I cannot think that a player genuinely loving the game can get pleasure just from the number of points scored no matter…

— Alexander Kotov

The placing of the centre pawns determines the "topography" of a game of chess.

— Alexander Kotov

I soon realized that it is not enough for a master simply to analyse variations scrupulously just like an accountant. He must…

— Alexander Kotov

After a great deal of discussion in Soviet literature about the correct definition of a combination, it was decided that from the…

— Alexander Kotov

Anyone who wishes to learn how to play chess well must make himself or herself thoroughly conversant with the play in positions…

— Alexander Kotov

If you study the classic examples of endgame play you will see how the king was brought up as soon as possible…

— Alexander Kotov

In choosing an opening plan players think most of all of harmonious development for the pieces, but sometimes leave the development of…

— 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…

— 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…

— Alexander Kotov

Bobby Fischer is the greatest Chess genius of all time!

— Alexander Kotov

The proponents of Steinitz' theory - Tarrasch and his supporters - tried to express Steinitz' teaching in the form of laconic rules,…

— Alexander Kotov

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

It has always been recognized that chess is an art, and its best practitioners have been described as artists.

— Alexander Kotov

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

The rise of the Soviet school to the summit of world chess is a logical result of socialist cultural development.

— Alexander Kotov

Time trouble is blunder time.

— Alexander Kotov

You will already have noticed how often Capablanca repeated moves, often returning to positions which he had had before. This is not…

— Alexander Kotov

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

If you can play the first ten or fifteen moves in just as many minutes, you can be in a state of…

— Alexander Kotov

Here is a definition which correctly reflects the course of thought and action of a grandmaster: - The plan in a game…

— Alexander Kotov