---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These guys are playing checkers. I'm out…"
description: "\"These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it's too late.\" — Max Holloway"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg"
---

#  These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing…

![“These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it's too late.” quote by Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg)

> “These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it's too late.”

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He contrasts superficial competition with deep strategic thinking, warning that others may realize too late.

**In simple terms:** Think deeper than others.

Key Takeaway

Invest in strategic planning.

Themes

strategy competition foresight

Mood

determined confident

Type

motivational philosophical

When to use this quote

- business
- sports
- personal development
- politics

Key Concepts

game theory long‑term planning

Questions to Reflect On

- What strategic edge are you neglecting?
- How can you stay ahead of rivals?

A Different Perspective

Others may catch up if you stay complacent.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Checkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkers/) [Checkers Playing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkers-playing-5334623/) [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Figure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/figure/) [Here](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/here/) [Late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/late/) [Playing Checkers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-checkers-2116919/) [Playing chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/playing-chess/) [Too late](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/too-late/)

## Related quotes

> [These young guys are playing checkers. I'm out there playing chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/these-young-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-there-playing-chess/)

[Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/)

> [“It was like playing checkers, only to learn that your opponent was playing chess all along.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-lyga/it-was-like-playing-checkers-only-to-learn-that-your-opponent-was/)

[Barry Lyga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-lyga/)

> [“I'm playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers, that's why I always lose”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-stern/i-m-playing-chess-while-everyone-else-is-playing-checkers-that-s-why/)

[Josh Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-stern/)

> [In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-checkers-and-eventually-you-want/)

[O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/)

> [I think there's something wrong with me - I like to win in everything I do, regardless of what it is. You want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-jeter/i-think-there-s-something-wrong-with-me-i-like-to-win-in-everything-i/)

[Derek Jeter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-jeter/)

> [LOVE is like Playing Checkers. You have to know which Man to MOVE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moms-mabley/love-is-like-playing-checkers-you-have-to-know-which-man-to-move/)

[Moms Mabley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moms-mabley/)

> [I'm confident in everything I do. It can be playing checkers, and I'm confident.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-webb/i-m-confident-in-everything-i-do-it-can-be-playing-checkers-and-i-m/)

[Davis Webb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-webb/)

> [Eternity is a child playing, playing checkers; the kingdom belongs to a child.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/eternity-is-a-child-playing-playing-checkers-the-kingdom-belongs-to-a/)

[Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/)

> [“No matter who you are or what may be your lifework, you are playing checkers with TIME! It is always your next move. Move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill-author/no-matter-who-you-are-or-what-may-be-your-lifework-you-are-playing/)

[Napoleon Hill (Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill-author/)

> [I'm like Bush, I see the world more like checkers than chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-m-like-bush-i-see-the-world-more-like-checkers-than-chess/)

[Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/)

> [It's the horsey-shape piece that moves in an L shape. It's what makes chess complicated, and why stupid people can't play chess. Go play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/it-s-the-horsey-shape-piece-that-moves-in-an-l-shape-it-s-what-makes/)

[Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/)

> [By playing at Chess then, we may learn... First: Foresight. Second: Circumspection. Third: Caution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-playing-at-chess-then-we-may-learn-first-foresight-second/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [It is not enough to be a good player... you must also play well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegbert-tarrasch/it-is-not-enough-to-be-a-good-player-you-must-also-play-well/)

[Siegbert Tarrasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegbert-tarrasch/)

> [I spend hours playing chess because I find it so much fun. The day it stops being fun is the day I give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-spend-hours-playing-chess-because-i-find-it-so-much-fun-the-day-it/)

[Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/)

> [Play on both sides of the board is my favourite strategy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/play-on-both-sides-of-the-board-is-my-favourite-strategy/)

[Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/)

## More by Max Holloway

> [I'm not going to change me just for some extra money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-m-not-going-to-change-me-just-for-some-extra-money/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I tell myself, 'I'm the greatest, and this is what you need to do.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-tell-myself-i-m-the-greatest-and-this-is-what-you-need-to-do/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [Anybody and everybody's going to get it. I'm not racing through my division. I'm cleaning it out. So if you want two L's, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/anybody-and-everybody-s-going-to-get-it-i-m-not-racing-through-my/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I don't believe in guys waiting for title shots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-don-t-believe-in-guys-waiting-for-title-shots/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [You got to keep your feet on the ground, and it is what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/you-got-to-keep-your-feet-on-the-ground-and-it-is-what-it-is/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If I didn't fight you, get ready. Get ready, because I'm coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-ve-said-it-before-and-i-ll-say-it-again-if-i-didn-t-fight-you-get/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I state facts all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-state-facts-all-the-time/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [Everybody can get it. I'm here; I want to fight everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/everybody-can-get-it-i-m-here-i-want-to-fight-everyone/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [If I want to fight for a 155-pound title - if I hold the 145-pound title - give me the fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/if-i-want-to-fight-for-a-155-pound-title-if-i-hold-the-145-pound/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I don't take that away from Conor, that he beat Chad Mendes on short notice. Chad took that fight knowing he had a chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-don-t-take-that-away-from-conor-that-he-beat-chad-mendes-on-short/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [It's what kings do. If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/it-s-what-kings-do-if-you-want-to-be-the-best-you-have-to-beat-the/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I ain't trying to run away from no danger. If it's supposed to be dangerous for me, then I'm going to go and take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-ain-t-trying-to-run-away-from-no-danger-if-it-s-supposed-to-be/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I'm not a talker. I'm a doer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-m-not-a-talker-i-m-a-doer/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [You either grow with this sport, or you get left behind. It's sad, but it is what it is. You gotta keep up with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/you-either-grow-with-this-sport-or-you-get-left-behind-it-s-sad-but/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

