--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Under no circumstances should you play…" description: "\"Under no circumstances should you play fast if you have a winning position. Forget the clock, use all your time and make good moves.\" — Pal Benko" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/pal-benko-30576_chess_under-no-circumstances-should-you-play-f_1221516.png" --- # Under no circumstances should you play fast if you have a… ![“Under no circumstances should you play fast if you have a winning position. Forget the clock, use all your time and make good moves.” quote by Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/pal-benko-30576_chess_under-no-circumstances-should-you-play-f_1221516.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/pal-benko-30576_chess_under-no-circumstances-should-you-play-f_1221516.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/786/pal-benko-30576_chess_under-no-circumstances-should-you-play-f_1221516.png) > “Under no circumstances should you play fast if you have a winning position. Forget the clock, use all your time and make good moves.” [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When ahead, avoid rushing; use all available time to ensure solid, well‑considered moves rather than relying on speed. **In simple terms:** Take your time when winning, make good moves. Key Takeaway Don’t rush; think carefully when ahead. Themes strategy patience decision‑making risk management Mood analytical calm Type strategic inspirational When to use this quote - competitive sports - business negotiations - project planning Key Concepts chess theory time control optimal play Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance thoroughness with momentum? - When is speed preferable? A Different Perspective Relying on time can lead to overthinking and missed opportunities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) [Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Play](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/play/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Until one has not lost ... till then a man is in a winning position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj/until-one-has-not-lost-till-then-a-man-is-in-a-winning-position/) AJ > [There are two classes of men; those who are content to yield to circumstances and who play whist; those who aim to control circumstances,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mortimer-collins/there-are-two-classes-of-men-those-who-are-content-to-yield-to/) [Mortimer Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mortimer-collins/) > [You must be so thoroughly immersed in the given circumstances of the play, then you decide what it is at any given moment what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/constantin-stanislavski/you-must-be-so-thoroughly-immersed-in-the-given-circumstances-of-the/) [Constantin Stanislavski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/constantin-stanislavski/) > [We always set ambitious goals in our group, and I have found that if you set your mind to it, you can do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ajay-piramal/we-always-set-ambitious-goals-in-our-group-and-i-have-found-that-if/) [Ajay Piramal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ajay-piramal/) > [If you play calm you know what you're doing. You can play fast when it comes down to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-chung/if-you-play-calm-you-know-what-you-re-doing-you-can-play-fast-when-it/) [Patrick Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-chung/) > [I just want to be able to play as fast as my brain goes, and my brain doesn't go all that fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-may/i-just-want-to-be-able-to-play-as-fast-as-my-brain-goes-and-my-brain/) [Brian May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-may/) > [Obviously, not the biggest guy in stature. Straight-line speed wasn't my forte either. But I play very fast because I know the game. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-borland/obviously-not-the-biggest-guy-in-stature-straight-line-speed-wasn-t/) [Chris Borland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-borland/) > [It's a fast game, and you've got to play fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-tannehill/it-s-a-fast-game-and-you-ve-got-to-play-fast/) [Ryan Tannehill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-tannehill/) > [I want to be able to play fast and exciting snooker like my hero Ronnie O'Sullivan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judd-trump/i-want-to-be-able-to-play-fast-and-exciting-snooker-like-my-hero/) [Judd Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judd-trump/) > [I like to penetrate and play fast basketball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/goran-dragic/i-like-to-penetrate-and-play-fast-basketball/) [Goran Dragic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/goran-dragic/) > [I have a whole lot of fun when I play fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/i-have-a-whole-lot-of-fun-when-i-play-fast/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) > [I like to play fast, but some of the coaches are telling me that playing fast isn't always the best thing, especially when they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minkah-fitzpatrick/i-like-to-play-fast-but-some-of-the-coaches-are-telling-me-that/) [Minkah Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minkah-fitzpatrick/) > [If you want to get a lot of quality looks at 3s, the answer is to play fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-carlisle/if-you-want-to-get-a-lot-of-quality-looks-at-3s-the-answer-is-to-play/) [Rick Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-carlisle/) > [If you play angry, you lose what you're supposed to do. On defense we just read our keys and play fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-urlacher/if-you-play-angry-you-lose-what-you-re-supposed-to-do-on-defense-we/) [Brian Urlacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-urlacher/) > [Every time something special happens to me, I play very fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-agholor/every-time-something-special-happens-to-me-i-play-very-fast/) [Nelson Agholor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-agholor/) ## More by Pal Benko > [Patience is the most valuable trait of the endgame player. In the endgame, the most common errors, besides those resulting from ignorance of theory,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/patience-is-the-most-valuable-trait-of-the-endgame-player-in-the/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [Since your mental state can have such dramatic effects on your body, obviously your physical condition can affect your mental well-being. It follows that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/since-your-mental-state-can-have-such-dramatic-effects-on-your-body/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [When you defend, try not to worry or become upset. Keep your cool and trust your position - it's all you've got.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/when-you-defend-try-not-to-worry-or-become-upset-keep-your-cool-and/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [I remember being with a girlfriend who asked me to look over some chess openings with her. I instantly fell asleep. I found that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/i-remember-being-with-a-girlfriend-who-asked-me-to-look-over-some/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [Agreeing to draws in the middlegame, equal or otherwise, deprives you of the opportunity to practice playing endgames, and the endgame is probably where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/agreeing-to-draws-in-the-middlegame-equal-or-otherwise-deprives-you/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [There is nothing wrong with trying to exploit the natural human tendency to become impatient when forced to play a boring position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/there-is-nothing-wrong-with-trying-to-exploit-the-natural-human/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [Patience is the most valuable trait of the endgame player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/patience-is-the-most-valuable-trait-of-the-endgame-player/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [I always urge players to study composed problems and endgames.