Savielly Tartakower

Any opening is good enough, if its reputation is bad enough.

— Savielly Tartakower

The first essential for an attack is the will to attack.

— Savielly Tartakower

Lasker thought that his rationalism rendered him immune from the surprises of chess theory.

— Savielly Tartakower

No one ever won a game by resigning.

— Savielly Tartakower

I never defeated a healthy opponent.

— Savielly Tartakower

In chess, there is only one mistake: over-estimation of your opponent. All else is either bad luck or weakness.

— Savielly Tartakower

A draw can be obtained not only by repeating moves, but also by one weak move.

— Savielly Tartakower

An isolated pawn spreads gloom all over the chessboard.

— Savielly Tartakower

The winner is the one who makes the next-to-last mistake.

— Savielly Tartakower

The tactician must know what to do whenever something needs doing; the strategist must know what to do when nothing needs doing

— Savielly Tartakower

Like the alchemist of old, for ever searching for the philosopher's stone, the analyst to-day never stops looking for stronger moves to…

— Savielly Tartakower

Psychologically, the choice of an appropriate opening is of the utmost importance for a player's success in a tournament.

— Savielly Tartakower

It is said that an ounce of common sense can outweigh a ton of 'variations'.

— Savielly Tartakower

As for me, I am unfortunate enough not to posses a happy temperament like Najdorf, who views every happening in a rosy…

— Savielly Tartakower

To avoid losing a piece, many a person has lost the game

— Savielly Tartakower

Chess is a fairy tale of 1001 blunders.

— Savielly Tartakower

It's always better to sacrifice your opponent's men

— Savielly Tartakower

The ability to create and to control the tension of battle is perhaps the principal attainment of the great player.

— Savielly Tartakower

Whenever Black succeeds in assuming the initiative in maintaining it to a successful conclusion, the sporting spirit of the chess lover feels…

— Savielly Tartakower

A Chess game is divided into three stages: the first, when you hope you have the advantage, the second when you believe…

— Savielly Tartakower

It is well-known that chess and music go well together, and many are those who have achieved unusual proficiency in both.

— Savielly Tartakower

“The blunders are all there on the board, waiting to be made.”

— Savielly Tartakower

Drawn games are sometimes more scintillating than any conclusive contest.

— Savielly Tartakower

A game is always won through a mistake.

— Savielly Tartakower

Seize the outpost K5 with your knight, and you can go to sleep. Checkmate will come by itself.

— Savielly Tartakower