> [I ain't asking no one to fight. I've got my throne. If you want it, come see me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/i-ain-t-asking-no-one-to-fight-i-ve-got-my-throne-if-you-want-it-come/)

[Max Holloway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

[Explore all 98 Max Holloway quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/)

## More Checkers quotes

> [He sank into the rocking chair, the same one in which Rebecca had sat during the early days of the house to give embroidery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/he-sank-into-the-rocking-chair-the-same-one-in-which-rebecca-had-sat/)

[Gabriel Garcia Marquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabriel-garc-a-m-rquez/)

> [“Don’t get too hung up on working with any one person, because it’s like a game of checkers where dudes are hopping over one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t-2/don-t-get-too-hung-up-on-working-with-any-one-person-because-it-s/)

[Ice-T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t-2/)

> [My dad's the type of guy when I was 5 years old, we played checkers and he would not let me win. That's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/my-dad-s-the-type-of-guy-when-i-was-5-years-old-we-played-checkers/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [It's the horsey-shape piece that moves in an L shape. It's what makes chess complicated, and why stupid people can't play chess. Go play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/courtney-love/it-s-the-horsey-shape-piece-that-moves-in-an-l-shape-it-s-what-makes/)

[Courtney Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/courtney-love/)

> [In the barber shop you start playing checkers, and eventually you want to learn how to play chess. The pieces look a little more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/o-j-mayo/in-the-barber-shop-you-start-playing-checkers-and-eventually-you-want/)

[O. J. Mayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/o-j-mayo/)

> [I'm like Bush, I see the world more like checkers than chess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-miller/i-m-like-bush-i-see-the-world-more-like-checkers-than-chess/)

[Dennis Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-miller/)

> [A reckoning is coming on the state of the internet journalism, because right now, the way it's set up, there is so much room…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-lurie/a-reckoning-is-coming-on-the-state-of-the-internet-journalism-because/)

[Rod Lurie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-lurie/)

> [“Bathing Checkers was a strenuous occupation and not to be lightly undertaken. Checkers hated being bathed, partly because he couldn't see where he was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/livi-michael/bathing-checkers-was-a-strenuous-occupation-and-not-to-be-lightly/)

[Livi Michael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/livi-michael/)

> [“Looking at the sky, he suddenly saw that it had become black. Then white again, but with great rippling circles. The circles were vultures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-m-g-le-cl-zio/looking-at-the-sky-he-suddenly-saw-that-it-had-become-black-then/)

[J.M.G. Le Clézio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-m-g-le-cl-zio/)

> [The farmer doesn't care for the pitchers' battle that resolves itself into a checkers game. The farmer loves the dramatic, and slugging is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/home-run-baker/the-farmer-doesn-t-care-for-the-pitchers-battle-that-resolves-itself/)

[Home Run Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/home-run-baker/)

> [The dog becomes the repository of those model human properties that we have cynically ceased to find among humans. Where today can we find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-garber/the-dog-becomes-the-repository-of-those-model-human-properties-that/)

[Marjorie Garber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-garber/)

> [“No matter who you are or what may be your lifework, you are playing checkers with TIME! It is always your next move. Move…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill-author/no-matter-who-you-are-or-what-may-be-your-lifework-you-are-playing/)

[Napoleon Hill (Author](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill-author/)

> [Chess is a competition. Checkers is a competition. Mostly, I'm interested in doing real sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-skipper/chess-is-a-competition-checkers-is-a-competition-mostly-i-m/)

[John Skipper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-skipper/)

> [There are checks and balances in science. There's somebody checking the people doing the science, and then there's somebody who checks the checkers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/there-are-checks-and-balances-in-science-there-s-somebody-checking/)

[Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/)

> [Unfortunately, the current generation of mail programs do not have checkers to see if the sender knows what he is talking about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-s-tanenbaum/unfortunately-the-current-generation-of-mail-programs-do-not-have/)

[Andrew S. Tanenbaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-s-tanenbaum/)

[Browse all 52 Checkers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/checkers/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it's too late.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Max Holloway"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-here-playing-chess-when-they/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Checkers"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-here-playing-chess-when-they/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad8/max-holloway-6637_chess_these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out_1470652.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“These guys are playing checkers. I'm out here playing chess. When they figure it out, it's too late.” — Max Holloway",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Max Holloway",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-holloway/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "These guys are playing checkers. I'm...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-here-playing-chess-when-they/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-holloway/these-guys-are-playing-checkers-i-m-out-here-playing-chess-when-they/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