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/i-always-urge-players-to-study-composed-problems-and-endgames/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [I had a slightly inferior endgame that probably should have been drawn, but Kortchnoi kept torturing me with little threats until finally, exhausted and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/i-had-a-slightly-inferior-endgame-that-probably-should-have-been/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [In the Soviets' view, chess was not merely an art or a science or even a sport; it was what it had been invented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/in-the-soviets-view-chess-was-not-merely-an-art-or-a-science-or-even/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [Typically, in the last round of open tournaments the level of play is markedly lower, the number of blunders higher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/typically-in-the-last-round-of-open-tournaments-the-level-of-play-is/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [Errors have nothing to do with luck; they are caused by time pressure, discomfort or unfamiliarilty with a position, distractions, feelings of intimidation, nervous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/errors-have-nothing-to-do-with-luck-they-are-caused-by-time-pressure/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [Sometimes players need to gain time on the clock by repeating the position, but most often its purpose is to wear down the opponent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/sometimes-players-need-to-gain-time-on-the-clock-by-repeating-the/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [There is no doubt that Bronstein's shrewd understanding of chess psychology was crucial to his success. Without it, his impetuous style and technical flaws…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/there-is-no-doubt-that-bronstein-s-shrewd-understanding-of-chess/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) > [According to such great attacking players as Bronstein and Tal, most combinations are inspired by the player's memories of earlier games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pal-benko/according-to-such-great-attacking-players-as-bronstein-and-tal-most/) [Pal Benko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) [Explore all 17 Pal Benko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pal-benko/) ## More Chess quotes > [I have known many chess players, but among them there has been only one genius - Capablanca!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emanuel-lasker/i-have-known-many-chess-players-but-among-them-there-has-been-only/) [Emanuel Lasker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emanuel-lasker/) > [Real chessplayers think about chess more or less 24 hours a day. It is a passion and a fate that one has to live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simen-agdestein/real-chessplayers-think-about-chess-more-or-less-24-hours-a-day-it-is/) Simen Agdestein > [It's interesting that the greatest minds of computer science, the founding fathers, like Alan Turing and Claude Shannon and Norbert Wiener, they all looked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/it-s-interesting-that-the-greatest-minds-of-computer-science-the/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [“Relationships are chess for women," he said. "They can see the whole board, plan way ahead. They're the queens, after all. We're the kings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-lippman/relationships-are-chess-for-women-he-said-they-can-see-the-whole/) [Laura Lippman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-lippman/) > [The election of Trump threw the chess board up. The pieces are all over the place. That's upsetting to a lot of people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-rubin/the-election-of-trump-threw-the-chess-board-up-the-pieces-are-all/) [Dave Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-rubin/) > [Playing for complications is an extreme measure that a player should adopt only when he cannot find a clear and logical plan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-alekhine/playing-for-complications-is-an-extreme-measure-that-a-player-should/) [Alexander Alekhine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-alekhine/) > [“the shadows. “Why do you think they invented chess?” “He’s got you there,” said the captain, following Fletcher. Jake jogged slightly to catch up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-blake/the-shadows-why-do-you-think-they-invented-chess-he-s-got-you-there/) [Russell Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-blake/) > [ \[Photographer Julian Wasser\] had this great idea that I should play chess naked with Marcel Duchamp and it seem to be such a great… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eve-babitz/photographer-julian-wasser-had-this-great-idea-that-i-should-play/) [Eve Babitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eve-babitz/) > [Chess is a good mistress but a bad master.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-abrahams/chess-is-a-good-mistress-but-a-bad-master/) [Gerald Abrahams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-abrahams/) > [I am not some sort of freak. I might be very good at chess but I'm just a normal person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-carlsen/i-am-not-some-sort-of-freak-i-might-be-very-good-at-chess-but-i-m/) [Magnus Carlsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-carlsen/) > [Some sacrifices are sound; the rest are mine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-tal/some-sacrifices-are-sound-the-rest-are-mine/) [Mikhail Tal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-tal/) > [My parents were very supportive of my chess. When I got home after a game of chess, having missed school or something, they always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viswanathan-anand/my-parents-were-very-supportive-of-my-chess-when-i-got-home-after-a/) [Viswanathan Anand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viswanathan-anand/) > [Amberley excelled at chess - a mark, Watson, of a scheming mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/amberley-excelled-at-chess-a-mark-watson-of-a-scheming-mind/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [In high school, my sister went out with the captain of the chess team. My parents loved him... They figured that any guy that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-kiley/in-high-school-my-sister-went-out-with-the-captain-of-the-chess-team/) [Brian Kiley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-kiley/) > [The King is a fighting piece. Use it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilhelm-steinitz/the-king-is-a-fighting-piece-use-it/) [Wilhelm Steinitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilhelm-steinitz/) [Browse all 2,003 Chess quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chess/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Under no circumstances should you play fast if you have a winning position. 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