Chess Quotes

1355 Chess quotes by 411 unique authors

Failing to open the center at the right moment - a common error by White in the Exchange Lopez - can allow Black an excellent… — Andrew Soltis
In my opinion the Open variation is absolutely correct - and more interesting than the Closed. — Bent Larsen
Play the open variation of the Ruy is my advice to all ordinary club players, and I recently even wrote a book about it, seen… — Bent Larsen
Often, in the Ruy Lopez, one must be patient, wait and carry on a lengthy and wearisome struggle. — Boris Spassky
This sacrifice of a pawn nowadays is only played for drawing purposes. Especially against the very strongest masters it has proved to be quite useful… — Jan Hein Donner
All lines of play which lead to the imprisonment of the bishop are on principle to be condemned. — Siegbert Tarrasch
The Ruy Lopez occupied a constant place in my opening repertoire. In it is reflected the classical interpretation of the problem of the centre. — Vasily Smyslov
Had I not played the Sicilian with Black I could have saved myself the trouble of studying for more than 20 years all the more… — Bent Larsen
Having spent alarmingly large chunks of my life studying the white side of the Open Sicilian, I find myself asking, why did I bother? — Daniel J. King
Among top grandmasters the Dutch is a rare defense, which is good reason to play it! It has not been studied very deeply by many… — Bent Larsen
It is ... impossible to keep one's excellence in a little glass casket, like a jewel, to take it out whenever wanted. On the contrary,… — Adolf Anderssen
First and foremost it is essential to understand the essence, the overall idea of any fashionable variation, and only then include it in one's repertoire.… — Lev Polugaevsky
My very first book was a games collection of Anatoly Karpov. On the whole I was attracted by positonal play with some tactics, and already… — Vladimir Kramnik
Every month I look through some ten thousand games, so not as to miss any new ideas and trends. — Vladimir Kramnik
I think a player constantly improves his understanding of chess with experience. — Yasser Seirawan
From time to time, like many other players, I glance through my own games of earlier years, and return to positions and variations which have… — Efim Geller
The concept of 'talent' is formed under completely abstract criteria, having nothing in common with reality. But the reality is such that I don't understand… — Alexander Morozevich
At the ches with me she (Fortune) gan to pleye; With her false draughts (pieces) dyvers/She staal on me, and took away my fers. And… — Geoffrey Chaucer
In choosing an opening plan players think most of all of harmonious development for the pieces, but sometimes leave the development of the queen out… — Alexander Kotov
A Queen's sacrifice, even when fairly obvious, always rejoices the heart of the chess-lover. — Savielly Tartakower
Just reading about the various opinions concerning the conduct of the recent championship matches convinces me that the only thing to which two chessplayers could… — Arpad Elo
Like mortars in old war films, they are often ready to destroy the opponent's unsupported defences. — Alexey Suetin
The retreat of a minor piece to the back rank, where it cuts the lines of communication between the rooks, is permissable only in exceptional… — Alexander Alekhine
Quiet moves often make a stronger impression than a wild combination with heavy sacrifices. — Mikhail Tal
As a rule, so-called "positional" sacrifices are considered more difficult, and therefore more praise-worthy, than those which are based exclusively on an exact calculation of… — Alexander Alekhine

Who Wrote These Chess Quotes

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