Chess Quotes

1355 quotes by 411 authors

I would never suggest to anyone that they drop school for chess. First of all even if you can make it in chess, your social… — Viswanathan Anand
The worst enemy of the strategist is the clock. Time trouble... Reduces us all to pure reflex and reaction, tactical play. Emotion and instinct cloud… — Garry Kasparov
First restrain, next blockade, lastly destroy. — Aron Nimzowitsch
When you trade, the key concern is not always the value of the pieces being exchanged, but what's left on the board. — Dan Heisman
When everything on the board is clear it can be so difficult to conceal your thoughts from your opponent. — David Bronstein
It is dangerous to maintain equality at the cost of placing the pieces passively. — Anatoly Karpov
One charming characteristic of many flank attacks I could mention is that they do not very often lead to simplification: if the attack is parried,… — Bent Larsen
Strategically important points should be overprotected. If the pieces are so engaged, they get their regard in the fact that they will then find themselves… — Aron Nimzowitsch
If in a battle, I seize a bit of debatable land with a handful of soldiers, without having done anything to prevent an enemy bombardment… — Aron Nimzowitsch
When I today ask myself whence I got the moral courage, for it takes moral courage to make a move (or form a plan) running… — Aron Nimzowitsch
Attack! Always Attack! — Adolf Anderssen
The infallible criterion by which to distinguish the true from the would-be strategist is the degree of originality of his conceptions. It makes little difference… — Alexander Alekhine
During a chess tournament a master must envisage himself as a cross between an ascetic monk and a beast of prey. — Alexander Alekhine
It is better to follow out a plan consistently even if it isn't the best one than to play without a plan at all. The… — Alexander Kotov
Once we have chosen the right formation in the centre we have created opportunities for our pieces and laid the foundation of subsequent victory. — Alexander Kotov
I often play a move I know how to refute. — Bent Larsen
I maintain that in every position that arises, we should deliberately search, among other things, for pieces which have no retreat. If we see one,… — Cecil Purdy
When you play against an experienced opponent who exploits all the defensive resources at his command you sometimes have to walk time and again, along… — David Bronstein
You must be able to handle a variety of move orders during the first 5-6 moves - otherwise you'll find yourself 'tricked' time and time… — Edmar Mednis
Only play into a variation in which your opponent is strong if you have your own personal novelty ready! — Edmar Mednis

Who Wrote These Chess Quotes

411 authors contributed a total of 1,355 Chess Quotes, led by these top contributors: