Chess Quotes

1355 Chess quotes by 411 unique authors

A real sacrifice involves a radical change in the character of a game which cannot be effected without foresight, fantasy, and the willingness to risk. — Leonid Shamkovich
Objectivity and presence of mind are essential in such positions where sacrificial temptations are not always resistable. — Leonid Shamkovich
I will not hide the fact that I love to hear the spectators react after a sacrifice of a piece or pawn. I don't think… — Mikhail Tal
It so often happens that, after sacrificing a pawn, a player aims not to obtain the initiative for it, but to regain sacrificed material. — Efim Geller
Chess sharpens the mind, stimulates concentration, improves the memory and promotes visualization. — Samuel Reshevsky
No matter how much theory progresses, how radically styles change, chess play is inconceivable without tactics. — Samuel Reshevsky
The knight is renowned for, among other things, its suitability as a blockader ... Because its strength lies in short-range operations it is not uncomfortable… — Samuel Reshevsky
Tartakower once wrote that after planting a Knight in the center you can go to sleep. This is not to be taken literally, of course,… — Samuel Reshevsky
The only good Rook is a working Rook! — Samuel Reshevsky
I felt that chess... is a science in the form of a game... I consider myself a scientist. I wanted to be treated like a… — Bobby Fischer
Despite the development of chess theory, there is much that remains secret and unexplored in chess. — Vasily Smyslov
Chess is the only game greater than its players. — Tim Rice
When Alekhine recognizes the weakness in his position he has a tendency to become very aggressive. Patient defence is not for him if he can… — Emanuel Lasker
However hopeless the situation appears to be there yet always exists the possibility of putting up a stubborn resistance. — Paul Keres
There is no better place for learning to work independently and to extend your horizon than in higher school. — Mikhail Botvinnik
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

Who Wrote These Chess Quotes

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